Ngaro AlfredHon ALFRED NGARO (National): Before I begin my speech I seek the indulgence to be able to just acknowledge the passing away of Tofilau Kerupi Tavita. The reason I acknowledge him is that he put a petition into this House in 2018 and it was in regards to the name of Jesus being removed from the prayer. I just want to acknowledge he has passed away unfortunately. He was a champion and when he championed the cause it wasn't just from a religious perspective that he had—he's a Christian man—it was from a principled perspective. I want to acknowledge that for a number of years he championed this and asked that others would stand up for this.On a number of occasions he would talk about the reasons why because he was questioned that it's just a name. Some of the replies would come back that—he reminded us that in 1854 on 24 May when the Parliament was first constituted actually up in Auckland not in Wellington at that time the very first debate was actually about the prayer and it talked about putting all personal interests aside talked about the peace and prosperity of this nation and it ended off in Jesus' name". And so hence the reasons why he felt that was important as well.The conversation was also too—I know the Hon Peeni Henare will know this—that in 1840 when Henry Williams the missionary was commissioned to translate Te Tiriti o Waitangi at that time from English to Māori and Māori to English he referred to the book of Ephesians 2:14-18 in the New Testament where it talked about the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile being brought down but by the blood of Christ on the cross of Christ. And so the word "kawenata" was the word "covenant" and we will hear many times the word "kawenata". It's a covenant relationship; it's a sacred relationship. And it's the sacredness about the reasons why he protested and wanted others to protest about the name of Jesus being removed from the prayer.So I thank you for allowing me to acknowledge him as champion for that. Because of that I think that's also raised a number of issues. When people have said "So what will be the hallmark not only of this Government but also too the conversations throughout the election period of time?" And often it will be the word "competence" but I think it will be the word "values". What is it that we value most?I remember being up in Waitangi this year and speaking to some of the kaumātua and one of the words they said the comments they said was this: "Alfred there was a time when you could shake the hand of another man you could look into their eye and you knew that their word was their bond." Their word was their bond and it's a word called "trust". What we hear out at the moment and I want to refer to that is that can we trust not only our politicians but can we trust the current Government? And from a number of people what they're saying to us—and I'll refer to it because I've already started—up at Waitangi they sort of said "Well can we trust this current Government?" There was a lot of unease; there was a lot of talk about the things that had been promised—there are a lot of promises about the fact that this is the largest number of Māori Ministers in the whole history of the New Zealand Parliament of 165 years. It is something to be celebrated absolutely. But it's one thing to get there; it's another thing to do the business and again to shake the hand look in the eye and be trusted. Can they be trusted to deliver?I was asked about the difference that National makes. So what is the difference? You might want to listen up there Marja Lubeck. The difference is this word: mana motuhake. Mana motuhake means self-determination. In other words it's giving power to the people not power to the State—power to the people. So when we talk about that—Hon Member: Tino rangatiratanga.Hon ALFRED NGARO: That's right—tino rangatiratanga. It has the elements of that right? It's power to the people enforcing the ability for people to choose. Then they said to me "So what is the record that National could hold up with?" Well we had the unveiling of Dame Whina Cooper who was also too a champion a person who could be trusted. She was also the president of the Māori Women's Welfare League. But when did that begin? Under a National Government in 1951 in granting $1 million under Sid Holland to the league to establish the Māori Women's Development Fund. Te Wānanga o Raukawa Te Wānanga o Aotearoa—1981 and 1993—under a National Government. Why? Because it gives power in the hands of the people—in this case to Māori—to make the decision to do what they should do. The establishment of Te Māngai Pāho in 1994 the establishment of the Māori Television Trust and even funds for the community-based Māori language initiatives in 1998; this is what you call putting trust in the hands of the people—mana motuhake tino rangatiratanga—in other words empowerment to the people. That is not what is being seen in our country today. That is not what is being seen. Why? Because this Government is about a socialist ideology. It's "power to the State" not "power to the people". And for them to keep saying that they are the people's party that is not true—that is not true. Why? Because under this Government and under its history there have been more things that have been achieved even if we talk about it.Let's talk about Whānau Ora and the only reason I talk about that is that it was raised with me over there. I have to say—I think the Minister is here today in the House—one of the things they held up was this: the Whānau Ora outcomes framework that was developed in 2015. It was a partnership agreement that was agreed above all. Here's what they said: you might as well throw that away—because unfortunately under this coalition Government they have thrown it away. They've decided to do something else something new. The promises that were made have not been delivered. The $20 million that we said there—and I'm only quoting the people that were there; I'm only quoting the people that were there—there was an unrest because they don't believe that they can continue to trust a Government that says one thing and does another. This is really important.This speech is about the Prime Minister's speech and the Prime Minister's statement but what the Prime Minister has started to hide behind is around some of the issues that I think are critically important and that's in regards to the referendum around legalising recreational marijuana. Let's not confuse it with cannabis. It's marijuana. That's what it is right? I just Māori-fied it there a bit! It's marijuana. Whatever you want to call it—weed? Right? The thing is this: this Government has prided itself on saying that they've spent $700 million to address the issues of mental health. We just heard Alex Berenson. It's unfortunate that Chlöe Swarbrick didn't come there. She would have heard some evidence that tells the truth.Chlöe Swarbrick: Research him though!Hon ALFRED NGARO: Research it. That's right. That's what you should do—Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana Mental Illness and Violence. It's a lie to pretend the fact is that this is all good. The old days of the Woodstock that maybe I don't know the honourable members over there Phil Twyford and so forth—that Woodstock sort of cannabis; that's not the sort of cannabis we're talking about. This is the sort of stuff where the THC levels back then were 12 percent. We're talking about 80 to 90 percent. This is the sort of drug that if we unleash it upon our community and our society it will do more harm than good. I ask the members on the other side: let your conscience speak. Let the voice of the people speak. Let them tell you this: this is bad this is wrong this referendum. You can hold your hands—I think that's a prayer. You keep praying. You keep praying so that you will hear the truth. This is what the fact is.Evidence shows that there's a hidden epidemic around violence. The States that have legalised marijuana have shown that it makes a difference. I ask that the members on the other side would have their conscience heard. Let them see the truth. The truth is that this is all wrong. This is all bad. But you've sold yourself into the lie—you've sold yourself into the lie—and here's what Alex Berenson said: the THC levels cause psychosis; psychosis causes violence. If we allow this referendum to go through if we sugar-coat it to make it say it's going to be great that there's going to be less people going into prison less people going to courts that it's good for the young people that's a lie. We should reveal it for what it is—we should reveal it for what it is. It's all bad for this country.The Prime Minister was also wanting to hide behind what's about to be unleashed—a very very important bill which I think is significant to this nation and that is the abortion law reform bill. I know it's a conscience bill. There are different views in this House but that cannot be hidden. I want to speak for those that are out there. Over 25000 submissions were made and 96 percent opposed this bill. Why? Because it is unsafe—it is unsafe. So I again ask those on the other side to be wary be concerned and seek the evidence that will tell you what the truth is. It's not about a moral situation. It's not about a moral view. It's about the evidence of whether it's going to be safe in our country. There will be many others—this cannot be hidden—and I'll be one of those who'll be speaking out against this and I hope that others will continue to stand and say that this is wrong. I know that there is a Supplementary Order Paper that's coming in the name of Darroch Ball which says that there should be a referendum. I hope there is. I hope that he will push hard enough because I know that those who will vote for this bill will find that this liberalisation will cause more harm to those who have a disability those who are discriminated against and those who are vulnerable. This Prime Minister can no longer stand in this House and around this country and say that she stands for those who are vulnerable for those children because what she's allowing to happen through the legalising of recreational marijuana the abortion law reforms—these things are not good. Why? Because when you shake the hand of another person and look them in the eye they should be able to say that they trust each other. Your word is your bond."