Hawkins George: New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Bill War Pensions Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hawkins George: New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Amendment Bill War Pensions Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
[Sitting date: 20 October 2009. Volume:658;Page:7325. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) 
: 
 I want to say how pleased I am that most parties will vote for this legislation at its third reading. I will reflect as the previous speaker did on something that happened yesterday. One of my former constituents Harold Clark celebrated his 107th birthday. Unfortunately he had to celebrate it not overseas living where he might have wanted to but in Middlemore Hospital because he had had a fall. I acknowledge Harold Clark and what he has done. 
The people who will benefit from this legislation will I think be listening very carefully today. It is not often that people in this Parliament get up and talk about their support for a bill. Everyone across the House seems to be in favour of this legislation although I must say to Sir Roger that I could not see the graph he had earlier. I suppose that made it a wee bit difficult. Perhaps that is a pity. 
In my electorate I have numbers of people coming to my electorate office. We are averaging over 82 people per day who are walking in off the street. Amongst them are people who are coming to see us about superannuation. I can tell members that some of these people visit because they have Dutch pensions and they think the Government over here is unfair to them. They feel cheated. These bills do not address that. This legislation deals with people who have grown up in New Zealand worked hard and I suppose have been the strugglers. Then their families leave home go overseas to live and they would like to join them. What has been holding them back? I say it has been money that has been holding them back but this legislation which was introduced by Ruth Dyson last year gives people that opportunity. 
We heard the previous speaker talk about the SuperGold card but those people will not be able to use the SuperGold card when they shift overseas. It will not be able to be transported overseas. But these people will perhaps be able to spend their retirement close to their families and seeing their grandkids. I always thought the way people talked about their grandkids all the time was unusual. All of a sudden one’s son produces a grandson and one changes one’s mind. If my son went overseas to live that is where I would want to live because I would want to see my grandkid. For many people this legislation means that they can now make choices. I think that is why this is really important. It is all about choices. People can stay in New Zealand and collect their national superannuation or they will be able to live overseas. I think that is very important. 
You know people do get very concerned about national superannuation. They come to the electorate office and they ask all sorts of questions. They want to know what will happen. Of course that is a real worry for some people. I think one of the big problems many people have is that they listen to talkback radio. On talkback radio rumours run around like nobody’s business and listeners get the wrong end of the stick. A lot of people think that with the Cullen fund under siege from the National Government they may not be able to afford to live a modest but reasonable life in the future. 
New Zealanders are worried about the security of their pensions. I think that is a very important point for MPs across the floor to dwell on for a second. If people work all their days in New Zealand there is an expectation that they will get national superannuation and be able to live on it. If people go overseas to live they will want to take their pension with them. I think people are now very suspicious. What is the National Government’s real intention towards superannuation? That is why they come to my electorate office. 
Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: Sounds like one of those rumours you want to spread George. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Jonathan Coleman can smile. I do get quite a few people coming to see me about him and his immigration policies and decisions. But the ones I have real sympathy for are the elderly. 
Paul Quinn 
: We don’t have conspiracy theories over here. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I tell members that for the last 9 years conspiracy theories were running rampant and all the people were ringing up talkback radio and listening to what they had to say. 
The ordinary elderly people who come to the electorate office to talk about superannuation are really worried. They take a very very simple interest in this issue. They look at it from their own point of view. Jonathan Coleman may be laughing and carrying on but he is the guy who has a poor memory. He is the guy with amnesia. He cannot remember what he tells journalists. He cannot remember what he tells his own colleagues. That happens when someone gets old too I say to Dr Coleman. People get amnesia and they get things muddled up. In the electorate office in Manurewa we help those people; we actually help them. [ 
Interruption 
] That member does not know what he— 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I am having difficulty hearing the member. Interjections should be rare reasonable and witty and I put the stress on “witty”. I have not heard any of those. Cross-exchanges are getting a bit out of hand. I ask members to keep the noise down. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker. I think it is really important that there is some respect for the elderly speaking from my own point of view. From calls across the floor I think people should be a wee bit more respectful. I say to Dr Coleman that as one gets closer and closer to 65 one starts to think more seriously about superannuation. I spend quite a bit of time thinking about life after Parliament in about 8 years’ time. In about 8 or 9 years’ time I think I may be one of those people who has to make a decision on whether I pack up and leave New Zealand and take my pension with me or stay in New Zealand. Then I think that there will be a Labour Government within about 2 years so I think I will stay here because it will be another benevolent Labour Government. 
Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: You didn’t like the last one very much George; I don’t think you’ll like the next one. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Well I think that in the end many people will look to this legislation as providing opportunities for them. It will make sure people have the choices they rightly deserve. I think all parties can join in supporting this legislation. I listened to Sue Bradford when she spoke earlier today. I think that we will miss Sue Bradford from this place because she understands ordinary people and what a small amount of money can do for them in their retirement.