Jones Dail: New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
Jones Dail: New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
[Volume:609;Page:6283] 
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
: In speaking to Part 1 and in particular looking at clause 3(2) which is about the need for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to cooperate with industry central and local government and relevant community groups I commend the Minister for his initiative with regard to the public message that was put out on 12 March 2003 by another Minister relating to the future development of Whenuapai and a message to the Whenuapai Ratepayers and Residents Association at the meeting on that date which talked about “jointly leading the establishment of a working-group which will recommend a process by which decisions will eventually be made. This group will consult with a range of Governments local governments and community interests. Initial reports are expected from this group by the middle of this year.” Well it is now the middle of this year or almost. It is 17 June so I expect we should now be getting initial reports from this group. 
I ask the Minister where the reports are on the future of Whenuapai because this is exactly what clause 3(2) is about—cooperation with “industry central and local government and relevant community groups” talking about strategies programmes activities for trade industry and regional development. If this minority Labour Party Government has any credibility we would like to know what is happening with these reports at Whenuapai. Interestingly enough the Waitakere City Council called a meeting about two or three Saturdays ago— 
John Key 
: Yes. 
DAIL JONES 
: —and I expect my friend John Key the member for Helensville received an invitation. I am informed that three members of Parliament responded to say they would go. Three Opposition members of Parliament said they would go; I think about 17 or 18 people were invited. As I understand it—and I hope the Labour members of Parliament will prove me wrong—no Labour Party member of Parliament accepted the invitation to go to that meeting. Only three Opposition members of Parliament—myself and perhaps my friend John Key— 
John Key 
: Yes. 
DAIL JONES 
: Yes he accepted the invitation to go as I would expect. Where were the Labour Party members of Parliament to discuss questions of regional development implementation of strategies programmes and the like? Labour members are very good in election year. They would have been there in June of an election year but we are about 2 years out from an election and they are nowhere to be seen. I would have expected—seeing I have raised this issue—that Lynne Pillay the member for Waitakere would speak on the question of regional development and this bill. I would have expected the Minister of Local Government Chris Carter to speak on this bill. I would have expected the member for New Lynn that well-known resident of Herne Bay David Cunliffe a Minister also to speak on it. But where are they? They are silent on this issue. But I and others from New Zealand First will be making an issue throughout the debate on this question of “co-operation with industry central and local government and relevant community groups”. 
In my view this is a classic example of what is intended by this bill in terms of clause 3. It is a classic example of the Waitakere City Council the Rodney District Council and the North Shore City Council working together to create an initiative and to have to plan a strategy to put forward programmes and activities for trade and industry regional development and the like in the Whenuapai area. We were promised a report in the middle of the year. It has not happened and I can in this call assure the Minister that this is not the last he will hear from New Zealand First on this issue because really it is a cornerstone of our policy—one that does not get terribly much publicity I must admit—to encourage trade and development. We regard trade as New Zealand’s lifeblood. New Zealand First’s economic policy prescription is based on a partnership—and we have heard a lot about partnership—with the people in promoting sustainable export-led economic growth that will lead to job creation and enable the savings that will facilitate our social progress. That is what I believe this bill is all about and that is why we are supporting it. 
This bill is about New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. We supported the entity 2 or 3 years ago. It has failed up until now but it is only because of the lack of support from the Government to the staff. We know it has excellent staff. All they need is support and encouragement from the Government and perhaps a Minister who is more enthusiastic younger more vital and capable of making the appropriate contribution in the community. 
Darren Hughes 
: Come on! 
DAIL JONES 
: I do not mean someone quite so young as the member who is interjecting but someone somewhere in-between would obviously be more suitable. New Zealand First in Government would provide such a person. The people of west Auckland Waitakere City and North Shore can look upon this legislation as being a classic example.