Peters Winston: Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 4) — Third Reading 
Peters Winston: Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 4) — Third Reading 
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Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I think this is the first speech I have ever made on the issue in respect of this bill. It is a fact that for about 50 percent of the meetings I replaced my colleague Doug Woolerton on the Primary Production Committee and that was because he asked me to and because since 1986 I have taken an interest in fishing. I was the National Party’s associate spokesperson on that subject before it foolishly expelled me from its caucus on the matter of the Sealord’s deal circa October 1992. Of course National knew everything about fishing then but somebody was right and somebody was wrong and we know today who was right and who was foolishly wrong. One would not think that the National Party had handled the legislation in 1992 by the way its members talked today. But as I have always said their blood type their DNA and their fingerprints are all over this issue and their speeches display a word that begins with “h” that I cannot possibly use because it is outside the Standing Orders. 
I wish to say first of all that the Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust entitlement in the future—off shore for 450 miles—is a sound idea. Those people deserve special treatment in respect of the resources that abound their lands and we should have regard to that. 
But I want to mention also the question of the affected parties—Goodship and others. I want to tell them that though they may not know it there is one reason they are being compensated as a benchmark in fairness and that is that there was a New Zealand First presence on that committee and no member of that committee can deny it—first as to the principle of fair compensation and second as to the amount. 
Clayton Cosgrove 
: The amount maybe! 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: If there is no amount set then no amount will be paid. Goodship who is bound to get $950000 and the rest who get in excess of $400000 as a benchmark owe it to one party—New Zealand First—even though they do not know it. I just wish some members would go out and tell those people disgruntled though they might be the truth. 
I want to say this. The National Party members at all times in the select committee were. as always all over the place. We found out today during the third reading that they support the bill. I saw their spokesperson Mr Heatley get up and say recently in Whangarei at the recreational fishing conference at Onerahi all sorts of statements in front of all those recreational fishers who were utterly bewildered as to first what he did not know and second what he was prepared to say. But he also said yesterday during the Committee stage that everywhere he goes amongst the industry people always tell him what a great spokesperson he is. Well name one person in the industry who thinks that boy on a man’s mission is a good spokesman when it comes to fishing! 
Darren Hughes 
: It will have to go to the Privileges Committee! 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: I will get to that soon. But that is what he said. I do not know one person in the fishing industry who thinks he is a competent spokesperson yet he had the arrogance to say at Onerahi: “If you’ve got any problems come and see me.” That is what he said. I thought: “By gee they’ve become arrogant so fast and so sudden.” 
Darren Hughes 
: What does the “Great Debater” think? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Well the “Great Debater” or the “Great Communicator”— 
Darren Hughes 
: The “Great Pretender”! 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: The “Great Pretender” is never here. The “Great Debater” never debates. Once a week for about 10 minutes we see this great Leader of the Opposition and for the rest of the time— 
Darren Hughes 
: What’s his name? 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: What is his name? Well the point here is where is the “Great Communicator”. Well we know where he is: dodging the House dodging accountability dodging being exposed and dodging being shown not to have the capacity to do what every Leader of the Opposition must do—take on the Government day in and day out and show some leadership. He wins all his fights by 100 yards and out there we have all those journalists and reporters saying: “Oh he’s the next Prime Minister.” Stop dreaming! One has to show—as overseas in free democracies leaders of other Opposition parties show—some leadership and the capacity to do the job that one’s caucus tells one to do. Thus far all we have got is rank plagiarism of New Zealand First policies. He reads our speeches back to us and claims that the policies are National’s. 
The National Party members were all over the place. At three different times on three different occasions with the knowledge of their leader Don Brash they alleged corruption against one of the members of the committee and they are facing serious defamation claims as a result. We will see them through to the very end. If they have any idea that TVNZ and its money and its bank will save them or save Mr David Carter or Mr Shirley they can stop dreaming about it now. One thing is protection in a defamation case and it is the protection and defence of truth. What was said was a tissue of lies—most particularly when I was not here to defend myself. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am surprised you did not bring the member to heel. It is quite incorrect to refer in the House to a matter that is before the courts in the way that the member has done particularly when he is a party to that action against another member of this House. That is grossly in breach of Standing Orders and I ask you to call him to desist. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Speaking to the point of order I point out that Mr Shirley needs to listen and pay more attention to what is going on in the House. I said that what was said was a tissue of lies. If the glove fits then wear it. But only then when he makes his complaint can he possibly have any right to bring a point of order in the way he did. If he wants me to say he is one of them then I will. But at that point of time I had not done so. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: I thought it was another matter that the member was calling a point of order on. There is no need to give any ruling in respect of what the Rt Hon Winston Peters is saying. Please continue. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: For the remainder of the time the National Party was all over the place. I want to ask Mr Heatley this. 
Phil Heatley 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just want to give the old man a breather. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: That is not a point of order. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You just heard what that member said. He is about to leave the House because he cannot defend himself. Let me say that I will be around long after he has gone. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: OK. Can we move on. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: But I want to ask the National Party and Mr Heatley this: are they prepared to tell the House today what the ownership control and direction of the Sealord’s company is? The Japanese are not known for putting up 50 percent of the money and giving the control the direction and the leadership over to someone else. Where in the world have the Japanese or any Japanese company ever done that? I tell Mr Heatley or Mr David Carter to get up and tell the House what the Sealord’s ownership control and management is and if they cannot do that they should sit down and shut up. If they cannot do that they should stop making stupid complaints born of the National Party’s ignorance. They should be the last people to talk about influence when it comes to politics; they should be the very last people to do that. I ask Mr David Carter to tell us who it was that Don Brash saw when he was abroad—in Europe in particular. 
Hon David Carter 
: I wouldn’t have a clue. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: I know; he never has had a clue. But he should have a clue. He is a front-bench member of the National Party. 
Clayton Cosgrove 
: He was the numbers man. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: He was the numbers man so he should tell us who Don Brash saw. Were they not the very same people who were setting out to corrupt the National Party in 1988 1989 and 1990 and who poured millions of dollars into the National Party’s coffers? I was a front-bencher and I knew. That was why I got fired. I tell Mr David Carter not to tell me that those members do not know. [ 
Interruption 
] 
I say to Mr Shirley that being fired from the National Party Cabinet is a badge of honour. Unlike Mr Shirley who would do anything to keep in office we do not. We in New Zealand First believe in principles in ethics and in doing what is right. I know that is strange territory for the ACT party whose members will do anything to survive in politics. But we in New Zealand First do not just talk about honour and principles; we act by them. That is why our party will massively hold the balance of political responsibility come 2005. When ACT has gone when the Greens have gone and when United Future and all the rest have gone there will be one party at least here to keep the industry the economy and Parliament honest and that party is New Zealand First.