Boscawen John: Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill — In Committee 
Boscawen John: Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:662;Page:10489] 
JOHN BOSCAWEN (ACT) 
: 
 It seems to me that there are two ways we can conduct this debate. We can actually talk about the issues that are in this bill the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Bill or we can use the opportunity to attack people and to attack the way they present their arguments. That is what we heard from Parekura Horomia and sadly Shane Jones. 
Mr Horomia talked about  
Much Ado About Nothing.  
He said the implication was that the objections of the ACT Party are much to do about nothing. He talked about Mr Garrett and me and he certainly implied that Mr Garrett and I were scaremongering about democracy. Mr Jones said that ACT Party members do not seem to believe in anything that they belittle this debate and that we must ensure that New Zealand’s race relations are never surrendered to the ACT Party or words to that affect. I could respond in kind. I could attack Mr Jones. I could attack Mr Horomia. I do not intend to do that. 
What I want to do though is to answer the question of Kelvin Davis. Mr Davis asked what was wrong with the bill. The objectives of the bill are to clean up the Waikato River and to reduce the pollution the fertilisers and the nutrients that flow into the river. There is nothing wrong with that. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. 
Let me restate our objections to the bill—slowly clearly and succinctly. Under the way this country is governed right now we have a series of regional councils throughout the country. They are elected. There is the odd unitary council. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: No you don’t. You’ve got nothing in Auckland and nothing in Canterbury. 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: Let me speak specifically then about Waikato. Its resources—the air water and soils—are currently governed by the Waikato Regional Council. People living in that electoral district have a vote. They can vote for that council. The council has the obligation to manage the water control and issue water rights and create property rights in respect of water. What is the option for people who do not like the decisions of the Waikato Regional Council? At the next election they can stand and oppose the people who currently run that council. 
This bill proposes setting up the Waikato River Authority. It will not have elected representatives. Half of its representatives will be appointed by iwi and the other half will be appointed by the Crown. We can ask what is wrong with that. Well this country is a democracy—one person one vote and no taxation without representation. The ACT Party objects to this bill doing away with those principles. 
We heard from Maryan Street that the concept is probably unique and that it will lead to evolutionary development of our democracy as the years go by. In fact we heard from Catherine Delahunty that she was just enthralled at the prospect that we would move away from the concept of one person one vote to the concept of co-governance where there will be the fifty-fifty management of our resources between iwi and non-iwi. That is not a democracy. Mr Chairperson I understand you represent the seat of Waikato. I cannot believe that the farmers you represent— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: Order! 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: Mr Chairperson— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: I am on my feet. The member cannot bring the Chairperson into the debate. Even though I do represent the Waikato the member cannot bring the Chairperson into the debate. 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: I apologise Mr Chairperson. I acknowledge that I am still learning. 
Let me try to summarise the ACT arguments. We have a democracy in this country. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Not in Canterbury. 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: We have just celebrated Anzac Day I say to Mr Cosgrove. People gave their lives to fight for their democracy. They went across to the other side of the world and made sacrifices to fight for something that is absolutely fundamental in a democratic country and that is the right to have free elections on the basis of one person one vote. We have just recognised the 95th anniversary of Anzac Day. It was good enough for our Prime Minister to go to the other side of the world to acknowledge the sacrifice that was made in fighting for our freedoms. Something that was absolutely fundamental to that is the principle of one person one vote. 
I stand in the Chamber today with opponents all around me. Only my colleague Mr Garrett and I are standing up for that view. I am very very happy to carry that responsibility. There will be people listening to this debate on the radio and there will be people watching it on television. I am standing up for those people who believe that New Zealand is founded on a democracy that we should have one person one vote and that everyone should have an equal say. So if there are farmers in the Waikato who are not happy with the allocation of water rights they continue to have the right they currently have which is to petition or lobby the elected representatives of the Waikato Regional Council. If they are not happy with the result of that they have the right to stand for election themselves and challenge the councillors who are democratically elected. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: They want to with Environment Canterbury but you’ve already sacked them. 
JOHN BOSCAWEN 
: This bill sets up the Waikato River Authority. It is not a democracy and Mr Jones Mr Parekura Horomia and Mr Cosgrove can sit there and smirk smile and shout as much as they like but I am prepared to stand up for people in New Zealand who believe democracy is very very special in this country. It needs to be fought for and if I am one of only five people who are prepared to do so I do that with pride.