Horomia Parekura: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
Horomia Parekura: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
[Volume:651;Page:155] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Labour—Ikaroa-Rawhiti) 
: 
 I think Treasury was quite clear on the platform that has been left by the well-managed Labour Government of the last 9 years. It has been quite specific about the performance and the free way forward for the Minister of Finance. The last speaker talked about 1990. I remind him about 1999 when in relation to Maori people the unemployment rate was tracking at 28 to 32 percent. When our term in Government finished it was tracking at 5 percent. At the end of the 9 years—during the last 3 years—Maori were going into the workforce at the rate of 4 to 1. That represents the very very important effort that went not only into Maori but into all people in this country. 
It was really interesting to hear Mr Bennett talk about redistribution. He was quite right: it is redistribution of money from the poor and those who need it to the wealthy. He is revelling in those who are milking the till in his dairy-sodden area of Hamilton. And it is important to understand what Mr Hayes was trying to say. The National members opposite are making sure they are making hay over there but this budget hints at what is to come in their period in office. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to understand that this is one of the worst starts—one of the most overrated starts—by a financial manager in relation to a parliamentary session. This measure is disgraceful. It punishes the people who need the money and it is being done with an attitude of arrogance. Mr Hayes will remember that in the time of the last National Government all the State houses in the Wairarapa were sold. A whole lot of hinting is going on by this Government’s financial manager. There are hints that no more State houses will be built and that landlords will have the right to manage housing issues in this country. 
This measure is about redistributing money that is not National’s—$3.5 billion out of KiwiSaver. That is outrageous. My plea to the Maori Party is not to support this bill because it will hurt Maori people. It will hurt them badly. In terms of incomes of up to $40000 a year 73 percent of Maori will not get anything in this budget— 
David Bennett 
: Budget? 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA 
: In this allocation. Last night Nick Smith said that this was the politics of envy. That was said in relation to the example we brought up of someone who was benefiting from Working for Families and KiwiSaver and who has one child and earns $50000 a year. He or she would lose $80 a week. What is the answer to that? It is outrageous. Bill English is pitching up the macro and making out that research and development funding is something this country does not need when the unions the Business Roundtable and the Government agreed that would be the best injection to go forward on. 
I ask the Maori Party what it is going to tell the 73 percent of our people who are working and who will get nothing in this budget. What are we going to do about that? Where is the improvement for our people that was promised by the National Party? Maori were hoodwinked going forward in relation to this financial statement. Mr English goes on about giving a fair go to earners who do not have children. It is fascinating when we line that up alongside the entry on KiwiSaver. He is going to take a fair bit out of research and development but there is no mention of how much people will lose in relation to knocking KiwiSaver down. 
This measure is a disgrace. This is one of the most hurting entries in a parliamentary session for our Maori people and the Maori Party is going to vote for it. Hone Harawira knows it is wrong. The members of that party are going to vote for this measure. They are going to support something that undermines the rights of their people and they want to talk about other issues. But in relation to income—[ 
Interruption 
] What will they tell people in Flaxmere? What will Chris Tremain tell people when I see him wandering around there? What will he tell people in Camberley? He has nothing to tell them and he knows that this issue is right on his doorstep. He knows that the people sitting in his electorate will be hard done by under this legislation. This bill is not fair and the member knows that full well. 
At the end of the day this measure is not an improvement. It is bad for Maori people and the Maori Party should vote against it. It still has time to do that.