Goldsmith PaulHon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. Your microphone doesn't seem to be working but that's a matter for you—ah you turned it off! Thank you very much and my pleasure to speak on this Te Kāhui o Matariki public holiday bill.Look we on the National Party side of the House are very supportive of having this celebration of Matariki recognised as a public holiday—it's important and I think timely and right that amongst our public holidays we have one that recognises Te Ao Māori and Matariki is as good a suggestion as any. So we're very supportive of it and looking forward to celebrating on 24 June 2022. That all makes very good sense—you know it's the middle of winter and it's going to be cold but it gives people a chance to reflect on what's going on reflect on the impact and contribution of Te Ao Māori in our national identity and who we are and where we come from. It gives an opportunity for kids to learn about the stars and the traditions and the stories connected with public holidays—so that's all great.Our concern around this bill is quite a natural one which is to say it's our view—and it's our humble view—that rather than adding another public holiday to our list this should have been brought in replacing one of the current ones. And this Government will say Well pooh-pooh to you" because they sort of see Government as some kind of Father Christmas role where Government Ministers come along and they puff out their chests and they say "Aren't we wonderful aren't we kind aren't we generous you people? You can have another public holiday on us!" It's very easy for Grant Robertson to rock up to his office and sign his little pen and just say "Yes everybody we'll have another public holiday."In fact I'm a little bit surprised he hasn't come up with five public holidays—why not? Why not? That's my point: it's so easy. You can just whip the pen out and say "Yes have another public holiday because we want everybody to be happy."—as if there is no cost there's no consequences from this and it's part and parcel of what this Government's been doing on a regular basis over the past few months; all things which people no doubt enjoy but ultimately we as a country need to pay for it. There is no sort of magic and I think of the small-business operators I think of the small little-cafe owners struggling—and they have been struggling throughout the COVID crisis that we've had particularly but they've been struggling for a long time.Hon Kelvin Davis: Because no one goes to a cafe on their day off!Hon Peeni Henare: No one drinks coffee on a holiday?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: The members opposite mock and they sit there and they say "Oh isn't this just a joke? I mean why shouldn't we just be having extra public holidays? Why shouldn't we be using our ministerial pens to give new opportunities to give things away?"—money that they are not giving away. This is not them giving people a public holiday; it's passing a law that forces other people to give extra days off. And ultimately the regulatory impact statement and so forth talks about the potential costs of $377 million to $448 million—a trifling matter obviously to the other side of the House; not something to be remotely concerned about! And in the context of a country needing to strengthen its economy at a dangerous time internationally where we're facing astonishingly unexpectedly over the last few years the retreat of globalisation the disruption of international trade—for a small trading nation like ours—these are troubling times. The best thing we can be doing is concentrate on how we strengthen our economy so that we can continue to enjoy the living standards that we have over a long period of time and actually build on them so that New Zealanders can look after themselves and their families—and they're the things that we're concerned about over here.It's very easy for Ministers like I say to come in puff out their chests and say "Aren't we fine? Here's another holiday. Isn't this great aren't we special aren't we lovely people?" and expect other New Zealanders—the business owners particularly—to pay for it without any consequences. And our simple point is: yes let's celebrate Matariki; yes we agree with that; it's a good idea and it is appropriate for New Zealanders to reflect on Te Ao Māori celebrate this and talk about it—we agree with it. But let's just at this difficult time consider replacing one of the current public holidays so that we're not adding additional pressure on our small businesses and our economy at a difficult time for the country. And I think actually most New Zealanders on reflection would consider that a reasonable course of events.So thank you Mr Speaker for the opportunity and we'd be interested to hear the debate coming from the other side. Thank you very much."