Smith Lockwood: General Debate 
Smith Lockwood: General Debate 
[Volume:634;Page:5641] 
Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) 
: 
 The public should know that the member resuming his seat the Hon Trevor Mallard aspires to be the Minister of Finance. That ought to horrify New Zealanders. 
A few weeks ago I received a letter from a New Zealander who had sought help from Taito Phillip Field on an immigration matter. His wife was an overstayer who had been forced to leave New Zealand. Since writing that letter the person has signed a statutory declaration and I will read it to the House so that the House can hear the solemn declaration of this Kiwi in his own words. 
“On 31 July 1993 I left New Zealand for Samoa. I returned from Samoa on 5 October 1993. I can recall meeting Mr Phillip Field in his then office in Mangere sometime in 1994. 
When I met Mr Field in his Mangere office I spoke to him about an immigration matter. He told me that it would have to be done in the Samoan way and I recall he mentioned the term ‘fa’alavelave’. But he then told me the more money I could find the better the outcome would be in the long run. I was unable to give him any money because I had nothing. 
The immigration matter I have referred to related to my wife and her two New Zealand born children who had to leave New Zealand because she was considered an overstayer. That is why we left New Zealand for Samoa in 1993. I paid for the trip to Samoa. When I returned to New Zealand in October 1993 it was without my wife and our children. That is why I went to Mangere where I saw Mr Field and sought his help. 
For the reasons given in paragraph three (above) my very clear understanding was that if any money was to be paid it had to be paid to Mr Field for his help on this immigration matter. On the basis of what Mr Field said to me I believe he intended to keep some of the cash for himself. As I said above (paragraph three) that was the Samoan way or fa’alavelave. I knew exactly what fa’alavelave is. 
A few years later I took part in the Hikoi of Hope which started in the North of the North Island and ended up at Parliament grounds. I was at the Wellington end and marched right to the steps of Parliament. I stood right at the front of the Hikoi and I can recall seeing Mr Field. I waved to him. He saw me and he hung his head.” 
That solemn declaration was signed in front of an independent solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand on the ninth day of October 2006. I do not intend to table it because I do not want a media scrum around this individual who has already suffered enough. He lost his wife and children. Because he had no money Taito Phillip Field would not help him. I think that is a disgrace. I intend to pass this statutory declaration on to the New Zealand Police who are investigating these matters. I think the declaration shows that the inquiry established by the Prime Minister Helen Clark into the immigration matters involving Taito Phillip Field was totally inadequate. This is not the only case I am aware of where money was required to be paid. The difference in this case is that this individual has nothing more to lose because he lost his wife and children. 
 Others got help because they paid cash. They do not want to sign such declarations because they are fearful of the consequences should they do so. I think it is a sad day for this Parliament and a sad day for New Zealand when a Minister in a Labour Government has that kind of behaviour associated with his role as a member of Parliament. I expect the Labour Party will take some steps to do something about it. It is an indictment on all members of this Parliament that I hope never ever happens again.