Sowry Roger: Resource Management Amendment Bill (No 2) — In Committee 
Sowry Roger: Resource Management Amendment Bill (No 2) — In Committee 
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Hon ROGER SOWRY (Deputy Leader—NZ National) 
: 
 It is interesting that Government members who are not participating in this debate also did not participate in the select committee. That really tells members the whole— 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I think it is not appropriate to refer in this House to an ad hoc body as a select committee—as it has been called by some members. The term “select committee” has a very particular meaning in the rules of this House and the meetings that National members have several times now referred to as those of a select committee were not in fact the meetings of a select committee. It was a committee of members. I would like the member to correct that for the record please. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I was a member of that committee. Most Opposition parties were represented there. The point is that committee is actually mentioned in the report back which is under debate now. The report of the Local Government and Environment Committee on the Resource Management Amendment Bill (No 2) includes reference to that committee. So I contend that it is very much part of this debate. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I thank Mr Shirley. It actually is a debatable issue. 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: As I was saying the Government members who decided not to participate in the select committee process and hearings of evidence on this bill have also decided not to participate in any debate on the bill in this Chamber. That really says a lot about where this Government is at when it comes to legislation such as the Resource Management Act. Government members approach it from a simple premise of there being only one view and that is their view and that is the way it is going to be. 
That view might make them feel comfortable at night but it certainly does not make business in New Zealand feel comfortable at all. In fact it is a view that makes doing business in this country very very difficult indeed. Not only is the Resource Management Amendment Bill (No 2) that we have before us a difficult bill for business to cope with; it is a bill that is driving many businesses for the first time ever to engage in practices that are as close to blackmail and corruption as one can get. I have had business people tell me that in advancing developments and other propositions around the country they have come up against objectors under the Resource Management Act who have said: “We’re going to take you right through the process right through to the Environment Court on this. There’s no cost on us but if you want to drop around a case of wine”—in one case—“then the objection will disappear.” 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: That’s cheap. 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: Well I think that is outrageous. A case of wine is a bit cheap one might argue but it just shows how shallow the objector was and it shows that we have passed into law and now are amending and making worse legislation that forces business people to make those sorts of choices. 
Members opposite know that is the case. I have had business people tell me that they have spoken to Labour members and told them what is going on. Labour members tut-tut and say: “Oh well you know the Greens are really dominating us on this and we have to do this because of the Greens.” Well I tell Labour members to come out from under the Green shadow and influence and do what they think is right for business and for New Zealand. They should not tell the business people who talk to them in their constituencies that they agree with them but they need to do this because of the Greens. 
I also want to raise the issue of roading. This legislation will almost single-handedly do more to stop any roading initiatives taking place in this country than any other piece of legislation. It does not matter how much people are taxed and how much money is put aside for Auckland and it does not matter how much one promotes public-private partnerships this Resource Management Act and the amendments that the Labour Government is pushing through the Committee today will mean that roading projects grind to a halt. The select committee on the Land Transport Management Bill heard all sorts of people from councillors to developers to business people and to road-user groups say that roading in this country is being strangled by the Resource Management Act. People cannot get consents. It is impossible to get consents. There is a case not far from where I live where someone wants to save a row of macrocarpa trees. That has forced a delay in that project for at least 3 years. This bill will make it worse. Anyone from anywhere can object. Objections from people in the Coromandel who are not too far removed from the Green Party to roading developments north of Auckland are stopping development and roading. 
The Minister for the Environment might think that is OK that is fine. One has to assume she thinks it is OK because she has been silent in this debate and silent in the Committee.