Sowry Roger: Wellington Regional Council (Water Board Functions) Bill — Second Reading 
Sowry Roger: Wellington Regional Council (Water Board Functions) Bill — Second Reading 
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Hon ROGER SOWRY (National) 
: 
 Darren Hughes read that speech in a light-hearted manner and treated the Wellington Regional Council (Water Board Functions) Bill as a joke. Members of the House need to know that Mr Hughes has about 20000 constituents who pay rates to the Wellington Regional Council and will pick up the costs if there are any—and National believes there will be—as a result of this bill. But Darren Hughes treats the bill in a humorous and sort of clownish manner which is the way he treats all the issues in the local area. 
I want to say a couple of things to the House. Firstly National has agreed to this bill coming back to the House but we are not making any promises on where we go from here with this legislation. We will have a very close look at it because we are concerned about the cost that it will impose on ratepayers. Mr Hughes might not care about ratepayers in Waikanae or Paraparaumu— 
Darren Hughes 
: This bill is not about me. 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: He says this bill is not about that. What the bill does is allow the Wellington Regional Council which has ratepayers in his district to embark on a risky project using ratepayers’ money. Does Mr Hughes support that? Oh no. He is saying that he just read the speech that he used a bit of humour in doing so but has no responsibility for the bill. His usual attitude is: “I’m a funny bloke. I don’t take the job seriously so please don’t take me seriously.” That is the reputation Mr Hughes has and that is the way he has treated this bill. 
What will he be saying to the elderly Waikanae ratepayer whose rates will go up if the council’s wind project goes belly up? Does he have an answer? No he does not. I ask him who wears the risk of a council embarking on a wind project. He smiles but gives no answer. Does he agree with the changes that allow the Wellington Regional Council to own wind farms? Yes or no? He will not say; he does not move a muscle; he sits there with his eyes shut. What will he say on the platform when he is asked that question? No he will not say a bloody thing on the platform when he is asked that question. He will just say that he was reading the speech on behalf of the Minister. I say to him that elderly ratepayers in Waikanae and Paraparaumu wear a risk in this bill if the council embarks on a project and it goes belly up. I have no problem— 
Georgina Beyer 
: Doom and gloom. Shoot the thing before it’s even had a chance to start. 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: The member for Wairarapa who knows very little about energy is one of the least-energetic members in the House. If she would just listen she would learn something and could take it back to her area. I am not sure whether the member for Wairarapa is retiring or staying because she changes her mind every week. I say to her: “If the Wellington Regional Council embarks on a wind farm and owns it are the Labour members happy about that?”. 
Georgina Beyer 
: I’m happy for them to scope it. 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: Ah! The member for Wairarapa is happy for it to scope it— 
Georgina Beyer 
: A visionary article— 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: She says it is visionary to scope it. That is fine but the bill actually says it can own it. Does she agree with that? 
Georgina Beyer 
: They should be able to decide. 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: Ah! She is happy for the Wellington Regional Council to own the wind farm. So she is happy to go to the ratepayers in Carterton and Featherston and say: “You wear the risk.” That is fine; we know her position. Georgina Beyer has a position that the ratepayers should wear the risk. Thank God she has a position on that because she never has a position on whether she is coming back here—whether she is standing again or leaving! She crosses the line all the time. I ask Mr Hughes whether he is happy that the ratepayers of Paraparaumu and Waikanae wear the risk. Oh no! He will not answer. He will be asked that question on the platform. 
I have to say as National’s energy spokesperson that we have supported wind farms around the country. I look forward to the Government supporting them on the conservation estate for example. That is the next test for the Government. 
Opposition Members 
: Ah! 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: They can sigh. The Government’s own State-owned enterprises are lining up to put wind farms on the conservation estate. Government members are happy to support them now going on regional council land they happily support regional ratepayers carrying the risk but I want to know whether they will support wind farms going on the conservation estate. There is no answer. They are not allowed to say. Helen Clark will not allow them to answer that question. 
Georgina Beyer does not understand and Darren Hughes obviously does not understand that many ratepayers in these electorates own their own home freehold but struggle on their income to pay their rates bill particularly when they have only New Zealand superannuation. [ 
Interruption 
] Georgina Beyer says she does understand; if she understands that people are struggling to pay their regional rates why is she happy for them to carry this extra risk? There is no answer. I say to the Labour members that they can yell and shout all they like but at the end of the day National will look very closely at this legislation to make sure there is no risk and we will put amendments forward if we believe there is any risk at all to ratepayers. 
I believe there is. Darren Hughes clearly believes there is but wants to stay silent on the matter. Georgina Beyer says there is and she is happy for the ratepayers to wear the risk. I am not. I think that ratepayers should be told upfront about things like wind farms or any other energy scheme or any other regional— 
Darren Hughes 
: You should run for regional council. 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: Mr Hughes says that if one wants to change it one should stand for the regional council. Well that is a really good idea for 82-year-olds in Waikanae who are struggling to pay their rates. What does he say to the people in Arawhata Road in Paraparaumu who struggle to pay their rates? 
Darren Hughes 
: I say: “Roger Sowry cut your pension. I am glad he’s going.” 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: He says to the young family in Arawhata Road: “Don’t vote for Roger Sowry.” Well they are not going to because I am not standing. The issue is what does he say about their liability. Does he think the solo mother in Arawhata Road should wear this risk? 
Darren Hughes 
: I think most things you have ever predicted never happen. You are wrong tonight. 
Hon ROGER SOWRY 
: The member says he is reasonably confident that I am wrong. I am sure the solo mother will be happy with that. I say that when Mr Hughes returns to the electorate he will have to answer the questions.