King Colin: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
King Colin: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:631;Page:3516] 
COLIN KING (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 It is good to take a call on Part 2 “Amendments to the War Pensions Act 1954 and consequential amendments.” I was very much a passenger during the process of this bill through the House but I must admit that the way that the Minister approached his opportunity to articulate the meaningfulness of this bill brought to my memory some of the arguments made earlier on when it very much came down to a situation of tit for tat. 
When I look at Part 2 I see again that the Labour Government has been caught short while sitting on its hands and it has been judged wanting. When we look at the issue of the veterans we see this Labour Government has brought forward a generation of people in New Zealand who do not have a passion or a respect for the contribution that servicemen and women have made to New Zealand. It was an immense privilege to be present this year at Gallipoli and to experience the passion and the sense of nationhood that arises from being present at that ceremony. I would recommend that to all New Zealanders. 
However one cannot see past the fact that it is important to address the anomalies. There is very little difference between the circumstances of the case that Nick Smith took to the Human Rights Commission and the conditions we see amongst our veterans today. Those men and women are aged; they are getting on in years. No doubt at times they feel that we have forgotten them and do not value their contribution. It is interesting that in Marlborough the average age of our population is higher than normal. When elderly people come to see me they want the simple things to be done: cataracts hips and knees to be operated on and footpaths to be straightened. Those people were prepared to pay the ultimate price and put their lives on the line. The least that we can do for them is to treat them with the dignity they deserve and the respect they have earned. 
Jill Pettis 
: So why did you cut their pension in 1991? 
COLIN KING 
: That is a very interesting question. When one goes into an election being told there is a $2 billion surplus and then looks at the books and finds there is an $8 billion deficit one realises somebody has cooked the books and so does the fiscally prudent thing. I encourage the member to narrow down her comments to the bill as I will do. 
The interesting aspects that are coming in include the provisions relating to absences for up to 52 weeks with aid agencies. It is very appropriate to extend that period even though the honourable member Anne Tolley made a very fine point when asking why the amendment was for a period of over 2 years. I was quite comfortable with a period of 3 years but I did not sit on the select committee. I found the arguments put forward by my colleague Anne Tolley very informative and on that basis I bow to her experience. When the Minister takes another opportunity to get to his feet and speak I ask him to address the bill and to explain to us where the period of 3 years came from. 
It is interesting also to note that section 74H of the principal Act states that the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade must determine any question that arises as to whether an aid agency fulfils the qualifications set out in the legislation. So when the Volunteer Service Abroad people go across the seas they still have to get approval. It makes me wonder whether if they have approval we should limit their time at all. I think that anybody who is prepared to leave these shores and serve where the need is great where education is short where a country’s economic well-being is tipped upside down and in turmoil is very similar to the veterans who have served our country so well and who will do so in the future. 
It gives me great pleasure to support this part of the bill. I take great comfort and support from the information and knowledge that has been so very evident on the Opposition side of the Chamber and lacking on the Government side.