Bidois DanDAN BIDOIS (National—Northcote): It's a pleasure this evening to take a call on the Social Assistance (Residency Qualification) Legislation Bill. As my colleague the Hon Alfred Ngaro mentioned today is in fact a good day. This moment is a good moment because we have for the last few hours been opposed to some legislation in the House and at this moment the House stands in unison for this bill which is going to make a fantastic contribution to the Islands but also New Zealand as well. The National Party certainly endorses this bill. We recall the former Prime Minister Bill English and his visit to the Pacific Islands late last year in which he certainly endorsed this bill as well. I'd like to acknowledge first and foremost my own family members who come from the Cook Islands: my half-brother James Asekona and also my godson Zion Bidois and my niece Astyn Bidois—thank you there. I'd also like to acknowledge our colleagues from both sides of the House who have some connection to the Cook Islands Niue or Tokelau: Poto Williams the Hon Kris Faafoi and the Hon Alfred Ngaro to name all that I can that I have knowledge of at this stage.The purpose of this bill is very very simple. It is to enable the residency requirements for New Zealand super and for the veterans pension to be met with spending time in the Realm—that is in Tokelau Niue or the Cook Islands. In terms of that requirement it's simply the 10 years over 20 and also the five years over 50 requirement. This is about fairness. It's about making sure that those that are contributing to New Zealand's economy are fairly rewarded. It's also about flexibility and about fulfilling the requirements for the New Zealand superannuation in the Realm and providing that flexibility for people to do so. But it also is about the contribution that these people could make to the Realm in terms of their local activity and also remittances as well.I would like to acknowledge the Minister Carmel Sepuloni for her encouraging words in this bill and throughout the select committee process in the Social Services and Community Committee. It is in fact a really good bill to go through.In the past I've talked about the unique relationship that New Zealand shares with the Pacific. We are a part of the Pacific Islands. Historically that has been the case and today but also from a political perspective. From post World War II—from 1946—right up until today we have had a political relationship starting out with the South Pacific Commission and going right up to today as well. Then finally we have had an economic relationship in terms of citizens who are from the Realm who come and contribute to New Zealand's economy but also vice versa: New Zealand citizens that are in the Realm and are able to provide an economic contribution to that as well.In terms of what this bill is trying to do it's really—when you are a New Zealand citizen and you move abroad there are currently three ways that you're able to obtain the New Zealand super or veterans pension. The first is through a reciprocal agreement where a New Zealander moves away and receives the pension in the country that they move to and the New Zealand pension and that's kind of a mixed scheme. The second is through a special portability element which is where somebody who moves overseas from New Zealand is able to also claim the New Zealand pension and that's in a sense portable. And then the final case is through general portability in terms of being able to get the pension wherever you move to as well.The problem that this bill tries to solve is that those who are from the Realm who've moved to New Zealand who have contributed to New Zealand's economy but have a desire to move back to Niue Tokelau or the Cook Islands are able to continue to fulfil the requirements for New Zealand superannuation and also contribute to the economy and also maintain a connection that they have as well.In the select committee process we received a grand total of seven submissions. We had two of those submissions that were oral submissions but there were a number of issues that came up that I wanted to just outline for the people watching at home today as I know many people do. The first is that this bill may in fact discriminate against those that are from the Realm because it essentially provides a case where others can get it as well. I want to just say very clearly that this bill doesn't discriminate against people from the Realm. It applies to New Zealanders who have spent time living overseas and those provisions apply to those New Zealanders as well as those that are from the Realm.The second issue that was raised is that there was a concern that it would in fact unfairly advantage those citizens from the Realm. I just want to say that it in fact does not do that in this bill. In fact anybody who is a New Zealand citizen who has lived abroad is able to essentially use this bill and go to any country in the Realm and fulfil their residency requirements. So it's not just restricted to people from the Realm; it's also much wider than that as well.The final thing was that this bill may in fact take away economic value from these countries. I just want to say again that the advice that we've had and it's very clear to note is that economic contributions to these countries will in fact increase because these people will be going back taking the skills that they've learnt and they've honed in New Zealand back to their local economies. They'll also be taking remittances back to these economies so there'll be other economic contributions in that front as well. So there we have it: essentially the issues that were raised in the select committee process—I've been able to demonstrate that we've had a commitment that in fact this bill will not have anything amount to those in the bill itself.So in terms of final remarks on the bill it is a very important bill because New Zealand is part of the Pacific and I think we stand with our neighbours in saying that if you meet the residency requirements and the 10 years over 20 you're able to do the five years over 50 and contribute as well. We also want others to be able to contribute to the countries of Niue Tokelau and the Cook Islands. Finding ways like this bill that encourages people to go back and contribute to their economies is I think a really important thing as well.The final thing I'd like to say certainly on the eve of Armistice Day is that I'd like to thank all of our veterans for their service. I'm actually sitting next to one of my colleagues here Chris Penk who has served in the navy but for everybody in my electorate of Northcote who has served it's quite appropriate because this bill does actually affect them as well. I just think it's really important that we note on the eve of Armistice Day the service that these people have given throughout the years which is a very important 100-years occasion since World War I. So I'd like to make that a final thing there and I just want to say that this is a good bill. It's something that is going to receive good support in the House as opposed to the bills that we were debating earlier today and I commend this bill to the House.