Halbert ShananSHANAN HALBERT (Labour): Just outrageous—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Good—excellent. We're just going to let the man start his speech before you pass comment on whatever it is he might be about to say.SHANAN HALBERT: Thank you Mr Speaker. That is just outrageous. Andy Foster former Mayor of Wellington talks about water infrastructure—a city that is struggling at this very time—and he is supporting a bill that he knows will not save Wellington from its water infrastructure issues. He talks about the relationship with local government and Local Government New Zealand that he stayed with. So that is an absolute cop-out from the New Zealand First MP and actually the chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. All I have seen from him is an inquiry this term into a pedestrian crossing in Auckland. Outrageous that that member can talk about the importance of infrastructure when this week he voted down with Government members my inquiry into Auckland Transport because of their dismal delivery for Aucklanders. He voted it down. And how dare he stand up today in this House and advocate for better water infrastructure when he knows that this city will not benefit under this deal.I acknowledge water infrastructure challenges in Aotearoa New Zealand. I sat on the Finance and Expenditure Committee for two years while we debated this out. You know what they will never say is actually one of the biggest challenges in this—yes from the ACT Party too—was co-governance. And when we come to submissions on this bill I look forward to every iwi every ropu Māori that's going to front up and challenge this Government on Māori representation when it comes to water because they will argue and they will argue and no doubt they will take this Government to court once again. Because Māori representation in this country is important—Hon Shane Jones: Where's the pōti?SHANAN HALBERT: —and they will front up—matua Shane they will front up to all of you and ensure that their voice is heard. Yesterday at Hui Taumata at Omāhu marae thousands of Māori turned up in kotahitanga to talk about the tragic state of this Government and how poorly they are treating Māori. And I've said over and over again that this Government and their sentiments are anti-Māori in a country that is important and actually Māori want to be a part of this decision making.Cameron Luxton: Point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: A point of order Cameron Luxton. I think I know what you're going to say and I was within a hair's breadth of making the same comment. Please bring your speech back at least around the bill as opposed to as tangentially as you appear to have gone.Hon Shane Jones: It's a water bill.SHANAN HALBERT: It is a water bill and it does include the importance of iwi as a part of it and Māori representation in the decision making of our wai. This Government is putting forward a bill that is not going to change outcomes for the majority of New Zealanders. When we talk about the cost to ratepayers the cost to ratepayers is that the benefits to Aucklanders are actually worse under this Government in water rates than they were under Labour's plan. I accept that it's not easy. I accept that somebody has to pay. But Labour's plan cost less to Aucklanders for their water to achieve the changes that were required.This bill doesn't even acknowledge Wellington that Andy Foster's talking about. When I met with Gisborne council a month ago they were so concerned about this leaving them out to dry. Dana you have to front up to your community to ensure you have the best outcome. And if you're speaking on this today—SPEAKER: No no I don't. SHANAN HALBERT: —you know this is not a deal for Gisborne.SPEAKER: No hang on Mr Halbert. I'm not fronting up to anybody about water—I'm not a Minister. So just follow the rules of the House. If in a speech someone is referred to as you" in so much as it's not the first person that's acceptable under new rules but not quite the way that you are addressing it there. And I'm probably taking up the time that someone was about to take up with a point of order on it just to move us on. My apologies for interrupting you but please carry on.SHANAN HALBERT: No my apologies. I will ensure that when I question members in the House and ask them about how they're going to represent their communities when it comes to important things like water infrastructure and how they pay rates in Whanganui—actually this bill is not achieving better outcomes for their communities. It's not making it more affordable for people to have good quality water.I see the member for Tukituki over there where all of this started. Our Government had to bail Havelock North out because people died from poor quality water. And the members across the other side of the House know that this is the bill that is not going to achieve a better outcome for their communities. Thank you Mr Speaker."