Eckhoff Gerrard: Wine Makers Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Eckhoff Gerrard: Wine Makers Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:607;Page:4521] 
GERRARD ECKHOFF (ACT NZ) 
: 
 This is a very important bill but as I have said in previous contributions the Wine Makers Amendment Bill is an inappropriate title. This bill should be about the export of wine and that is what should be in the title. There is nothing more important to this wine industry than the exporting of it. I agree with my colleague Mr Woolerton that while we do not like the bureaucracies and controls that have been placed around the industry we must do this to comply with the regulations of the European Union. If we must do it then we must do it. 
I look forward as I am sure we all do to a day when the New Zealand wine industry has names that are recognised worldwide. To a small degree some of our wines like Cloudy Bay are recognised throughout the world but French wines like Chateau Lafitte Chateau d’Yquem Neuf du Pape and Chateau Margeaux are names known throughout the wine-drinking world. Everybody knows of their expertise. I note that Mr Keys has obviously sampled a bottle of Chateau d’Yquem—at the appropriate time I am sure. But that is what we are striving for in this industry—that is to achieve the excellence and the names that those wines have got. I am not at all certain that we will do so under this bill. 
I want to draw the attention of the House to a point that I think is extremely important. It is simply that as I mentioned earlier it is the exporting of this wine that is crucial. But I am not at all certain that this bill will allow for a free and full exporting of our New Zealand wines. Clause 147 requires the director-general to make available to winemakers for inspection free of charge or for purchase at reasonable cost the requirements of the European Union. That is perfectly fair and reasonable. But how does that help the exporter? How does the exporter of this wine know whether Chateau Cold Creek has actually met the requirements? I do not think that will happen. What we can potentially find is duopolies or monopolies or even the Wine Institute becoming— 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Oligopolies! 
GERRARD ECKHOFF 
: Yes oligopolies—an effective export authority. They will be the people who determine whether Chateau Cold Creek can leave this fair land of ours and be enjoyed by somebody in France Spain England or America. I do not think that is appropriate. The strength of the wine industry especially the wines from France—and that is the standard most should strive to achieve—was as the direct result of the negotiants. They were the people who exported the wine around the world. They put their label on the wine and one fell or rose on the strength of the quality and ability of that exporter. But this bill does not assist winemakers who are not exporters to allow for the free and full flow of that wine overseas. I have real difficulty accepting that we will have an equivalent or a wine export authority determine the future of this wine. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That has nothing whatever to do with this bill. Will the member come to the bill. It has nothing to do with the wine authority. 
GERRARD ECKHOFF 
: I am sure that members who have listened to this debate know that the bill is about the requirements to be placed on labels of export wines and if that information is not freely available to an exporter then how on earth will that wine be exported? That is the point that I am making. We all agree that that information must be there on the label. Egg extracts are an important issue. We fine the wine with egg extracts so are we to put that on the label? These are real issues and we have effectively glossed over them. It is hugely important that whatever information is on the label is something that will help the export of our wine. I am not quite sure whether that particular information must be placed on the label to meet the requirements of the European Union but it is an important point. If this information is not freely available to all exporters how on earth will this wine be exported? That is what this clause of the bill is all about. It is not directly about the making of the wine; it is about ensuring that the wine meets the requirements so that it can be exported. That is the fundamental issue I am trying to draw to the attention of this House to ensure that we actually do address it. 
I am not exactly sure of the number of small winegrowers who will be faced with a significant cost in their export of those wines especially if significant cost structures are involved in meeting the European Union’s regulations. Maybe cooperatives will spring up as a result of this requirement. But given the opportunity to excel I am sure that the industry will do so as long as we do not shoot ourselves in the foot and impose upon ourselves wine authorities that will be the total determinant of whether we can export wine that has met the requirements of the European Union.