Perry Edwin: Prostitution Reform Bill — In Committee 
Perry Edwin: Prostitution Reform Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:608;Page:5758] 
EDWIN PERRY (NZ First) 
: 
 Firstly I want to tautoko our kaumatua the Hon Dover Samuels and Taito Phillip Field for their presentations and say that I totally agree with them. I want to speak about the title. I believe that the title should be “The Five Ds”: disgusting disgraceful demeaning disastrous and degrading—and degrading for Maoridom. This bill I believe will create havoc amongst our young Maori women. Already our young Maori women are children pushing children. I challenge the Minister of Maori Affairs to come out and tell Maoridom whether this is his proposal for closing the gaps or for development. Quite frankly I want him now to get those Maori MPs to cross the floor. Where are they? We look deeply into there and we see that the only one here tonight to represent Maoridom is the Hon Dover Samuels. I applaud Nanaia Mahuta for her stand in respect of where Maoridom will go. 
I will touch a wee bit too on Maori women who are currently in the prostitution business. While I was in South Australia I met a number of Maori women who belong to a Maori club and who were participating in the prostitution game there. The thing was that they were in it for the money so that they could fund their drug habits. That is what will happen here. Already 2 or 3 months ago we heard of 13-year old Maori girls involved in the trade. I hear here tonight that that will not happen. Well I do not know where some members have been living but I have been around all those sorts of people in shearing gangs and in the low life where these people do live. They are waiting for this bill to happen. They will move into this area and earn an income from being a prostitute. 
 We have seen among Maori the effects in terms of the domestic purposes benefit. It is used in a negative way as a tool or means of earning an income—have a child earn some income; have another child earn some more income. This bill is just another tool to drive the wedge between our young people. I challenge the Minister of Maori Affairs to convince his Maori members to change their votes. I am telling Parekura Horomia that Maoridom is listening and watching to see what he does but we cannot hear him. This is my first speech on this bill. The prostitution industry—[ 
Interruption 
] Jill Pettis who is trying to interject can go on as much as she likes but I am coming from the point of view of where Maoridom sits. It has been said that this bill will not lead to more gangs being involved in the industry. I am telling the Committee that the gangs will front with a cleanskinned person and he will purchase a parlour. They will then front up with the dough and they will run it. They will run the pimps and they will trade in prostitution. The member will not even know— 
Government Member 
: And drugs. 
EDWIN PERRY 
: And drugs. Last night in the House we heard about the use of methamphetamine. Brothels are the places where they will be selling it in bulk not only to the prostitutes but to everybody who goes in there because the brothel will become a “tinny house” for drug dealing. 
I want to talk about the abuse of women. We have heard tonight from some of the speakers about this. To abuse women is the lowest thing one can do. I love women. To abuse them in any way is degrading as I said in my introduction when I mentioned the Ds. It is degrading to treat women like that. Physically they will be abused. Mentally they will be abused. They will become drug addicts in the throes of being involved in this industry. We will see more children left at home alone. Already the country is flooded with programmes showing violence against women. I am telling members that that will increase. 
Jill Pettis 
: Where is the evidence? 
EDWIN PERRY 
: The member probably has not even been there. She would not realise. Her Government is promoting anti-violence programmes yet this bill will only increase violence. I want to talk about what happens in New South Wales. New South Wales has nearly 6 million people. Our country has only reached 4 million—if one wants to believe it is 4 million. It is probably a lot more. But we have gradually reached 4 million.