Halbert ShananSHANAN HALBERT (Labour): Thank you Mr Chair. Thanks very much for giving me another go to ask some questions of the Minister on this very important piece of legislation that I can only see as actually taking New Zealand backwards and Māori backwards. Again I'll go back my colleagues in the Māori Affairs Committee—it would be really good if you could make a contribution this evening. I would really appreciate hearing your whakaaro on this. I think I saw the chair rise to his feet but I think that was a closure motion not a question. Minister I have asked you and other people have done follow-ups about what evidence you took on board to help make your decision in this sense. You haven't been clear about this yet. You haven't spoken about the submissions that you really took on board particularly council views. And to come back to—I think there was a question around cost. When I was sitting in submissions I did ask around the costs of two councils for putting in the referenda and the poll and if we did that in Auckland Council as an example—because it wasn't that they didn't want to ever do a Māori ward it's that they don't want to do it at this time. So my question for the Minister is what in fact is the cost that he has considered that he's off-loading onto councils? Auckland Council as one example is on their knees financially at the moment and really struggling because of other decisions that he has made. What would that cost be Minister? Is he considering funding that cost to councils where they are in fact following what will be his instruction through requirements of this legislation? Will he be funding them to do that? And what considerations did he make given that a decision for council if they wanted to continue a Māori ward becomes a cost decision. If it's going to cost for example $50000 to do a referendum with your community and your council effectively is broke then they would say No they don't want to pursue that." So therefore that actually becomes a democratic barrier to a representation model. I would appreciate if the Minister could articulate for me the basis of evidence. This is my second time and I think the fifth time in the House that he's been asked for any evidence this evening. Minister apart from your revenge politics that I believe I can only see at the moment what evidence is there? What are the costs that you've viewed and taken on board? What are the costs specifically for Auckland if they want to establish Māori wards in a number of years' time—Cameron Brewer: No they don't.SHANAN HALBERT: That's not correct Cameron Brewer.Cameron Brewer: Sixty-eight percent don't.SHANAN HALBERT: That is not correct. It's about timing. And again Cameron Brewer there you are your arrogance and ignorance.CHAIRPERSON (Teanau Tuiono): Please direct your comments to the Chair Mr Halbert.SHANAN HALBERT: And it's disappointing that still given the sensitivity of this particular—that it impacts Māori—that certain members of this House actually want to—Cameron Brewer: You're throwing the abuse not me.Hon Willie Jackson: You can handle it Cam.SHANAN HALBERT: Yeah you're a big boy. But the conversation here tonight really comes back to my original question which is what is the Minister's why? And he hasn't articulated that. He hasn't provided any evidence. He hasn't spoken to any of the submissions. He hasn't spoken to the cost that he's offloading on to councils how they're going to pay for it or if he will fund it. So those are my questions for the Minister. It'd be great to receive an answer. Again I'd encourage my Māori Affairs Committee members to make your contributions through questions this evening too."