Davis KelvinHon KELVIN DAVIS (Minister of Tourism): Thank you Mr Speaker. First of all I'd like to thank my colleagues the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway and the Hon Eugenie Sage for the wonderful work and the collaboration that has gone on to get to the stage where we're at. I think the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway spelt out the need for the conservation visitor tourism levy extremely thoroughly.One of the points that the Opposition have totally missed—when the Hon Todd McClay gets up and says that we haven't put any money into tourism he forgets the Provincial Growth Fund which has put tens if not hundreds of millions into tourism. They're very quick to forget that.Look we've spoken about the benefits of tourism to New Zealand. We know that 216000 New Zealanders are employed directly in tourism. We know that 170000 New Zealanders are employed indirectly by tourism. We know that there's been a 35 percent growth in tourism numbers over the last five years. We also know that our visitors from overseas spend some $16 billion in New Zealand when they're here. We know that the numbers are going from 3.9 million now up to 5.1 million by 2025. But here's the thing. We know how important tourism is to New Zealand but the Opposition over there what they want to do is strangle the golden goose. They want to grab it by the throat. They want to wring its neck. They want to pluck it. They want to gut it. They want to boil it and they want to serve tourism up to the New Zealand public on a cold plate of contempt because that is what they are showing. That is what they are showing to the New Zealand tourism sector. Everything that they have said over the last few hours that we've been debating this and last night has meant that they don't understand tourism. They don't care about tourism. They don't want to protect our natural capital in the conservation estate. All they want to do is have more and more people turn up. They want to market New Zealand as this paradise but they don't actually want to manage New Zealand as this paradise.Kiritapu Allan: Strangle the golden goose.Hon KELVIN DAVIS: They want to strangle the golden goose.So here's the point. Here is the big thing. If they hate this conservation and tourism levy so much will the National Party in their remaining speeches stand up and promise the tourism sector that they will repeal this law? Will they repeal it? Will they say We don't want the $450 million to protect our tourism and our conservation estate."? I challenge them now to stand up when they have their time and promise the country that they are going to repeal this—promise. Promise also that the $25 million a year for four years—that has been set out; that was their idea—is going to continue. But that $25 million has to come from somewhere as well—it has to come from somewhere. We're creating a long-term sustainable funding mechanism for tourism for conservation so that those sectors can plan well into the future. There are a number of areas in this country that are struggling under the weight of visitor numbers but the Opposition don't care. So with all the bluff and puffery that has gone on for the number of hours that we've been sitting here I can guarantee that not one of them will stand up and promise to repeal this law.We talk in tourism about the investment framework which is the five A's. We have the attractions that visitors need. They need things to do when they go somewhere—the attractions. We need awareness. We need visitors to know what the attractions are that are on offer. They need access. Visitors need to be able to get to where they want to go safely. We need the amenities. Visitors need accommodation they need retail and hospitality they need car-parks they need ablution blocks and they need good and safe water. We also need the attitudes of our communities. Our communities need to know that tourism is good for them. But all that is in jeopardy because of those people sitting over there. Let me say that the best place for them is to be sitting over there. God help the tourism industry. God help the conservation estate if they ever get on this side and throttle and strangle and pluck and gut the golden goose.New Zealanders expect visitors to this country to actually contribute to the costs of the infrastructure in protecting and enhancing our natural environment. That is what New Zealanders expect. That motley crew over there think that strangling the golden goose is actually going to do New Zealand good. It is not and I am very proud of what this Government has done very proud that we are ensuring that we protect the ongoing viability of tourism and of the conservation estate and I commend this bill to the House."