Mahuta Nanaia: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
Mahuta Nanaia: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
[Volume:651;Page:158] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Hauraki-Waikato) 
: 
 The Maori Party members must be hanging their heads in shame on this bill right now. They must be shaking their heads because I am absolutely sure that when they walked into their mana-enhancing relationship they did not realise they were delivering hardship to vulnerable families—or maybe they did realise that. At no point during the election campaign when they were championing the rights of vulnerable people of Maori families of young people of poor people and of people without work did they think that they would be supporting a measure like this which delivers tax cuts to those who really do not need them at the expense of the poor the vulnerable and the children in many of our communities. They must be hanging their heads down in shame. 
We know that 74 percent of the people in Te Ururoa Flavell’s electorate of Waiariki earn less than $40000. Yes 74 percent of families in Waiariki earn less than $40000. So when we look at who will really benefit from this measure we see that not many families in Waiariki will benefit. Clayton Cosgrove raised the point that people earning around $23999 will get absolutely nothing. The Maori Party members must be hanging their heads in shame. They must be thinking again about the implications of a mana-enhancing relationship that puts at the centre-front of the stage a measure benefiting those who do not need it at the expense of the vulnerable the poor children and families in many communities around Aotearoa New Zealand. Let us see that one being explained to the Maori electorates. It is no wonder that the people in those electorates voted to have the Labour Government continue its policies; they knew that at least we do what we say we are going to do. We do not say one thing so that people will support us then deliver something totally different. 
As I said that mana-enhancing relationship had better be explained very carefully to the 74 percent of Maori in Waiariki who earn less than $40000 because they will be very concerned about what they are hearing today in this Chamber. They will be very concerned that the things they thought they were voting for in supporting members of the Maori Party are not being delivered. They have not been told about it. We are putting this legislation through in urgency. We are addressing the very issues that people really want to hear about in urgency. 
People have to ask themselves why at a time of economic hardship when there is a financial crisis when many families just before Christmas are wondering how they are going to pull it all together over the next 2 years the Government is doing that. What is the National Government—supported by ACT and the Maori Party—doing? It is delivering tax cuts at the expense of poor vulnerable families in our community and it needs to be accountable for that. That level of accountability has to ensure that people are not duped by the types of changes that will be bulldozed through the House over the next few days. People need to know about them. I can see Paul Hutchison looking at me quite carefully; the people of Tuakau in his electorate need to know the cost of this tax cut to those families in Tuakau whom Mr Hutchison knows I represent who will be negatively affected. They will not see a dime. They will not see any benefits from this policy. Mr Hutchison knows that and I know that. When we are at our next community meeting I look forward to his explaining this policy to many members of my constituency. 
Let us recap. At a time when the most vulnerable in our society need more support not less we have tax cuts that are not delivering to them at all. People should be very concerned. Annette King the previous Minister of Justice raised very good points about the implications in terms of lifting about 220000 children out of poverty. How will this measure benefit those families? There is no explanation from the other side of the Chamber. The Maori Party must be very very concerned at this time. Those members should be hanging their heads in shame. As I said 74 percent of the people in the Waiariki electorate earn less than $40000 very few of whom will see any benefit from this measure today.