McClay Todd: Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
McClay Todd: Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
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TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) 
: 
 The previous speaker Su’a William Sio wasted his time towards the end of his speech by offering advice to members of the National Party who are residents or ratepayers about what is or is not happening to them. If he had suggested that advice to them at the beginning of his speech the four people listening may have been able to hear him but I fear they were fast asleep when he got to the end of his 10 minutes. 
It is a pleasure to rise and speak on the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill. It is a pleasure because good local government is essential for our communities our economy and our environment. I say clearly that the National Government values having an honest and open working relationship with local government and the local government sector and we on this side of the House recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach to local government does not work. 
The previous speaker made mention of democracy. He linked democracy in local government and local communities to this bill. Indeed he mentioned the electorate of Mana and said the people of Mana would feel that they did not have democracy when it came to this bill passing through the House. I say to members opposite that I have heard rumours that some of the members of this House who sit opposite have spent the last 5 weeks of the Mana campaign on the telephone berating members of the Pacific Island community in Mana and telling them how to vote. Why is it that members opposite are saying that this bill will be bad for democracy but when they get on the phone and call hard-working people from Pacific Island churches in Mana and tell them how to vote—I am not saying that they threatened them; I am sure members opposite would not stoop as low as that—it is good for democracy? I will not even say in this House what some members of the Labour campaign team have said about Pacific Islanders in Mana. I would not repeat that; I think it is wrong. It is a horrible thing for them to say. 
When it comes to local government this bill will encourage local authorities to operate within a defined fiscal envelope. The people of Mana want their local authority to work within that envelope. The people of Mana want this Government to work within the tight fiscal envelope that has been set for us because of the recession that we face. They are happy with what the Government is doing. That certainly will be helpful to them come the election. 
I say to Mr Hughes opposite that a year ago when Hekia Parata was working in Mana she had mana. Last week when she was in that electorate she had mana. Today in that electorate she has mana. It does not matter what happens on Saturday in that electorate on Monday she will still have mana. That is more than I can say for most of the members on the other side of the House. 
I think the people of New Zealand want this bill to move forward. I think the people of New Zealand and their local government are looking forward to transparency looking forward to accountability and looking forward to a level playing field to better enable the private sector to help deliver services. I will not take up any more time in this House. I will let members opposite get up and ring a few more of those Pacific Island ministers in Mana and tell them what they should do on Saturday. Thank you.