Brown Peter: Real Estate Agents Bill — First Reading 
Brown Peter: Real Estate Agents Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:644;Page:13821] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 It is not my job to defend the Minister but I have to say that in the discussions I have had with the Minister he has always recognised that most real estate agents in this country are honest law-abiding genuine people. I know that from time to time he has used the words “land sharks” and perhaps some other stronger terms but he has normally clarified that with a specific case as he did in his opening speech tonight. I know a number of real estate agents. I know them personally and I know them professionally and I have not had one of them complain to me about this bill. I have had several mention that they are concerned about the industry and say that it needs a tidy-up as the two National Party speakers have said. 
I have listened to the National Party contribution thus far with a good deal of interest. I thought that Simon Power made some very good points and that Katherine Rich made some good points at the end. But the underlying point that seems to come across from National members is that they will not vote for this bill because the Minister has upset a few real estate agents. Katherine Rich said at the end of her speech that she wants the bill to be tidied up at the select committee and that she recognises that some technical amendments could make it a better bill. That is in essence what she said but she summarised that by saying in effect that as the Minister has upset a significant number of real estate agents National cannot see its way to supporting this bill. 
The real estate industry is to all intents and purposes a closed shop and it needs to be opened up. It needs to be opened up and— 
Simon Power 
: Anybody can join it. 
PETER BROWN 
: Everybody can join it but they have to join it and they have to abide by rules and standards that are pretty much second-rate. The underlying point is—[ 
Interruption 
] Should I sit down Mr Assistant Speaker while the members have an exchange? 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I say to the member on my left and to the member on my right who are interjecting on each other that that is totally out of order. 
PETER BROWN 
: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. The underlying purpose behind this bill is to give some protection to people who buy houses and homes. Having one out of 10000 being ripped off is not good enough. It is not good enough. The member Simon Power shakes his head. He thinks it is OK for one in 10000— 
Simon Power 
: The bill doesn’t do that. Read the bill. 
PETER BROWN 
: I think that the member should read the bill and I remind the member what the purpose of the bill is. The bill states: “The purpose of this Act is to”—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister opposite knows what I am going to say; I have let the comment go three times so far. It is completely inappropriate under the Standing Orders to suggest that any member of this House is under the influence of anybody outside this Chamber and I want him to withdraw and apologise. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I didn’t say that. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Can I just say that I never heard anything like that but members know that they cannot indicate that anyone is under the influence of any outside person. All members here are honourable members and their word is their bond. I would suggest that we get on with the debate. The Minister said that he did not do that. 
PETER BROWN 
: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I was about to read the purpose of the legislation which is in clause 3 in Part 1 for the benefit of the National Party. It states: “(1) The purpose of this Act is to promote and protect the interests of consumers in respect of transactions that relate to real estate. (2) The Act achieves its purpose by—(a) regulating agents branch managers and salespersons: (b) raising industry standards: (c) providing accountability through a disciplinary process that is independent transparent and effective.” To New Zealand First that all sounds like very good news. This industry needs a tidy-up and this bill will go some way to achieve that. I accept that when it goes to a select committee it will be amended changed and adjusted but at the end of the day it will come out as a bill that one hopes will address the problems of consumers. 
Real estate agents are a service industry. They service the public. I can say to the honourable members opposite that the most expensive asset an individual or in particular a young married couple purchases is a home. Those people need to know that they will get a fair and reasonable deal out of the whole thing and they do not need to go away thinking that they have been ripped off. This bill attempts to do that. It puts in place a number of rules which those members have referred to and that will possibly be subject to some change at the select committee but they are relatively minor amendments. They are not a reason for National Party members to shake their heads and say that they will not support this bill. 
Simon Power opened his speech and I thought he was going well by saying that the current legislation the 1976 Act needs updating and needs to be brought into the 21st century. This bill attempts to do that and with his willingness—I know he is a lawyer and he knows the ins and outs and the intricacies of legal matters—and his positive contribution I am certain this bill could be improved to the point that it satisfies him. 
New Zealand First is comfortable with the way the bill reads now but we recognise that we are not the experts on the real estate industry and that some concerns will probably need to be addressed as the select committee progresses with the bill. But we think this is something that needed to be done a long time ago. I note that the Minister did call the real estate industry to account some time ago. He asked agents on a voluntary basis to tidy up their act—putting it in finer words. That opportunity was declined so the Minister had to make the choice of either doing something or sitting on his hands and doing nothing. Thankfully—and New Zealand First thanks him—he has come to grips with this issue and has produced this bill that will go a large way towards addressing the concerns of people who purchase houses and homes. That is the purpose of this bill. Those people have to get a fair and reasonable deal. New Zealand First supports this bill going to a select committee.