Ball DarrochDARROCH BALL (NZ First): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. It's my pleasure to rise on behalf New Zealand First to speak on the Electoral (Entrenchment of Māori Seats) Amendment Bill and firstly congratulations to Rino Tirikatene for having it pulled. I would hazard a guess that it's no secret—New Zealand First's stance on the Māori seats. Most importantly what we campaigned on was a referendum for this issue. This was a matter for the people of New Zealand to decide—a binding referendum for the people to decide. New Zealand First does believe in a single franchise but we also most importantly believe that temporarily empowered politicians shouldn't stand up in this House and vote on such an important matter.That campaign was 12 months ago and our stance and our policy has not changed. Therefore it is quite timely and a unique opportunity for New Zealand First to see this bill through the first reading and to make it clear that the only reason we will be doing that is so that there is a provision an amendment for a binding referendum to be held for the people of New Zealand—for the people of New Zealand. We will not be supporting it any further past that point if that referendum—that amendment; that clause—is not put forward.I must make it clear on behalf of the party that New Zealand First does not support the outright entrenchment of the Māori seats especially when it's being voted on in this House. We believe that we need the people of New Zealand to decide with a thorough robust and informed debate. The fact is that the constitution of Parliament affects everybody and therefore everybody should get the ability to decide just like we did with MMP—just like we did with MMP.Usually members' bills give the opportunity for backbenchers to put forward a bill that they are passionate about and they put forward their ideas on how things should change in this country. Usually we do get to vote in two ways in this House: either individually through conscience votes or via the party but in most ways through the party vote. But this bill includes a topic that is different it is unique and it is vitally important that we don't leave the decision to temporarily empowered politicians in this House but that we put that question forward to the people of this country.I think an important question that both Labour and the Green Party need to think about is that if this issue around the Māori seats is being put forward to this House to be voted on by the MPs in this House no matter whether they're seat-holders in Māori electorates seat-holders in general electorates or list MPs and no matter what their constitution is what their constituency is who they represent or what authority they have then surely that vote must be put to the people whom they represent in this House. There is no argument about that—there is no argument about that.New Zealand First will be seeking an agreement for a Supplementary Order Paper to be tabled that will give that vote to the people through the next stage. We would not be supporting the bill further past that stage if that agreement is not made. This shouldn't be taken lightly and New Zealand First will support this if and only if that referendum and that question is put to the people of this country.Mr Tirikatene can still fulfil the intent of his bill if the people of this country decide. New Zealand First will be supporting this legislation through this first stage but only if that referendum occurs. Thank you.