The review is not binding on Parliament, but will provide a set of recommendations. The timetable is:

1. Written submissions can be made up to Thu 5 April 2012
2. Oral submission can be made from Tue 24 April to Fri 18 May 2012
3. A proposal paper released on Mon 13 August 2012
4. Submissions close on proposal paper Fri 7 Sep 2012
5. Report presented to Minister of Justice on Wed 31 Oct 2012

So I encourage people to have their say. If you remain silent, then you will be leaving it to unions and lobby groups to dominate the debate.

The issues the review will cover are:

• the thresholds for the allocation of list seats,
• list members contesting by-elections,
• the rules allowing candidates to both contest an electorate and be on a party list,
• the rules for ordering candidates on party lists,
• the effect of a party winning more electorate seats than its party vote share entitles it to,
• the effects of the ratio of electorate seats to list seats on proportionality in certain circumstances, and
• other matters referred to the Commission by the Minister of Justice or Parliament.

Two issues can not be considered, under the law which set up the review. They are the total no of MPs in Parliament, and Maori representation.

It is my intention to blog on each issue individually, and discuss the pros and cons of potential changes.

What I would also like to do is arrange some public forums in major centres, where a range of speakers can advocate for and against some of the significant possible changes. I think hearing a contest of ideas is one of the more effective ways to get people interested in the issues, and to come to a conclusion on them.

I don’t have the resources to do arrange the public forums myself, but am happy to work with some others to do so.

The proposed taxes include:

• Regional income tax – new income tax paid only by Aucklanders.
• Regional payroll tax – new income tax paid by Auckland employers.
• Regional GST – raising GST in Auckland.
• Regional fuel tax – raising petrol and diesel taxes across Auckland.
• Visitor taxes – nightly charge for hotel and motel rooms.

Photo from Stuff.

Captions should be funny, not nasty.

Why the fuss over charter schools? Given the hysterical ranting from teacher unions, you’d think we were returning to caning on the backside.

It won’t be compulsory for students to attend what are, essentially, alternative choices for parents to state or private schools. A bit like kura kaupapa.

But unions don’t like parental choice. They like telling parents what to do. Robin Duff, head of the PPTA, published an opinion piece comparing these evil charter schools with epic failures such as the Pike River mining disaster, the Global Financial Crisis and the grounding of the container ship Rena.

Charter schools also cause famine in Africa I understand.

The commonality is that none are accountable. But charter schools are accountable to parents, something that many state schools are not.

If parents can choose to stay or leave a school, that is the best form of accountability.

While the PPTA and NZEI remain firmly wedded to collective agreements, it will be difficult to introduce incentives to keep brilliant teachers in the classrooms when they must move into management for higher salaries. In union land, excellent teachers shouldn’t get more pay than incompetent colleagues on the same level because that’s not fair.

I say let each principal decide for themselves how much to pay the teachers at their school, within a total budget.

Waitangi Day produced its usual hatred, rudeness, and violence against a clearly elected Prime Minister from a group of hateful, hate-fuelled weirdos who seem to exist in a perfect world of benefit provision. This enables them to blissfully continue to believe that New Zealand is the centre of the world, no one has to have a job and the Treaty is all that matters.

I’m over Waitangi Day. It is repugnant. It’s a ghastly affair. As I lie in bed on Waitangi morning, I know that later that evening, the news will show us irrational Maori ghastliness with spitting, smugness, self-righteousness and the usual neurotic Maori politics, in which some bizarre new wrong we’ve never thought about will be lying on the table. …

Well, it’s a bullshit day, Waitangi. It’s a day of lies. It is loony Maori fringe self-denial day. It’s a day when everything is addressed, except the real stuff.

Never mind the child stats, never mind the national truancy stats, never mind the hopeless failure of Maori to educate their children and stop them bashing their babies. No, it’s all the Pakeha’s fault. It’s all about hating whitey. Believe me, that’s what it looked like the other day.

John Key speaks bravely about going there again. He should not go there again. It’s over. Forget it. It is too awful and nasty and common. It is no more New Zealand day than Halloween.

Our national day is now Anzac Day. Anzac Day is a day of honour, and struggle, bravery and sacrifice. A day on which we celebrate the periods when our country embraced great efforts for international freedom and on which we weep for those who served and for those who died.

Waitangi Day is an important day in terms of the treaty between the Crown (Government) and Maori. But it is not, and should not be, our national day.

John Roughan also writes on Waitangi Day. I’ve observed that Roughan tends to be fairly liberal on Maori and treaty issues generally, so that makes his column quite significant:

Protesters forget that Maori have to act in good faith too.

If you or I imagined we were plugged into the deepest yearnings of the people, raised our flag, stood for election and collected a miserable few votes, we’d probably fold our tent, slip away and revise our view of the world.

But we’re not that special breed of human life known as the protester. Votes don’t count for much in the protesters’ idea of democracy. The Mana Party came to Waitangi last weekend as though the election had never happened, or perhaps to say it didn’t matter.

Good faith is indeed required both ways.

Then Hone Harawira and Greens co-leader Metiria Turei were called to the platform. Turei, declaring her background to be anarchism, said her concept of life was that we all lived in a cage with wild monsters trying to tear down the walls that protected us.

These monsters were corporate capitalism, she said, and she saw her job as trying to push out the walls of the cage and increase our living space. Weird.

Yes wild monsters are trying to eat our young and destroy us. They’re called businesses and are evil.

Technology allowing police and other authorities to identify the location of callers may become mandatory for all cellphones in New Zealand in a move to improve the 111 emergency calling system.

But although the proposal could save lives, Telecom and the Privacy Commissioner have rung alarm bells.

The mandatory global positioning system (GPS) idea was raised in a discussion paper reviewing the 111 system issued yesterday by Communications Minister Amy Adams.

Umm, no.

I’ve chosen to have GPS on my cellphone. Personally I like the idea of the authorities being able to trace me in case of emergency. Hell, I’m even on Foursquare, so I boroadcast my location to several hundred people.

But that is my choice. Equally I should have the choice of being able to use a cellphone that does not indicate my location.

Once the Government has the ability to detect your location via your cellphone for one purpose (a noble one), there is a slippery slope that they will want to use it for other purposes.

Winston is back in Parliament, and had a good first week in the House. His chosen issue of wasteful spending under the whanau ora programme is a good one for him (and one I approve of). Labour and Greens are reluctant to go there, as they worry that they may be seen as being against the aims of whanau ora, which is seeking to improve the lives of whanau.

But also note:

There has been a fascinating series of exchanges between the Speaker and Peters. Peters complains that the PM has not answered his question, and the Speaker points out it is totally unreasonable to expect the PM to be able to answer a supplementary question on details of a small grant, when the primary question did not refer to the grant in question. Despite being told this on Tuesday and Wednesday, Peters persisted with this approach, and again on Thursday got the same reply from the PM. If he is smart, he will take the advice of Mr Speaker, and start providing details of the alleged wasteful spending in the primary question. But maybe secrecy is so ingrained with him, he can’t bear to reveal his target in advance.

I also look at the Greens and Labour.

The mandatory bicycle helmet law has cut the number of cyclists in half and contributed to 53 premature deaths per year, new research says.

The research, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal today, found a 51 per cent drop in the average hours cycled per person from the 1989-90 period when compared to 2006-09.

Colin Clarke, the honorary secretary of the Yorkshire Region’s Cyclists Touring Club in England who produced the research, has worked as a safety instructor and cycled in more than 20 countries including about 8000 kms in New Zealand.

Clarke estimates the 1994 law has translated to about 53 premature deaths per year (through adverse health effects from not cycling) and promotes discrimination in accident compensation.

He said safety should be improved through policies supporting health, the environment, and without the legal requirement to wear a helmet.

I actually think people have the right to risk themselves. Hence they can bungy jump, climb mountains, swim, work as salvors etc. That right should extend to wearing no helmet while cycling, and no seatbelt while driving.

With cycling, people should be able to judge for themselves whether the extra enjoyment they get from cycling without a helmet outweighs the probability of more severe damage if they crash. If you cycle 10 hours a week, and you have say only a 5% chance of a serious crash over your cycling life, then it is may be a reasonable decision to not wear a helmet.

Now some may argue that the decision is not one of people’s rights to take risks, but an economic one. That as we have a socialised health system, we should force people to minimise their chances of disease and injury, as otherwise we end up having to pay for their bad choices.

I have some sympathy for that argument, but it can be slippery end of the slope. You could use economics to justify making condoms compulsory for sex to reduce the prevalence of STDs.

But this story above, is a nice reminder that even if you do accept the economic argument to reduce risk by say banning cycling without a helmet, you run the risk of unintended consequences. In this case, the unintended consequence is alleged to be fewer people are cycling, and hence unhealthier, which has actually led to more premature deaths and a greater cost to the economy.

This is another reason why we should be extremely reluctant to interfere with people’s personal choices. You may have the best of motivations, but you don’t know what the impact will be.

• Seasonally adjusted employment up 4,000 for the quarter and 35,000 for the year
• Seasonally adjusted unemployment down 7,000 for the quarter and 6,000 for the year
• Seasonally adjusted labour force down 3,000 for the quarter but up 28,000 for the year
• Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate down to 6.3%. Was 6.7% a year ago.
• Under 20s unemployment rate up from 23.4% to 24.2%
• Of 34 OECD countries, NZ unemployment rate is 12th lowest

TVNZ OneNews coverage before 7pm on 26 November 2011.  It is the Electoral Commission’s view that the broadcast breached section 197(1)(g)(i) of the Electoral Act 1993 because it included statements that were likely to influence any elector as to the party for whom the elector should or should not vote.

I didn’t see the news that night (mainly because I was actually at TVNZ getting ready for the election broadcast) so can’t recall what they broadcast, which has triggered this referral.

It will be interesting to see the details of the material complained about, once it is made public.

One of this nation’s finest leaders once said of leadership “having a vision is not enough.  Change comes through turning a vision into a reality.  It is easy to espouse worthy goals, value and policies, the hard part is the implementation.

Tragically, 10 years ago the architect of those words, Sir Peter Blake lost his life in the pursuit of turning his vision into a reality. 

The essence of the Blake ethos centred around the notion that it is your actions that define you, not your words, something that can be easily forgotten by the well intentioned in their pursuit of public service.

Simon Power said something similar in his valedictory. That the honour comes from doing things as an MP, not just being an MP.

At this stage Mr Speaker I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor Hon John Carter for the massive contribution he has made to the Party, to Northland and NZ. 

Of course “massive contribution” could also now describe his tab at Trader Jacks, but I’m sure the Cooks will be well served with him as High Commissioner, not only for his passion to make a difference, but for the range of new jokes he will be unleashing on an unsuspecting population.

Heh, so true. John had an endless supply of jokes. Some were even printable.

I am the eldest son of Lew and Merlene Sabin, with one brother and sister.  I’m the proud father of three amazing children; Brook, Darryl and Brenna. I am of mixed genealogy, like most; and am proudly of Tainui Whakapapa on my mother’s side.  It gives me a uniqueness in this world which I celebrate, but more so I celebrate that NZ is my home and that I am a New Zealander.

My early years were spent in Auckland before my family moved to Whangarei.  A product of WBHS, I followed my father’s footsteps in the Navy as a Seaman Officer, but before too long I found myself back in Northland dairy farming.  As a young father I was keen to join the Police, essentially to contribute to making the community a better place to bring up my children.

Navy farming and the Police. I like MPs who have had some real life experience.

My career in the police shadowed the introduction of Pure Methamphetamine (or P) into NZ, an area I developed and expertise in, but while working on squads running undercover and electronic surveillance operations I literally saw NZ explode from virtually no P problem to the worst in the world within 5 years.   

Our well-developed drug culture saw us primed for the only hard drug in the world that can be made on your kitchen bench from readily available retail chemicals.

Those 5 years have changed NZ forever and led me to the conclusion that the fight needed to go back to the top of the cliff.  Quite simply Mr Speaker I knew we wouldn’t win the war trying to heal the wounded.

This desire to find a better way gave rise to MethCon Group, a drug education and policy company I founded and operated from 2006.  The mission was simple; empower employers, students and community with education while looking for policy solutions to help provide government with better tools. …

Mr Speaker, while there are some who would say I am a one-trick-pony, here to further the anti-drug cause, far from it, my journey into politics has come about as an evolution of many professional experiences leading me to the conclusion that if one wants to support their community and nation to reach its real potential there is a need to be around the tables where the decisions that most affect our communities are being made.

The reality is Mr Speaker, my efforts with the P issue demonstrate more my on-going willingness to try to make a difference than my focus on that particular issue alone.  Much like my son, I just wanted to try and find solutions, while many others were finding ways to tolerate the problem.

And then more generally:

Personal responsibility, the very source from which self-respect springs is intrinsically related to the individual’s willingness to accept responsibility over one’s own life.  To do so is to give value, purpose and freedom to the soul.  To refuse it leaves a hole from which the spirit of the individual will slowly but surely drain.

Yet years of socialist ideology, welfarism which has evolved to provide perverse incentives to opt out and the insidious encroachment of government on the minds and lives of citizens has seen the notion of personal responsibility pilloried like it were the ramblings of capitalist zealots.

This country is Gods own yet we condemn many innocent children to abuse, neglect and homicide.  For a generation we have vainly sought solutions, largely ignoring the fact that we have created a culture which too easily traps parents in welfare, who often through no fault of their own, lack even the most basic of life skills and for whom personal responsibility is an unnecessary and irrelevant commodity surpassed by a sea of social agencies that seek to provide what they will now never have to.

Mr Speaker too often we have become consumed with addressing the symptoms of these very problems  while failing to challenge the cause of them, something that often requires courage and honesty in uncomfortable amounts, but nonetheless something in my view New Zealanders expect of its leaders.  To that end, I’d like to commend the work being done by the Minister of Social Development in this particular area.

Hear hear.

The full speech is after the break.

One of this nation’s finest leaders once said of leadership “having a vision is not enough.  Change comes through turning a vision into a reality.  It is easy to espouse worthy goals, value and policies, the hard part is the implementation.

Tragically, 10 years ago the architect of those words, Sir Peter Blake lost his life in the pursuit of turning his vision into a reality.

The essence of the Blake ethos centred around the notion that it is your actions that define you, not your words, something that can be easily forgotten by the well intentioned in their pursuit of public service.

Mr Speaker, I raised this because in 2008 as a recipient of a Sir Peter Blake Leadership award I had cause to reflect on my own journey, the importance of leadership and the visions I wanted to see become realities.

Indeed Mr Speaker that moment was a turning point in my life and much of the reason I am here today, something I will expand on shortly…

But firstly Mr Speaker can I acknowledge your re-nomination and the dignity and decorum you bring to the role.

Can I also acknowledge the PM and Ministers of the Crown for the tremendous social and economic leadership they have shown and will continue to show this nation and express how humbled and privileged I feel to join this National Caucus, working  to serve the positive aspirations of New Zealanders.

Mr Speaker, can I also acknowledge our Party President, Peter Goodfellow, the National Party board he leads, and the team from the Service Centre.  I want to sincerely thank you all for the assistance you’ve provided me and acknowledge the outstanding leadership and support you provide our Party.

In particular can I thank Grant McCallum who was also my campaign chair.  Thanks Grant for your outstanding support and dedication.

I also want to pay tribute to my electorate team from Northland.  Our success in the election is exactly that – our success.  Nothing could have been achieved without you , and while the net result of your efforts is my election as MP, I want you to know that this has, and will always be, a team effort and I feel very fortunate to be a part of the team.

Mr Speaker I want to make special mention of Sally Macauley our Electorate Chairman, the longest serving  in the Party, Neil Clements, my Deputy Chair and man of great political wisdom, Ross Miller a loyal and guiding hand and also a special thanks to the evergreen June Levet, the Mrs National Party of the North.

At this stage Mr Speaker I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor Hon John Carter for the massive contribution he has made to the Party, to Northland and NZ.

Of course “massive contribution” could also now describe his tab at Trader Jacks, but I’m sure the Cooks will be well served with him as High Commissioner, not only for his passion to make a difference, but for the range of new jokes he will be unleashing on an unsuspecting population.

Mr Speaker I want to offer my thanks to all Northlanders who supported me through the campaign and who have entrusted in me to be their representative.

I owe you all a debt of gratitude and I hope to repay it in kind by being as effective as I can as your MP in representing the hopes and positive aspirations of Northlanders and the region.

Lastly but most importantly I want to thank my family – my wonderful parents, siblings and children.  I am who I am and where I am because of you.  I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of the family we are.

I also want to give special thanks to my partner Sandra.  I may not have always been lucky in love Mr Speaker, but my Powerball number came up in that particular lottery when you came into my life Sandra.

Thank you for sharing my life with me in the way you do.

Mr Speaker I would now like to share with you three important themes: Who I am, what I believe in and why I am here.

I am the eldest son of Lew and Merlene Sabin, with one brother and sister.  I’m the proud father of three amazing children; Brook, Darryl and Brenna. I am of mixed genealogy, like most; and am proudly of Tainui Whakapapa on my mother’s side.  It gives me a uniqueness in this world which I celebrate, but more so I celebrate that NZ is my home and that I am a New Zealander.

My early years were spent in Auckland before my family moved to Whangarei.  A product of WBHS, I followed my father’s footsteps in the Navy as a Seaman Officer, but before too long I found myself back in Northland dairy farming.  As a young father I was keen to join the Police, essentially to contribute to making the community a better place to bring up my children.

With that in mind my policing career was soon focused in the area of drug enforcement, primarily because I felt the best way to make a difference was to focus on the cause of the problems and one quickly comes to the conclusion in that vocation that drug and alcohol abuse is the cause more often than not.

My career in the police shadowed the introduction of Pure Methamphetamine (or P) into NZ, an area I developed and expertise in, but while working on squads running undercover and electronic surveillance operations I literally saw NZ explode from virtually no P problem to the worst in the world within 5 years.

Our well-developed drug culture saw us primed for the only hard drug in the world that can be made on your kitchen bench from readily available retail chemicals.

Those 5 years have changed NZ forever and led me to the conclusion that the fight needed to go back to the top of the cliff.  Quite simply Mr Speaker I knew we wouldn’t win the war trying to heal the wounded.

This desire to find a better way gave rise to MethCon Group, a drug education and policy company I founded and operated from 2006.  The mission was simple; empower employers, students and community with education while looking for policy solutions to help provide government with better tools.

I sprang to public prominence over this time, a deliberate effort to give the issue a voice and sense of urgency.

It was a long, difficult and often lonely journey Mr Speaker, one that many told me was futile, one that many told me was someone else’s problem to fix.  Nevertheless I stuck to the task for no other reason than my belief that something needed to be done.

Can I pay tribute to the PM and acknowledge his outstanding leadership on this particular issue – it’s been a game-breaker

That challenge was put into chilling context however when on ANZAC day 2009 my fight went from P to my son’s survival when he suffered a catastrophic bleed on the brain during a game of rugby.

Following emergency surgery I was confronted with the news that his death was imminent, something I refused to accept, as I did their contention that if he did survive it would likely be in a vegetative state.

Like his old man though, my boy is a fighter – I knew that even if they didn’t and I pledged I would fight with him to get his life back.

It was a frightening journey, full of heartache but one in which I never lost hope.  Sometimes Mr Speaker hope is the only thing you have to cling to, and when that’s the case you just have to learn to develop an iron grip, something we have been rewarded for Mr Speaker because today I am proud to say my son sits larger than life, fit and healthy in the gallery.  It’s not what happens to you in life that defines you Mr Speaker, it what you do about it.

It was a difficult couple of years but by now my goal was to enter politics and eventually I sold my business to allow for a full time campaign to try to win selection and the election that followed.

Mr Speaker, while there are some who would say I am a one-trick-pony, here to further the anti-drug cause, far from it, my journey into politics has come about as an evolution of many professional experiences leading me to the conclusion that if one wants to support their community and nation to reach its real potential there is a need to be around the tables where the decisions that most affect our communities are being made.

The reality is Mr Speaker, my efforts with the P issue demonstrate more my on-going willingness to try to make a difference than my focus on that particular issue alone.  Much like my son, I just wanted to try and find solutions, while many others were finding ways to tolerate the problem.

I’d now like to share a little about what I believe in.

I am proud to be a representative of the National Party because its founding values resonate with who I am as an individual, central to this – personal responsibility, reward for hard work and enterprise, limited government and equality of opportunity and citizenship.

Mr Speaker it is a fast paced world we live in and much has changed, even in my lifetime with regard to the fabric that binds society together and the balance required to maintain a healthy socio-economic equilibrium.

Too often now in my view a sense of pride, self-reliance and independence is usurped by a culture of entitlement despite the implicit irony that so many who contribute nothing to society have developed an almost self-righteous belief that society owes them something.

Striving to succeed and success itself is so often frowned upon as threatening and somehow discriminating against those who seek refuge behind an ever-growing vale of mediocrity.

Participation it seems Mr Speaker is now the goal and winning is equal part unnecessary and intimidatory.

Personal responsibility, the very source from which self-respect springs is intrinsically related to the individual’s willingness to accept responsibility over one’s own life.  To do so is to give value, purpose and freedom to the soul.  To refuse it leaves a hole from which the spirit of the individual will slowly but surely drain.

Yet years of socialist ideology, welfarism which has evolved to provide perverse incentives to opt out and the insidious encroachment of government on the minds and lives of citizens has seen the notion of personal responsibility pilloried like it were the ramblings of capitalist zealots.

This country is Gods own yet we condemn many innocent children to abuse, neglect and homicide.  For a generation we have vainly sought solutions, largely ignoring the fact that we have created a culture which too easily traps parents in welfare, who often through no fault of their own, lack even the most basic of life skills and for whom personal responsibility is an unnecessary and irrelevant commodity surpassed by a sea of social agencies that seek to provide what they will now never have to.

Mr Speaker too often we have become consumed with addressing the symptoms of these very problems  while failing to challenge the cause of them, something that often requires courage and honesty in uncomfortable amounts, but nonetheless something in my view New Zealanders expect of its leaders.  To that end, I’d like to commend the work being done by the Minister of Social Development in this particular area.

Mr Speaker the long and short of it is that a little bit of personal responsibility goes a long way, but a lack thereof will go a lot further – just in the wrong direction.

And why am I here?

I am a great believer that a marriage of quality education and equality of opportunity are essential building blocks to social wellbeing and prosperity.  Mr Speaker I am here because I want to do all I can to ensure this environment exists to help Northland and NZ reach the obvious potential we hold.

I also come here with a focus to see Northland develop a whole-of-region economic plan that clearly outlines a path to reaching that potential, the barriers that may stand in the way and where the opportunities are to make our boat go faster – and there are many!

Too often Mr Speaker Northland is singled out for many of the wrong reasons.  But let me make it quite clear today, the less than flattering statistics are not the failure.  Our failure is that Northland is blessed with economic potential but we have no plan to achieve it – well not yet anyway.

On that note, can I suggest Mr Speaker if any of the members of the house are looking for a nice patch of beachside land in Northland, it might pay to get in quick!

Mr Speaker the last point I want to make relates to judgment.  As elected representatives one of our primary roles in my view is to exercise judgment.

Edmond Burke, viewed by many as the philosophical founder of modern conservatism said of judgment

“Your representative owes you – not his industry only, but his judgment – and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.”

In a world that is over-managed and under-led Mr Speaker judgment and leadership is what New Zealanders need and expect of us, something I will always keep top-of-mind.

So in conclusion Mr Speaker who am I?

A proud family man with a blended family of 6, richer in spirit for the good AND bad experiences in my personal life – poorer (financially) for the fact that I have managed to amass so many children in the process!

I am passionate about Northland and NZ and the pursuit of potential therein.

What do I believe in?

That personal responsibility is just that – the responsibility of the person – not the government

That carrots work better than sticks, but both are necessary.

That the first question we should be asking of New Zealanders is what is your dream? And then aim to create a social and economic climate to help make those dreams possible.

And why am I here Mr Speaker?

For the implementation…. quite simply I want to help turn visions into reality.

Ports of Auckland workers are set to strike for a full week in a new escalation of their long running employment dispute.

The just-announced strike action is set to start at 7am on February 24.

It is in addition to a partial strike set to take place from February 15 to 22.

So basically, they will be on strike for two weeks continuously.

How long until all the customers have gone to Tauranga?

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says John Key should also be referred to police over his hosting of a radio show, not just RadioLive. …

I’m staggered that Stuff have not reported on the hypocrisy of that statement by Peters.

You see in 2008, the Electoral Commission referred NewstalkZB to the Police, for a prohibited election programme. And what was that election programme? It was an talkback programme hosted by Winston Peters (and another one by Shane Jones).

So Winston in 2008, did exactly what the PM did in 2011.

Unless Winston is being a total hypocrite (which of course he is), one can only conclude that he thinks he should have been referred to the Police in 2008, not just NewstalkZB.

Unlike Key, who did not talk about politics, Peters said during his talkback hosting:

We don’t mind who you vote for in your first vote, but buy yourself some insurance and give New Zealand First your party vote, your second vote

The Electoral Commission concluded in 2008:

the talkback programmes hosted by Winston Peters MP and Shane Jones MP, and broadcast on NewsTalk ZB, were broadcast in circumstances amounting to the commission of offences for the purposes of section 80 of the Broadcasting Act 1989

So let’s not hold our breath waiting for Winston to demand that he also be referred to the Police. Hopefully though the media will at least mention the gross hypocrisy.

Each bill would have a large tick or a cross next to it, to indicate how ACT planned to vote on it, along with a sentence or two explaining why.

It strikes me that this would be a good feature on Red Alert. The Whips could do it after caucus every Tuesday, and it would let people know which bills are non-controversial and which ones are contentious. It would also let Labour indicate briefly why they are voting for or against, and maybe even highlight the aspects they want changed (if appropriate).

Ideally all parties in Parliament should do this – to be open and transparent on which bills they plan to support or oppose, and why. Maybe Frog Blog could do it also?

Energy specialist and renewable energy advocate Barrie Leay will be sorely missed says Windflow Technology chief executive Geoff Henderson. …

Henderson said Leay brought a wealth of New Zealand energy experience and international contacts to the company through his prior roles as executive director of the Electricity Supply Association of New Zealand and chairman of the APEC Energy Business Network in the Asia Pacific.

Barrie Leay was also the National Party’s General Secretary for much of the 1970s and 1980s. His nickname was Buddha, I recall.

Barrie’s tenure was in the golden years of Sir George Chapman, and also Sue Wood. He was a powerful figure. His successors have tended to be fairly apolitical, but Barrie was very political, and hence somewhat controversial.

I joined the party around the time he retired, However I had a wee bit to do with him through the National Political Centre, which was a  internal policy thinktank. He was indeed an expert on energy policy and issues.

Barrie devoted a large part of his life to the National Party. May he rest in peace.

Top Ministers in terms of internal costs were:

1. PM $121,884
2. Judith Collins $74,138
3. Pita Sharples $72,473
4. Steven Joyce $62,223
5. Tariana Turia $57,260

Worth remembering that expenses are to some degree a reflection of activity and location. Also affected by whether their ministerial home is owned or rented.

Total ministerial expenses for Q4 2011 were $1.16m plus $0.32m overseas travel for $1.48m. The year before in Q4 2010 it was $1.13m plus $0.86m overseas travel for $1.99m total. Obviously with the election, less travel.

Top MPs were:

1. Hone Harawira $54,961
2. Phil Goff $32,566
3. Rahui Katene $29,436
4. Kevin Hague $28,763
5. David Cunliffe $28,040

The total MPs expenses for the quarter were $3.15m. For Q4 2010, it was $1.80m. I guess the election saw a lot of taxpayer funded travel.

My waka is Tainui of which Hoturoa was the captain

My iwi is Ngati Maniapoto

My hapu,  Ngati Hikairoa

 On my European side I am descended from Orm, the Viking. 

Orm lived around 750 AD. He was reputed to have killed a large bear with one blow of his fist. I think Sonny Bill Williams should have fought Orm instead.

Because amenities were affordable we regularly visited the local swimming pool and developed civic pride, 20 cents entry fee.

 Compare that to my local council swimming pool Baywave in Tauranga where entry and  hydroslides costs 8 dollars for local children.

 It’s no wonder children struggle to swim and one of my goals is to have gold coin entry to all swimming pools for all NZ school children.

Brendan was born in 1961 so presumably the 20c was around 1968 – once decimal currency came in. The CPI was 70 in 1968 and today is 1158, so in today’s dollars that 20c would be $3.30. So $8 is over double what it used to be, in real terms.

“Evil thrives when good men and women stand by and do nothing”

 So I ask now – how can NZ have the highest child brutality and murder rate   in the OECD , how can this possibly be NZ when we start the year with a baby being murdered in a small town, a 16 year old boy assaulting and raping a 5 year old girl and a young father being stabbed to death while sitting in his car waiting for a medical prescription.

The foul stench of these crimes lingers over our entire nation, but in particular those of us in the house today – as it has happened on OUR watch.

And further …

The protection and safety of all NZ children must be paramount.

We are all aware of the need – and decisive action must be taken.

If we have to step on a few toes and offend the politically correct – then so be it.

I’d be interested to hear what he has in mind.

This NZ First economic plan will operate in the absence of secrecy.

Cough, cough Spencer Trust.

To be fair, that was Winston’s baby. No one else in NZ First even knew of it – not even the Party President!

Our people are some of the most creative, innovative and forward thinking to be found anywhere.

But currently we are marking time and quite frankly we need to embrace, support and speed up the rollout of ultra fast broadband.

The mobile digital revolution is accelerating at an exponential rate.

Countries with established broadband are rapidly going mobile and that is going to have massive implications for business, education and the health sector.

The digital revolution is still in its infancy, I agree.

The full speech is after the break.

Tena ano tatau e huihui mai, I runga I te ahuatanga, o tenei ra

Ko te kaupapa, ko taku whai korero tua tahi, I roto I tenei whare raiona, e tu ake nei

E mihi ana kia ratou ma, kua ngaro ki te po

Haere, haere, haere atu ra

Tatou nga kanohi ora, huri noa, I to tatou whare

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa

The mountain of maori ancestors is Pirongia

The blood and bones and therefore the wairua of my ancestors starts in the Waipa river

My waka is Tainui of which Hoturoa was the captain

My iwi is Ngati Maniapoto

My hapu,  Ngati Hikairoa

On my European side I am descended from Orm, the Viking.

On his way to Britain he lost his leg in battle, but had the presence of mind to save it, as no warrior could enter Valhalla unwhole.

When close to land he threw his leg onto the shore and thus by Viking law claimed that area.

This is why the Ormsby coat of arms proudly displays a severed leg and the motto “He is brave who is prudent.”

As a child I nearly didn’t make it.

At 2 years old I was hospitalized for seven months in Waikato hospital,my parents lived in whakatane a six hour drive in those days over the then unsealed kaimai ranges.

I flat lined 3 times and had the sacrament of extreme unction administered.

And so I will always have immense respect and appreciation for nurses, doctors, priests and caregivers.

Growing up in Whakatane I was blessed with great friends and together we fished, surfed, played sport and learned with live with and nurture the land that supported us.

Because amenities were affordable we regularly visited the local swimming pool and developed civic pride, 20 cents entry fee.

Compare that to my local council swimming pool Baywave in Tauranga where entry and  hydroslides costs 8 dollars for local children.

It’s no wonder children struggle to swim and one of my goals is to have gold coin entry to all swimming pools for all NZ school children.

But I digress….back to my childhood and whakatane when we were also blessed with great male role models.

Men like Mike Beeching, George Ferguson, Bruce Scott, Co Baart and Monty McGoughan.

They taught us to swim, surf, fish, connect with the land and to fiercely compete in sport, arming us with the confidence to back ourselves, a solid work ethic and they taught us the value of having perfect basics in our sporting disciplines.

Many young men and women from Whakatane have represented NZ in sport and travelled the world as I have done, thanks to men like this.

I would also like to acknowledge their wives.

As behind every great man is a usually a better woman – most times – telling him what to do and feeding him and in those days me too.

So for me, childhood was a golden time.

I could have become another statistic.

A child from a broken home in an era when single parent families were rare.

But Thanks to men and women with the heart and courage to care for all the children in their community – I am the man I am today. Because to them, community mattered.

Mr Speaker, I know a maiden speech is not supposed to mention anything too controversial, but there are things happening in our country now that are so wrong and I cannot countenance a philosophy of silence.

“Evil thrives when good men and women stand by and do nothing”

So I ask now – how can NZ have the highest child brutality and murder rate   in the OECD , how can this possibly be NZ when we start the year with a baby being murdered in a small town, a 16 year old boy assaulting and raping a 5 year old girl and a young father being stabbed to death while sitting in his car waiting for a medical prescription.

The foul stench of these crimes lingers over our entire nation, but in particular those of us in the house today – as it has happened on OUR watch.

This is not the NZ I grew up in.

This is not the NZ that I want to bequeath to my children.

The protection and safety of all NZ children must be paramount.

We are all aware of the need – and decisive action must be taken.

If we have to step on a few toes and offend the politically correct – then so be it.

The next NZ child to be murdered will leave blood on all of our hands if we fail to act.

Mr Speaker, Ko Brendan taku ingoa – My name is Brendan and I stand before you today in this house, a product of my ancestors, respectful of all they have achieved and mindful of the new paths that I must forge to honor them.

I am a proud representative of the NZ First party and humbled by the support and hard work of the many people who sacrificed hours of time and effort to see NZ First back in parliament.

I would therefore like to thank everyone who voted for NZ First, the parents who remembered NZ First securing free medical care for children under 6.  A policy that protects children and saves lives.

I would like to thank the small business owners who remembered when NZ First lowered business tax from 33 to 30%  and I would like to thank the many Maori that voted for NZ First conscious of the settlements and concessions that NZ First and Winston Peters have secured.

And let me not forget the Supergold card holders who possess tangible evidence of a party that serves New Zealanders, some of whom voted accordingly.

To those of you that had that brilliant epiphany on election day and smile when they think of NZ First back in parliament. Thankyou.

We are a growing party strong in our beliefs and to all 147,544 people who entrusted us with their votes – we will represent the beliefs that you hold as vital to the prosperous future of our nation.

Beliefs that are the founding principles of our party:

To put New Zealand and New Zealanders First and to have an open accountable Government.

We believe in one law for all New Zealanders regardless of race, age or colour.

A country that belongs to all New Zealanders, not foreign boardrooms whose only interest is a quarterly financial statement.

I believe in wealth creation through a sound and practical long term economic plan, with short term key performance indicators to make sure we are on track.

This NZ First economic plan will operate in the absence of secrecy.

These beliefs are not new to New Zealanders.

In fact here is a quote from one of the great former leaders of our country.

“I believe in New Zealanders owning their own industry, all industry, wherever

practicable… This country is growing up, and I want it to see it owned and controlled by New Zealanders in every possible sphere.

There is, of course, also an economic reason – the bleeding away of overseas funds and the paying of tribute to people overseas…. I, for one, want to see New Zealand mature, to grow up in its own sense, have its own soul, develop its own character, and have control of its own destiny in all spheres of the economy…….This is my simple faith”.

And that was said by none other than former National Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake. What would he think of our country today? How will history view us in 20 years time?

Mr Speaker – I live in Tauranga – well actually my family live there and I am now bi-regional by vocation.

On top of the many challenges that we face in NZ, Tauranga has the added burden of the Rena and its effect not only on our environment but also the economic damage to businesses both small and large, and the long term effects that have yet be fully realised.

Another major concern is the PSA virus that has wiped out over half the golden kiwifruit crop, and that equates to close to $500 million dollars out of the Tauranga and Bay of Plenty economy.

The disease is having an impact across the entire industry, from individual growers, contractors, seasonal workers to Zespri.

All levels of the industry are having to change and adapt their businesses to survive.

Promisingly, there is a pathway out of the PSA damage emerging, based around a new variety known as Gold 3.

I believe with time and government support our industry can recover.

I believe that Tauranga has the potential to be a great city!

The best in the world.

And to those people in Tauranga – you will understand this vision.

Imagine if we built a 25,000 seat stadium at The Domain – above the CBD.

If we constructed a walkway around our stunning harbour.

Can you envision the potential of fast passenger rail from Auckland in under 2 hours?

And what about if we cleaned up our water and marketed ourselves as the cleanest city in the world.

What a vibrant, exciting metropolis we could become.

Any one of these projects would provide the opportunity for on-the-job apprentice-ships and long term employment.

Mr Speaker, I believe that as a country – it is time we believed in ourselves.

I believe our most important asset is our people and we must invest in New Zealanders in health, education and emerging skills and competencies.

The world is now immersed in a mobile digital revolution.

NZ is justifiably proud of its pioneering tradition.

At times we have led the world on everything from nuclear physics to powered flight to climbing the highest mountain.

Our people are some of the most creative, innovative and forward thinking to be found anywhere.

But currently we are marking time and quite frankly we need to embrace, support and speed up the rollout of ultra fast broadband.

The mobile digital revolution is accelerating at an exponential rate.

Countries with established broadband are rapidly going mobile and that is going to have massive implications for business, education and the health sector.

The last quarter of 2011 the number of smart phones purchased surpassed the combined number of pc’s,laptops, ipads and tablets sold.

Hand held computing is here to stay and the high powered browser enabled high definition video ready device is already revolutionizing the way businesses market, trade and do commerce, the way people learn and educate, the way health services and care giving are provided and growing the way we communicate in politics – if only we could get reception in the 75 metres between the Beehive and Bowen House!

These services are now operating in an always connected world.

The up skilling with new skills and competencies in New Zealand’s workforce is a priority.

It is my intention to see that the professional development required happens.

It is our choice and our opportunity to catch this wave rather than to let it swamp us or pass us by.

Far be it from me to give hints on sartorial elegance. I could learn from some here (look at WP) and not from others (look at Ryall!)

If I may explain the ochre I display on my tie today.

It symbolizes the blood sweat and tears that our forefathers have invested in this land.

The green represents fertility, growth, promise and the hope for a better tomorrow.

We once led the world in social and economic standing and by working together I believe we can do so again.

My pledge to all New Zealanders is that I will strive with integrity to combine the safety and standards of my childhood with the digital – forward thinking, economic ownership, and environmental consciousness of this generation.

I will work with any other member or party supporting ideas that are good for New Zealand and oppose those that would do us harm.

This is what I believe in and what I intend to do.

My final acknowledgement I give to my wife for she holds my heart. (look up to gallery!)

Oral Questions 2 pm – 3 pm

1. GARETH HUGHES to the Minister for Primary Industries: Will he extend the Taranaki set net ban after the recent death of a Maui’s dolphin in a fishing net?
2. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister for Economic Development:What actions is the Government taking to boost economic linkages with China?
3. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement that his hour-long show on Radio Live on 30 September 2011 was an “election free zone”?
4. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister of Health: What improvements, if any, have been made to the Government’s national health targets?
5. Hon LIANNE DALZIEL to the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery: Did he discuss with the Christchurch City Mayor reported claims that there had been overtures from within The Treasury that there was scope for the city’s rates to be increased or for assets to be sold to pay for the quake recovery, and that this could be done under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act before he called him a clown; if not, why not?
6. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Local Government: What reports has he received on increases in local government council debt since the Local Government Act 2002 was enacted?
7. DARIEN FENTON to the Minister of Labour: Does she stand by her statement that the new minimum wage announced yesterday “strikes the right balance between protecting low paid workers and ensuring that jobs are not lost.”?
8. JONATHAN YOUNG to the Minister of Consumer Affairs: What recent announcements has the Government made on protecting consumers from loan sharks?
9. CLARE CURRAN to the Minister of Broadcasting: Is he aware that Stephen McElrea is part of a working group within NZ On Air, which includes a representative of MediaWorks, and which is determining details of a documentary about Whānau Ora?
10. TIM MACINDOE to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector: What recent announcement has she made in her portfolio that will benefit communities?
11. HOLLY WALKER to the Minister for Social Development: Does she consider low family incomes to be a major contributor to childhood vulnerability?
12. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Prime Minister: Does he still have confidence in all his Ministers?

So today there are five patsies from National, four questions from Labour, two from the Greens and one from NZ First. I may start awarding a prize for most grovelling patsy question of the day. Today, I think it goes to Q10 - What recent announcement has she made in her portfolio that will benefit communities?

Labour are focusing on the Radio Live show, Brownlee v Parker, minimum wage and NZ on Air. I doubt the minimum wage question will get anywhere (the increase is twice the inflation rate), but the other three could all pose some difficulties to the Government. Labour should have a good day today in the House.

The Greens are asking about a dolphin caught in a net and child poverty. The child poverty question could get interesting. The dolphin one is a waste of a question in my opinion.

Winston is trying the same question for the third day running. Mr Speaker made very clear yesterday that if you ask such a general primary question, you can’t do anything if the Minister is unable to answer a detailed supplementary question. So not sure there will be a different outcome to yesterday.

Northland MP Mike Sabin maiden speech at 3.45 pm.

11 hours remaining of the debate. I presume it will be adjourned to make way for bills after Sabin’s speech.

Government Bills 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm

1. Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill – second reading continued
2. Consumer Law Reform Bill – first reading
3. Road User Charges Bill – third reading
4. Biosecurity Law Reform Bill – committee stage
5. Sentencing (Aggravating Factors) Amendment Bill - committee stage

The Consumer Law Reform Bill looks interesting. As it is only first reading I imagine it will be supported to select committee by all parties.

Tags: oral questions, Parliament