Simon Bridges MP for Tauranga

Diversity Enriches the View, Simon Bridges MP

Before I make some general comments about Maori in general seats, can I begin by noting where I whakapapa to? My background in itself I believe sheds some light on some of the differences between Maori in general seats today and Maori in Maori seats. My mother’s history is simple. She comes from British stock who came to New Zealand and were dairy farmers in Waikato. My father’s background is more exotic. His father was a Pakeha plasterer, Alf Bridges, also of British stock, but his mother was Naku Joseph of Ngata Maniapoto. She grew up in rural Oparure near Te Kuiti, and as I learnt upon a recent visit there my (I think) great-great-grandfather on her side was in fact a Jewish man who in Aotearoa gained himself a couple of Maori wives, from one of whom I come. Politics was in his blood, and I understand he eventually left New Zealand and was a reasonably successful local body politician in Sydney.

On behalf of all New Zealanders the first thing I want to do is thank you for all you’re doing all over this country, as well as internationally in some cases, to protect and care for animals.

Everyone in this room knows – and the latest research continues to confirm – that animals are much smarter than we give them credit for – and much more like us than we have historically thought – save for one thing.

It is a great pleasure and privilege to speak at The Fuji Xerox Conference 2010.

Just as I come up against all sorts of preconceptions – some times right and some times wrong – about what kind of person becomes an MP and what being an MP involves, I am sure you as professionals working for Fuji Xerox do also.

University of Waikato in Tauranga Graduation Address
9 April 2010
Holy Trinity Tauranga

Good afternoon distinguished academics, guests, mums and dads and family and most of all graduates!

Today is a very special day for you.

A day you will remember for the rest of your life because after a huge amount of persistence over not weeks or even months but years you have made it.

And because unlike virtually everything else you could possible do in your life whether it be the making of a million dollars or any other goal you like to think of this is the kind of achievement that can never be taken from you.  (Click here to read more...)

First reading speech, Thursday 18 February 2010

Mr Speaker

There are many reasons why the penalties for offending against animals must go up.

First and foremost is that sentences currently being handed down in courts are far too light.

Despite us having a major problem in New Zealand, so far under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 less than 3% of prosecutions have resulted in imprisonment. The most common penalty is the lowest possible, a fine. 

We can state this even more starkly.  In the history of this nation less than ten people have been sentenced to prison for animal welfare offending.

When you consider the frequency and the cruel and sadistic nature of some of this offending, involving mutilation and torture, less than 3% or less than ten people in total is derisory.

In 2009 the SPCA, as it does every year, had no difficulty publishing its annual list of shame - the 50 worst cases of animal cruelty in a year. (Click here to read more...)