Mentions of Westpac New Zealand Limited in New Zealand Parliament debates
Westpac New Zealand Limited has been mentioned in 77 parliamentary debates since November 2005.
Local Government Borrowing Bill 2011
In Committee 8 Sep 2011
STUART NASH ... opened up, and the depth it could possibly provide is fantastic. It is fantastic. I think Canterbury’s bond offer—the Westpac one—fell over, did it not? Well, having this sort of bill in place could provide so many more options for investors ...
Estimates Debate - In Committee
In Committee 9 Aug 2011
Hon DAVID PARKER ... an investment problem, as the investment signal is wrong because of the tax bias in favour of speculative investment. Westpac’s chief economist, Dominick Stephens, said: “New Zealanders are incentivised to borrow money to buy land rather than ...
Hon JOHN BOSCAWEN ... are truly staggering. Some 41,000 young people are out of work. That is enough young people to fill the nearby Westpac Stadium and to then spill out on to the pitch. Youth unemployment is at the highest level it has ever been, even ...
General Debate 3 Aug 2011
Hon DAVID PARKER ... and one that has cost us all dearly in terms of efficient allocation of capital, economic growth and employment.” Westpac chief economist Dominick Stephens said “New Zealanders are incentivised to borrow money to buy land rather than ...
Supplementary Estimates - Imprest Supply Debate
Imprest Supply Debate 21 Jun 2011
Hon BILL ENGLISH ... Budget, I am impressed with the resilience that many New Zealanders have shown. Gail Kelly, the chief executive of Westpac, last week here in Wellington contrasted the positive and resilient attitude of New Zealand to the economic ...
Taxation (Annual Rates and Budget Measures) Bill
In Committee 20 May 2011
STUART NASH ... should not be used to reward those who do not need it. Let me give one example. When the chief executive officer of Westpac looked at these rates, I think he probably would have been a little embarrassed. I think he would have been a little ...
STUART NASH ...Treasury’s figures. I think that Minister should ask the Inland Revenue Department what the chief executive officer of Westpac earns as a salary; ask how much he gets in his hand every week. I think even that Minister, a Minister earning a ...
Budget Statement - Budget Debate
Budget Debate 19 May 2011
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN ... Working for Families, and the student loan scheme. The old tax switcheroo means that the chief executive of Westpac is given a $5,000-a-week tax cut, and to pay for it 500 workers lose their $10-a-week Government contribution to ...
Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill
In Committee 18 May 2011
GRANT ROBERTSON ... societies, about knowledge waves, and about how we will add value to our products. I know if Mr Hodgson ever goes to Westpac Stadium, he will look out and see all that wood, all those logs, sitting piled up on the waterfront. It grieves him ...
The Chairperson reported the Westpac New Zealand Bill without amendment, and progress on the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill.
Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Bill
In Committee 10 Dec 2010
STUART NASH ... owned. I have a mortgage with a foreign-owned bank. I should have had it with Kiwibank, but I must admit that the Westpac guys who came up to Wairoa did an absolutely fantastic job in dealing with workers there and getting stuff out of ...
Westpac New Zealand Bill 2010
Third Reading 15 Jun 2011
CHRIS TREMAIN I move, That the Westpac New Zealand Bill be now read a third time. This is a private bill promoted by Westpac New Zealand Ltd. To date the ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE I rise to take a call in the third reading of the Westpac New Zealand Bill to confirm that the Labour Opposition will be supporting this bill, because it is important to ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ... borrowing for the wrong purposes. The breakdown of that private debt, which is owned by the banking system, including Westpac, shows that to be true. As I said, about 55 percent of private debt is in house mortgages. Some 25-odd percent of it ...
AMY ADAMS I rise to take a call in the third reading debate on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I believe I have spoken in every debate on the bill as it has passed through the House, so I have ...
Hon DAVID PARKER ... on. I do not quite agree with the way in which it was expressed by the prior speaker, Amy Adams, who said that the Westpac New Zealand Bill does not affect depositors. Actually, it does have effects for depositors that are positive. The ...
Hon DAVID PARKER ... because we actually have a current account deficit and we import more and more money into the country via banks like Westpac. An expression of how poor we are as a country is the fact that we do not have enough money in New Zealand to own our ...
Hon DAVID PARKER ... position will get worse, year by year by year. New Zealand will still be reliant, indeed more reliant, on Westpac and on the other major Australian banks, because New Zealanders will not be saving enough. Of course, the Government’s...
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN I rise to speak on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, a private bill first promoted by the Hon Craig Foss. The Green Party will be supporting this bill, ...
RAHUI KATENE Over the last few months when I have stood in this Chamber to debate a bill, like the Westpac New Zealand Bill, I have had several déjà vu moments—those experiences of having been here before. It is a bit like ...
DAVID BENNETT I will take just a short call with regard to the Westpac New Zealand Bill, a bill that many of us have spoken about a number of times in this House. I congratulate Craig Foss—t...
STUART NASH ... clarify one point that the last speaker, David Bennett, made. He said that the Labour and Green members had used the Westpac New Zealand Bill for bank bashing. Well, I can clarify that the Labour Party is supporting this bill. We have always ...
STUART NASH ... way and sell it. Once Kiwibank is sold, it is gone for ever. We can never get these things back. Let me talk about Westpac New Zealand. It was incorporated and became a registered bank in 2006, in order to comply with the Reserve Bank’s ...
STUART NASH ... as systemically important if it has liabilities to related parties in excess of $15 billion, which is obviously what Westpac had. I understand that during the financial crisis Westpac very briefly breached that covenant—not in a bad way; it ...
STUART NASH ... productive economy, not in the unproductive economy, I tell Mr Gilmore. As mentioned, the transfer will mean that Westpac New Zealand will increase in size. But the one thing that I think has been reiterated by most speakers is that those ...
STUART NASH ... if you do, Mr Assistant Speaker Robertson—if any New Zealander or any member of Parliament has a bank account with Westpac, they will not see any difference whatsoever. This legislation will only protect their interests. I commend this bill ...
AARON GILMORE ... Well, I was walking down Lambton Quay at lunchtime to buy my sushi, as I do every Wednesday, and outside the Westpac branch on Lambton Quay I read: “If you are a business and you want to borrow money, come in and talk to your local ...
DAVID SHEARER It is a pleasure to speak on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I say that touting this bill as part of the Government’s economic plan is a bit rich, really. I mean,...
DAVID SHEARER ... is worth noting with regard to the banking sector—and Russel Norman brought it up—is that the banking sector, and Westpac in particular, has assiduously tried to avoid taxes. The banks have been caught out in the last few months, and have ...
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE For the third reading of the rather uncontroversial Westpac New Zealand Bill, which includes fairly straightforward amendments, we have had a very wide-ranging debate on a ...
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE ... the third reading of this bill, which makes an otherwise uncontroversial, straightforward, and structural change to Westpac, I commend it to the House.
In Committee 18 May 2011
CRAIG FOSS I will take a brief call on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, to thank and acknowledge members in the Chamber, who will, no doubt, speak to the bill, the ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE The Labour Opposition supports the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I will begin by acknowledging the member who has just spoken, the chairperson of the Finance and ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Westpac New Zealand is inhibited from fulfilling its commercial objectives, I say to “Mr Benefit”—Mr Bennett, sorry; it is “Ms...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ...ank’s balance sheet. A Labour Government certainly would do so. I will refer to one other aspect that is important to Westpac New Zealand, which is that its institutional bank is able to play in the market for long-term securities. The third ...
Amy Adams What’s this got to do with Westpac? It’s got nothing to do with Westpac.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE It does have a lot to do with Westpac, because Westpac’s institutional bank is a partner with the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, which brings me to the ...
STUART NASH I suppose those watching will have seen two extremes this afternoon. The Westpac New Zealand Bill is a bill that I think every party in the Committee actually agrees on. We will all be speaking in ...
Hon DAVID PARKER I am pleased to take a call on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. As earlier speakers have noted, it is not a Government bill; it is a private bill brought on behalf ...
Amy Adams Westpac bill.
Hon DAVID PARKER ... more reliant on overseas lines of credit and we are more likely to agree to extending the multiples that banks like Westpac can lend to make up for the deficit in New Zealand - based deposits born of New Zealand - based savings. Amy Adams ...
Craig Foss Westpac New Zealand.
Hon DAVID PARKER —Westpac New Zealand. That is a good thing, but it does nothing for other parts of the financial markets that are important. ...
BRENDON BURNS ... outset the importance the Labour Party attaches to the trading banks, most noticeably as evidenced by this bill, the Westpac New Zealand Bill. Obviously banks are necessary to the functioning of a modern economy, but I still remember my old ...
Hon SHANE JONES Tēnā koe, Mr Chair. I stand now, at a quarter to 5, to make a contribution on this private bill, the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I go back to the year 2000, when the Reserve Bank originally announced its intention in respect of ...
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL ... bill has got to this point has been quite fascinating. I should declare a conflict of interest. I am a customer of Westpac. I have been for many years. I signed up to the Bank of New South Wales when I was a university student at law school ...
Amy Adams How does this relate to the Westpac bill?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL Because it covered Westpac New Zealand and that is entirely the point. The whole policy—[ Interruption] Well, I will take another call as a ...
Hon DAVID PARKER ... to have some more information on from the member in the chair, Craig Foss, on this occasion is the preamble to the Westpac New Zealand Bill we are considering. Recital (5) states: “Legislation is the only means by which these assets and ...
Hon DAVID PARKER ... any meaningful degree. It seems that the members of the committee were unanimous in reporting back in favour of the Westpac New Zealand Bill. Rahui Katene, the person who cast the vote on behalf of the Māori Party, was, according to the ...
Hon DAVID PARKER ... to New Zealand at higher values than they are shown at on the Australian books. That might be tax effective for Westpac but it might not be fair on the Australian Government. I just want to see what is happening in respect of tax issues. ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE I rise to speak to clauses 3 to 5, which are the preliminary provisions of Part 1 of the Westpac New Zealand Bill. The purposes of the bill, as set out in clause 3, provide for the vesting of certain assets and ...
The CHAIRPERSON I would like to hear “Westpac” mentioned occasionally.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE It is banking with Westpac, on occasion. No doubt, Chinese companies are banking with Westpac, but, anyway, I will cut a long story short. Those ...
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL I am keen to take a call on Part 1 of the Westpac New Zealand Bill, because I want to get on record what may not be apparent to people who have been listening to the ...
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL ... process. I have the benefit, even though I did not serve on the select committee, of having in front of me Westpac’s submission to the select committee. Of course, it has been very instructive. A number of comments were made about ...
STUART NASH ... I sat on the Finance and Expenditure Committee, as did the member in the chair. There was not much debate on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, but there was very healthy discussion on the meaning of all parts of the bill, Part 1 included. ...
STUART NASH Yes, they did. The member in the chair would have assumed consensus, and I am sure he reported back to Westpac—
STUART NASH ... no one is more thankful than the member in the chair, Mr Foss, because otherwise at some point he would have to go to Westpac and to the Māori Party and try to figure out what part they did not like. But that is now sorted and that is very ....
Part 2 Vesting of designated assets and liabilities in Westpac New Zealand
CRAIG FOSS ... were raised in the debate on the previous part that are pursuant to Part 2. As I noted earlier, the start of the Westpac New Zealand Bill rests very, very heavily on the earlier 2006 Act in the name of the Hon Marian Hobbs, which is where ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ... to refer to her previous speech and also to the member who has just resumed his seat, Craig Foss. Part 2 of the Westpac New Zealand Bill is, in a sense, the operative part of the bill. It provides for the vesting of designated assets and ...
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL ... read it is that recital (4) of the preamble talks about the transfer of “certain additional assets and liabilities of Westpac Banking Corporation, being principally assets and liabilities of Westpac Banking Corporation’s New Zealand’s ...
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL ... I made. I was talking about the transfer of employees under clause 15, involving employees who were employees of Westpac Banking Corporation. The member probably does not realise that we have Westpac Banking Corporation New Zealand, which ...
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL ... one organisation to the other, and whether that would create an inequity for those who were currently employees of Westpac New Zealand, potentially because Westpac Banking Corporation New Zealand—the branch of the Westpac Banking Corporation—...
STUART NASH ... Committee, and incredibly well, I may add—I can tell members that we made it very, very clear that a customer of Westpac will probably not notice any difference, whatsoever. In fact, when we look at clause 9, entitled “Relationship with ...
STUART NASH —“on and from the appointed day, becomes an account between Westpac New Zealand and that customer, and is deemed for all purposes to be a single continuing account.” I suppose it comes ...
STUART NASH ... high unemployment and when banks are making record profits. Let us be honest about that. The chief executive of Westpac pulls down a salary of about $5.25 million—
STUART NASH ... for another day—probably tomorrow. In this bill we have made it very clear to all classes of people who deal with Westpac, or who are employed by Westpac, that this transfer will be seamless. The one thing that I suppose we have to look at ...
STUART NASH People who are employed by Westpac New Zealand and who are starting any day now will have that 90-day trial period—which is outrageous, to tell the truth;...
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL ... that has yet to be answered by the member in the chair, Craig Foss. Clause 26 states: “Nothing in this Act exempts Westpac Banking Corporation or Westpac New Zealand from the provisions of any enactment relating to banks or banking.” That ...
STUART NASH ... interesting questions. Lianne Dalziel has posed many interesting questions over the Committee stage debate on this Westpac New Zealand Bill. Unfortunately, none of them have been answered.
STUART NASH ... for my colleague, but I could be wrong. I will give it my best shot, because it is a very important question. Westpac New Zealand Ltd is an incorporated bank. It became a registered bank in 2006, and it did this in order to comply with ...
STUART NASH ...l; we are asking for only a 5-minute call. If I could move to clause 27, we see that it talks about amendments to the Westpac New Zealand Act 2006. Clause 27(2) amends section 19(4) of the Act “by omitting ‘DB 23 of the Income Tax Act 2004’ ...
STUART NASH ... looking for a whole lot of different Acts. Again, if we look at clause 27(3), which amends section 19(12) of the Westpac New Zealand Act “by omitting ‘adjusted tax value’.”, it would have been good if it could have just fleshed that out a ...
Hon SHANE JONES ... capital adequacy equation, or, dare I say it, the framework. So when clause 26 states: “Nothing in this Act exempts Westpac Banking Corporation or Westpac New Zealand from the provisions …”, I am presuming that those provisions are enabling ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE In addressing clauses 1 and 2 of the Westpac New Zealand Bill, which, of course, the Labour Opposition will support, let me recount a small homily in the nature ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ... anger, “Who the hell are you, and what do you think you’re doing?”. He said “I’m David Morgan and I’m the chairman of Westpac, and I object to this new regulation you’re putting in around the Reserve Bank.” He was the chairman of Westpac ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ... advance. Well, that defies logic and it defies gravity, and that is why it is important that this bill is called the Westpac New Zealand Bill 2010. The mandate was achieved in 2008—it happens to be bipartisan—and on this occasion the ...
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL Thank you, Mr Chairman, for the opportunity to speak on clauses 1 and 2 of this very important bill, the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I begin by traversing the policy that lies behind the legislation we have before us tonight. The ...
STUART NASH We are talking about clauses 1 and 2, the title and commencement clauses, of the Westpac New Zealand Bill. Lianne Dalziel brought up a couple of good points. It is always good following Lianne—apart from ...
STUART NASH He does. That is good to know. So the “2010” of the legislation at the moment will change. The Act will be the Westpac New Zealand Act 2011.
STUART NASH ... about. In 2011 the bill will receive Royal assent. That has been talked about before. A couple of amendments to the Westpac New Zealand Act 2006 came into effect retrospectively on 31 March 2008. There is another amendment from September 2006,...
STUART NASH I will. I was talking about the title of the bill, the Westpac New Zealand Bill. The reason it is called the Westpac New Zealand Bill, as Mr Cunliffe put down, is that it is about ...
STUART NASH A considerable amount. I suppose, even though Westpac is growing, which is the reason for the bill, we have to be a little bit careful when we look at a growing bank not ...
Second Reading 4 May 2011
CHRIS TREMAIN I move, That the Westpac New Zealand Bill be now read a second time. I move the motion on behalf of my colleague the chairman of the Finance ...
STUART NASH ... it. Anyway, it is good to follow Chris Tremain, because, as Mr Tremain said, every party in this House supports the Westpac New Zealand Bill. Mr Foss brought it to the House. It is a common-sense bill, and Labour supports it. There are a ...
STUART NASH ... constituents that it is a good idea. This bill provides for the vesting of certain assets and liabilities of the Westpac Banking Corporation’s New Zealand institutional businesses in Westpac New Zealand. That can be achieved only through ...
STUART NASH ... about selling State assets. This is the sort of bill where legislation is the only means by which the assets of Westpac Banking Corporation’s New Zealand retail business can be invested in Westpac New Zealand. There are two reasons for ...
STUART NASH ... is the only means by which appropriate amendments to, and appeals of, existing legislation can be effected, as Westpac Banking Corporation currently operates under legislation in New Zealand through the Westpac Banking Corporation Act ...
STUART NASH ... Labour supports this bill, and the Reserve Bank also supports it. We also understand that it is very important that Westpac New Zealand has a very sound and stable New Zealand operation, and enjoys the advantages and benefits of being linked ...
AMY ADAMS It is a great privilege to rise this afternoon and take a second reading call on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I was a member of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, which considered this bill, as was the ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Labour supports the Westpac New Zealand Bill being referred to a select committee, and we do so for several reasons.
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ... for several reasons. The first is that it reflects the outgrowth of a strong domestic asset-holding position from Westpac bank, which is in line with the objectives that we have, for a long time, taken to ensure that the domestic banking ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ... regulation, which is ensuring a sufficient book in the New Zealand domicile from the major trans-Tasman banks. Westpac is in the fortunate position, if you like, that its book has grown so far that we have to have this legislation. That ...
Second Reading 4 May 2011
TE URUROA FLAVELL ... markets internationally has had its own direct impact here in Aotearoa. I remember during the first reading of the Westpac New Zealand Bill that mention was made of the fact that the Westpac Chief Executive Officer, George Frazis, was ...
DAVID BENNETT I will take a short call on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. We are on the second reading of this bill. It has gone through the Finance and Expenditure Committee,...
RAYMOND HUO It is a pleasure to take a call in the second reading of the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I will take the opportunity to congratulate Mr Craig Foss, the member who sponsors the bill. Mr ...
AARON GILMORE It is a pleasure to rise and talk on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. In particular, I will talk about a couple of things about Westpac and this bill’s application, ...
AARON GILMORE I was very pleased, when I was 5 years old, to open my first bank account with Westpac. I must admit that—unlike Mr Robertson—this bill does not deal just with personal retail banking; it also deals with ...
BRENDON BURNS ... or high diplomatic posts that my colleague from across the Chamber holds. But I would like to speak on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, and to talk for a moment about the salary paid to the chief executive of Westpac. This bill relates ...
BRENDON BURNS Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. We are, of course, debating tonight the issue of the Westpac Bank and the technical changes to it for incorporation in New Zealand. I think that the legislation is good, it is ...
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA Malo le soifua. It is a privilege to speak on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, and to be the final Government speaker in this second reading. I will take just a short call. This ...
Hon RUTH DYSON ... just resumed his seat. I understand he is a member of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, which has considered the Westpac New Zealand Bill, but he really had very little to add to the parliamentary debate. This is the time in the debate on ...
Hon RUTH DYSON ... the opportunity associated with that responsibility and privilege to look at all the issues that are before him. Westpac is the Government’s primary bank. Is that still the best idea? More important, from my perspective, is whether the ...
First Reading 8 Dec 2010
CRAIG FOSS I move, That the Westpac New Zealand Bill be now read a first time. This is a private bill promoted by Westpac New Zealand Ltd. At the ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ... around the table occasionally, but he carries it with very good grace and business gets done. It is sensible that the Westpac New Zealand Bill goes to that committee. It is ironic, then, that the member read the speech as Craig Foss and not ...
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE ... She has the smarts to do it—no question. I come back to the legislation. It is clearly important to ensure that Westpac New Zealand Ltd has a sound and stable New Zealand operation while being able to enjoy the benefits of a trans-Tasman ...
AMY ADAMS I am very happy to rise this afternoon and take a call on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, which is a private bill introduced by my friend and colleague Craig Foss, who, of course, chairs ...
STUART NASH I stand to support this private bill, the Westpac New Zealand Bill. There are a number of reasons why we support it. It is common-sense and absolutely necessary ...
STUART NASH ... in an open forum and get the information out there. Only one bank, Kiwibank, sat down in front of us and explained. Westpac did not, and I say to Westpac, as the Government banker, that we demand a level of accountability and responsibility, ...
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN I stand on behalf of the Greens to speak on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, which is a private bill coming before this House, taking House time, and using quite a lot of ...
BRENDON BURNS Labour supports the Westpac New Zealand Bill going to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. We want to see a very strong banking sector. It is ...
DAVID BENNETT I will take just a short call on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I congratulate Craig Foss on bringing it forward for its first reading, and we look forward to its ...
DAVID BENNETT ... actual nature of the bill, but that is the nature of how they operate. In essence, this bill is important for the Westpac bank to retain its ability to operate and function in a way that supports the New Zealand economy. We look forward to ...
AARON GILMORE It is somewhat ironic to be able to stand and do a bill about Westpac—
AARON GILMORE —talk about a bill on Westpac—sorry, Mr Hughes. This bill has been brought to the House by Craig Foss, the wonderful member from Tukituki. ...
CRAIG FOSS I take just a few moments to acknowledge those who have spoken on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. As far as I understand, there is general support for it around the House. I acknowledge various ...
CRAIG FOSS I move, That the Finance and Expenditure Committee consider the Westpac New Zealand Bill and that the committee report finally to the House on or before 8 April 2011.
Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Bill
First Reading 7 Dec 2010
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN ... people in this room. We are the major beneficiaries, in fact, of the tax changes. Of course, the chief executive of Westpac New Zealand is an extremely major beneficiary of these changes, as are high-wealth individuals. In that context, I ...
Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill
In Committee 9 Nov 2010
CHRIS HIPKINS ... for example, around the drinking vessels to be used, such as plastic cups. I am a regular attendee at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington, and it already has a policy of having only plastic cups. Bottles cannot be taken into the ...
In Committee 9 Nov 2010
CHRIS HIPKINS ... for example, around the drinking vessels to be used, such as plastic cups. I am a regular attendee at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington, and it already has a policy of having only plastic cups. Bottles cannot be taken into the ...
In Committee 27 Oct 2010
CHRIS HIPKINS ... World Cup 2011. I want to talk about that in particular, because here in Wellington, earlier this year, at the Westpac Stadium we had an event that was designed specifically to test whether the stadium, the security facilities, and all ...
Motions - All Whites—Draw with Italy at Football World Cup
All Whites—Draw with Italy at Football World Cup 22 Jun 2010
Hon PHIL GOFF ... Monday was just the latest stage in a momentous journey by the All Whites. I had the privilege last year of being at Westpac Stadium to see the All Whites beat Bahrain to win a place in the World Cup. That, at the time, felt like a victory—a ...
Hon PETER DUNNE ... in our national spirit. But those of us who have watched the All Whites over the last year—from the occasion at Westpac Stadium when the team qualified against Bahrain, and its contributing team the Wellington Phoenix playing here ...
Education Amendment Bill 2009
Third Reading 6 May 2010
Hon TREVOR MALLARD ... proposal. That proposal was to relieve King’s High School in Dunedin of some obligations that it currently has to Westpac bank. Again, it would be at no disadvantage to Westpac bank and at no disadvantage to the Crown to use money that is ...
Hon TREVOR MALLARD ... and will cost the Crown nothing, on paying off an old debt rather than having $5,000 a month in interest going to Westpac bank. It should be there for teaching staff. It should be there for computers. It should be there for the special ...
In Committee 29 Apr 2010
Hon TREVOR MALLARD ... we now have a situation whereby a school is paying $4,900 every month—not every year, but every month—to the Westpac bank, when, at the same time, it has a credit sitting in the ministry. If there was a little bit of flexibility on ...
In Committee 20 Apr 2010
Hon TREVOR MALLARD ... My question is really about whether it is appropriate or right for the interest on that loan to keep on flowing to Westpac ad infinitum, instead of that money being used by the school. It could be used for the special-needs pupils at the ...
Debate on Budget Policy Statement 17 Mar 2010
Hon ANNETTE KING ... Prime Minister the “Minister of Broken Promises.” Nobody believes the Prime Minister, as was shown in a very recent Westpac consumer confidence survey. That survey showed that almost 60 percent of New Zealanders feel they will be either ...
Paul Quinn I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The speaker referred to a survey by Westpac. I have the Labour Party press release in front of me and it says—
Motions - All Whites—Qualification for Football World Cup Finals
All Whites—Qualification for Football World Cup Finals 17 Nov 2009
Hon JOHN KEY ... line superbly and brought his experience at the highest level of English football back to the turf of Wellington’s Westpac Stadium to lead this country. I congratulate goalscorer Rory Fallon, who brought the nation to its feet when he leapt ...
Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES ... the outstanding success of the All Whites on Saturday night. As the 35,000 crowd poured through the main entrance of Westpac Stadium on Saturday night they may not have noticed the traditional Taranaki designs incorporated at the front of the ...
General Debate 14 Oct 2009
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN ... the High Court of New Zealand has ruled on. The most recent case involves no less than the Government’s banker, Westpac. According to the High Court of New Zealand, Westpac now owes nearly $1 billion in taxes and interest payments to the ...
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN ... avoidance to the tune of over half a billion dollars. What would ordinary taxpayers say to that situation? I call on Westpac and all those who are involved in this, and I say that it is time for it to clean up its act, and it is time to do ...
Crown Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme Bill
Second Reading 8 Sep 2009
STUART NASH ... that he was there because he was accountable to the people of New Zealand. I was talking to one of the bigwigs at Westpac before this inquiry was held, and I asked him to come along to the inquiry. I told him that if he had nothing to hide,...
General Debate 17 Jun 2009
NIKKI KAYE ... have acknowledged that the Budget is well balanced, sensible, and prudent for these tough economic times. In fact, Westpac said “Budget 2009 strikes a reasonable balance between delivering support in the economy’s hour of need and being ...
Taxation (Budget Tax Measures) Bill
Third Reading 29 May 2009
Hon PETER DUNNE ... diversion facility. One of the largest fund managers in New Zealand, BT Funds Management, which acts as the agent for Westpac, says it has fewer than 30 members enrolled in its particular scheme to give effect to this facility. The consequence ...
Minimum Wage and Remuneration Amendment Bill
In Committee 27 May 2009
CHRIS HIPKINS ... not? What happened to wanting to close the wage gap with Australia? Do members remember John Key standing in the Westpac stadium before the election—there was a nice little video clip—and talking about the exodus of New Zealanders to ...
CHRIS HIPKINS ... much for National’s ambition for New Zealand! So much for closing the wage gap with Australia! John Key said at the Westpac Stadium that he did not want New Zealanders to work in Australia, yet people can earn significantly more money in ...
Eden Park Trust Amendment Bill
First Reading 8 Apr 2009
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA ... and it sets out the detail of the new governance arrangements. The deed is modelled on that which is in place for the Westpac Stadium right here in Wellington. The deed is incorporated as a schedule of the bill, and it sets out the new ...
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill (No 3)
Second Reading 26 Aug 2008
TIM GROSER ... Jakarta it was pointed out to me that there were 250 banks with an average asset valuation of the size of a typical Westpac branch in New Zealand. So financial contagion can lead to dramatic political change, and, of course, in some respects,...
General Debate 14 May 2008
Dr PITA SHARPLES ... to 100 hopefuls turning up for job interviews, whereas in other years they would be lucky to get five applicants. Westpac chief economist Brendan O’Donovan called the statistics an “absolute shocker” and described them as “extraordinarily ...
Health
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board—Community Services Joint Venture 5 Mar 2008
Hon Tony Ryall ... Mr Hausmann had a number of meetings on health issues and that she visited his family corporate box at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on a number of occasions, she was never briefed on and never discussed the proposed community services ...
Financial Advisers Bill
First Reading 19 Feb 2008
Dr RICHARD WORTH ... around 1 percent. So one can ask why an investor would put money into a finance company and not go off to a bank like Westpac or Rabobank and earn a monthly rate of interest, on a reasonable deposit sum, of around 8.2 or 8.4 percent. Deposit-tak...
Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 13 Feb 2008
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN ... our kids to stay in, build a life, and build a business. Every year now 40,000 New Zealanders—that is the capacity of Westpac Stadium—leave for Australia. What has Australia sent us? It has sent us two people in a kayak, and they are going ...
Electoral Finance Bill
Second Reading 22 Nov 2007
R DOUG WOOLERTON ... National Party was $1,254,845. Toll Holdings—and God bless Toll Holdings for identifying itself—donated $25,000. The Westpac Banking Group donated $30,000. The total amount of donations from that list was $1,881,793.
Major Events Management Bill
In Committee 22 Aug 2007
RON MARK ... Let us suppose, for example, that New Zealand was to meet England in a match to be played here in Wellington at the Westpac Stadium. There could be an argument, given the huge popularity and the huge viewing audience internationally, that ...
KEITH LOCKE ... the whole of Wellington, down the routes that would be defined. The distance is a long way out from, say, the Westpac Stadium, or whatever, and a long way out from Eden Park in the case of Auckland. So I would ask members to support my ...
Prime Minister
Credit Rating Downgrade—Effect on New Zealand Economy 4 Oct 2011
Rt Hon JOHN KEY ... always want to strive to have a higher credit rating, rather than a lower one. One of the commentaries, from either Westpac or the ANZ, actually confirms that. Although the short-term impact is unlikely to see interest rates go up, over time ...
State-owned Assets, Sales—Timing 9 Aug 2011
Hon Phil Goff If the chief executive of BNZ, Andrew Thorburn, is wrong, was the chief economist of Westpac, Dominick Stephens, also wrong when he said “New Zealanders are incentivised to borrow money to buy land rather than ...
Ministers—Westpac Hospitality 7 Jun 2011
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN ... stand by his comments that there is nothing wrong with Ministers accepting hospitality from the Government’s banker, Westpac?
Dr Russel Norman Does he have any concerns about ministerial staff accepting the corporate hospitality of Westpac; if not, why not?
Dr Russel Norman ... he consider that public servants, such as staff from Treasury, should be able to enjoy the corporate hospitality of Westpac?
Dr Russel Norman Can he guarantee that no ministerial staff seconded from Treasury have enjoyed the corporate hospitality of Westpac?
Dr Russel Norman ... up with the Minister of Finance as to whether any of his ministerial staff seconded from Treasury have been enjoying Westpac’s corporate boxes given that public servants are not supposed to accept such gifts?
Dr Russel Norman Would the Prime Minister have any concerns about Treasury staff receiving corporate gifts in the form of access to Westpac’s corporate boxes given that Treasury is the decision maker for the Government’s multimillion-dollar banking contract?
Dr Russel Norman ... he have any concerns that both Ministers and ministerial advisers have been in receipt of corporate hospitality from Westpac?
Dr Russel Norman ... banking contract, the public may rightly have concerns when they see Ministers receiving corporate hospitality from Westpac?
Dr Russel Norman —corporate gifts from Westpac.
Hon Simon Power ... order, Mr Speaker. As somebody who has declared in the pecuniary interests register that I received hospitality from Westpac, I do take offence at the comments made by the member that all members on this side of the House did not.
GST Increase—Effect on New Zealanders 23 Feb 2010
Hon Phil Goff Does he accept the recent estimate by Westpac that, with his increase in GST, inflation will hit almost 5 percent next year, and does he also accept its view that ...
Finance, Minister—Confidence 24 Jul 2007
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Perhaps I could answer best by quoting from Westpac last week: “It is normal for countries that are doing well to experience higher exchange rates.”
Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Bill
Second Reading 17 May 2007
CRAIG FOSS ... I get by?”. I would like to quote a couple of institutional analyses of the Budget, if I may. A quick quote is that Westpac describes the Budget as “a bit of give and take.” But here is the kicker; here are the bits where, once one starts ...
Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill
First Reading 20 Mar 2007
KATE WILKINSON ... that if it is to be the Serious Fraud Office, that office has a dubious record in relation to cases such as the Westpac helicopter case, Digitech, and others. It certainly has a perceived poor prosecution rate. Despite the Serious Fraud ...
Business Law Reform Bill 2006
Second Reading 26 Oct 2006
CRAIG FOSS ... to make products for the farming and packaging industries have resulted in it becoming a finalist in the recent 2006 Westpac Manukau Business Excellence Awards. I give credit where credit is due. I think I actually sat in on the Commerce ...
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill, Racing Amendment Bill - Third Readings
Third Readings 25 Oct 2006
KEITH LOCKE ... the two countries are tied, particularly as the four main trading banks in New Zealand are Australian-owned. The ANZ, Westpac, the BNZ, and the ASB are all Australian-owned. They have a total market value of $36.4 billion, which is equal in ...
Securities Legislation Bill
In Committee 13 Sep 2006
CRAIG FOSS ... bringing through. There is this bill, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill, taxation legislation, and the Westpac New Zealand Bill that was passed the other night. All of those bills have a common theme of New Zealand getting ...
Social Development and Employment
Unemployment—Reports 13 May 2008
Judith Collins ... touch that she believes that there “haven’t been significant job losses to date in the construction industry”, when Westpac has reported that there has been a loss of 11,000 jobs in the construction industry in the past year; and has she ...
Judith Collins I seek leave to table the Westpac bank’s report showing that 11,000 jobs have been shed from the construction industry.
Employment—Statistics 23 Aug 2006
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE I have seen expert comment from the Westpac Banking Corporation that: “The unemployment rate is back to historic lows, employment growth was remarkably strong,”. ...
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill 2006
In Committee 24 Oct 2006
JOHN KEY ... Australia. I could choose any of the Australian-owned banks, but for the purposes of this explanation let me choose Westpac in New Zealand. Clearly, if Westpac operates successfully here in New Zealand, then part of that success will come ...
Second Reading 19 Oct 2006
GORDON COPELAND ... Bank does all it can to protect New Zealand depositors in those companies. Recently, we had before this House the Westpac New Zealand Bill, which was also part of this same task of increasing prudential supervision. The legislation now ...
First Reading 19 Jul 2006
CRAIG FOSS ... and in a similar vein, there are discussions and a debate over a code-share between Air New Zealand and Qantas. The Westpac New Zealand Bill was alluded to in the House today. There are many, many similar things going on, and I stress again ...
GORDON COPELAND ...st—honest in terms of the security they provide to New Zealand depositors in those banks. One of the reasons that the Westpac legislation will go through this Parliament shortly is that it changes that bank’s status from being a branch of a ...
Finance and Expenditure
Westpac New Zealand Bill—Submissions and Evidence 19 Jul 2006
RODNEY HIDE What submissions and evidence have been heard on the Westpac New Zealand Bill?
SHANE JONES The Finance and Expenditure Committee heard evidence from the Westpac Banking Corporation and received advice from the Reserve Bank, Treasury, and the Inland Revenue Department.
Rodney Hide Were submissions called for more widely, particularly giving an opportunity for the customers of Westpac to make submissions?
Debate on Crown Entities, Public Organisations, and State Enterprises - In Committee
In Committee 16 May 2006
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN ... like increases in interest rates. It is not the job of the Reserve Bank to be popular. It is not going out there like Westpac, the BNZ, or Kiwibank to try to find out whether people like its services, because it is a regulator and it is a ...
Westpac New Zealand Bill
Third Reading 6 Sep 2006
Hon MARIAN HOBBS I move, That the Westpac New Zealand Bill be now read a third time. I wish to give some reassurances in this third reading. I wish to reassure ...
CRAIG FOSS I will just make one quick point to Marian Hobbs. I think New Zealand investors in the new Westpac bank will actually be in a better position than before. I do not think anyone in this House likes to line up behind ...
In Committee 6 Sep 2006
CRAIG FOSS I rise to speak in the Committee stage of the Westpac New Zealand Bill. First of all, I would like to note that the National Party is supporting this bill. It has ...
HONE HARAWIRA ... we are, the Māori Party humbly brings the following information before the Committee to help us better understand the Westpac New Zealand Bill, as well. In 2002, 47 percent of bankrupts had more than one credit card, 53 percent had two to ...
Second Reading 23 Aug 2006
Hon MARIAN HOBBS I move, That the Westpac New Zealand Bill be now read a second time. This private bill, promoted by the Westpac Banking Corporation, provides ...
CRAIG FOSS
... words. The Reserve Bank also assured us that the prudential requirements of the new balance sheet of the new entity—Westpac New Zealand Limited—has, and will, pass all its prudential requirements, asset ratios, capital asset ratios, etc. Again, at first cut, that ...
The National Party continues to support the Westpac New Zealand Bill through the House. This private bill allows the incorporation of Westpac New Zealand Ltd from the ...
RODNEY HIDE It will not be me who refers to the fact that the Westpac New Zealand Bill is a private bill. It is not common in our Parliament that an MP brings such a bill to the House. I ...
RODNEY HIDE ... can talk about customers—and that is what I am talking about, Mr Assistant Speaker. I know that you do not bank with Westpac, but I can talk about a person going and putting his or her money into the bank. Right now, customers have a claim ...
RODNEY HIDE ... across. What do we discover in this bill? There is no description of the assets and liabilities that will be in Westpac New Zealand. I defy anyone to tell me what the assets and liabilities of Westpac New Zealand will be. So that is ...
RODNEY HIDE ... has become, I might add, and that will sink his career—Michael Cullen will decide what the assets and liabilities of Westpac New Zealand are. Well, bloody hell, as they say! So people go to bed one night with their money in Westpac, but they ...
GORDON COPELAND I want to take a brief call on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, firstly, to say that we have in the Reserve Bank of New Zealand a world-class institution. In ...
CHRIS TREMAIN I rise to speak on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. It seems somehow inappropriate to be debating the Westpac New Zealand Bill at the same time as many ...
HONE HARAWIRA ... of the committee, told the House that consultation meant a fortnight’s advertising, and that giving the bill to Westpac, the Reserve Bank, Treasury, and the Inland Revenue Department was enough, does not mean that the select committee ...
SHANE JONES I rise to take a short call in relation to the Westpac New Zealand Bill. I had the pleasure of chairing the Finance and Expenditure Committee that dealt with this bill. Yes,...
KEITH LOCKE The Green Party will be supporting this bill. We think that legislating the incorporation of Westpac is a move in the right direction. Westpac has been the hold-out bank that resisted pressures in that direction ...
Westpac New Zealand Bill—Westpac Banking Corporation Asset Backing 19 Jul 2006
RODNEY HIDE Is she proposing any amendments to the Westpac New Zealand Bill to advise New Zealand customers of Westpac what assets will be backing their deposits before her ...
Rodney Hide Does she think it is fair on the customers of Westpac to be compulsorily shifted into a new company without knowing what assets and liabilities will back their investments,...
Hon MARIAN HOBBS ... customers. Second, I am slightly worried by the compliance costs that would be borne by the New Zealand customers of Westpac if his process were carried out.
First Reading 29 Mar 2006
Hon MARIAN HOBBS I move, That the Westpac New Zealand Bill be now read a first time. This is a private bill promoted by Westpac Banking Corporation for ...
JOHN KEY ... support this legislation. For the purposes of good order and pecuniary interest, I declare that I am a customer of Westpac, and I have been for 39 years since my mother opened an account for me in Canterbury and I got a passbook with, I ...
SUE BRADFORD The Green Party supports the introduction of the Westpac New Zealand Bill for the simple reason that our members believe the banking system operating in this country should ...
Hon BRIAN DONNELLY ... by Sue Bradford, and I have to say I do not necessarily believe that the bill will change the business practice of Westpac New Zealand Ltd. However, if the bill shuts up the taxation loophole that she mentioned in her speech, then certainly ...
HONE HARAWIRA Before I speak on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, I congratulate Sue Bradford on her comments outlining the requirements of corporate bodies in this ...
GORDON COPELAND I want to take a fairly brief call on behalf of United Future on the Westpac New Zealand Bill. Firstly, I say we support the passage of the bill. There are two underlying rationales and reasons ...
Hon MARIAN HOBBS ... for their support for this private bill. I also realise that I did not declare at the start that I, too, am a Westpac customer, so I lay that on the table. I am looking for detailed work to be done on the bill by the select committee, ...
General Debate 29 Mar 2006
CRAIG FOSS It fell by 0.1 percent. If we have one more of those negative numbers, we are in a recession. As Westpac recently pointed out, New Zealand is in the cack—I think that was the word it used. But interestingly—and this ...
Finance
Capital Gains Tax—Gareth Morgan’s Views 2 Aug 2011
Hon David Parker Does the Minister of Finance agree with Westpac Chief Economist Dominick Stephens that “New Zealanders are incentivised to borrow money to buy land rather than ...
Budget 2011—Government Economic Programme 16 Jun 2011
Hon BILL ENGLISH ... the economy is making good progress. Specifically, I heard some statements this morning from the chief executive of Westpac bank, Gail Kelly, pointing out the difference between the positive approach to the future in New Zealand and the ...
Economic Growth—Forecasts 22 Mar 2011
Hon John Boscawen I seek leave to table a statement from Westpac, also dated Monday 21 March, outlining the impact of the earthquake on the Government’s accounts and GDP growth.
Economy—Reports 17 Jun 2010
Hon BILL ENGLISH The Westpac: McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index released yesterday shows an improvement in consumer confidence. It shows ...
Banks, Australian-owned—Dividends Sent Offshore Over Last 5 Years 27 May 2010
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN ... has he received on the total amount of dividend payments sent offshore to the Australian owners of ASB, ANZ National, Westpac, and the BNZ over the last 5 years; if so, what is this amount?
GST Increase—Effect on Families 16 Mar 2010
Hon David Cunliffe ... compensate the hypothetical family for both the increase in GST and the resulting increase in inflation, estimated by Westpac and the Governor of the Reserve Bank to be a further 2 percent?
Tax Working Group—Membership 21 Oct 2009
Dr Russel Norman ... PricewaterhouseCoopers’ chairman, John Shewan, being on the Tax Working Group, in light of Mr Shewan’s advice to Westpac to use tax reduction measures that the High Court subsequently found to be unlawful and that cost taxpayers hundreds ...
Dr Russel Norman Is he concerned that, according to the Auckland High Court, Mr John Shewan advised Westpac to use tax reduction measures in order to pay a tax rate of only 6.5 percent instead of the corporate rate of 30 ...
Westpac—Government Deposits and Bank Fees 14 Oct 2009
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN How much did the Government pay Westpac in bank fees in the last financial year and how much does the Government currently have on deposit with them?
Hon BILL ENGLISH ... bear with me, the answer is a slightly longer than usual answer. The Government has a master banking agreement with Westpac, under which a range of banking services are provided to individual departments. In addition, departments have ...
Dr Russel Norman Is there an obligation on Westpac, as the Government’s banker, to behave as a good corporate citizen; if so, does the Minister believe that Westpac was ...
Hon BILL ENGLISH The time for Westpac to lodge an appeal has not expired. Given the large amounts of money involved—in this case, almost a billion dollars—I...
Dr Russel Norman Will the Minister commit to an exit strategy from his use of Westpac as the Government banker, in the light of its conviction in the High Court for tax avoidance—a conviction that means ...
Hon BILL ENGLISH The Government will honour the terms of its contractual arrangements with Westpac, which have been in place now since 1989.
Dr Russel Norman What does the Minister say to hard-working, taxpaying New Zealanders who honestly pay their taxes, while Westpac, the Government’s banker, illegally avoids paying half a billion dollars in taxes?
Banking Sector—Minister’s Statement 29 Jul 2009
Stuart Nash ... Minister, his staff, and his officials had, directly or through intermediaries, with the ANZ National Bank, BNZ, ASB, Westpac, Kiwibank, or PSIS since the announcement last Tuesday of the Opposition parties’ inquiry into banks?
Banking Practices—Interest Rates 22 Jul 2009
Hon BILL ENGLISH ... are already public. The Reserve Bank did a thorough job of looking at the margins. Some of the major banks, like Westpac, have already published their analysis. Members of the general public can look at the interest rate picture by going ...
Fiscal Policy—Reserve Bank Assessment 25 Oct 2007
Hon Bill English Does the Minister agree with the Westpac bank commentary that says: “The most extraordinary paragraph was devoted to fiscal policy. The Minister of Finance ...
Westpac New Zealand Bill—Westpac Banking Corporation Asset Backing 19 Jul 2006
RODNEY HIDE Will he be insisting that Westpac Banking Corporation advise their New Zealand customers what assets and liabilities will be backing their investments, ...
Rodney Hide Does he think that is adequate disclosure, when essentially the 1.3 million customers of Westpac are to be shifted into a new company compulsorily, and only after they have been shifted will they discover what ...
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN ... culmination of a policy under, certainly, successive Governors of the Reserve Bank in terms of local incorporation of Westpac. I am advised that the Reserve Bank will ensure that Westpac advises its customers of the transfer, and the ...
R Doug Woolerton Can the Minister tell us why it is important that Westpac New Zealand Ltd be registered as a bank in New Zealand?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN It is important in terms of the general framework of prudential regulation, and, in fact, because Westpac was different from all the other Australian-owned banks in terms of the structure it had.
Economic Growth—Reports 27 Jun 2006
John Key Has the Minister seen the report from Westpac, which states that the rebound in first-quarter GDP growth is something of a false dawn and should not be read as an ...
Economic Growth—Second Half of 2005 28 Mar 2006
John Key Does the Minister agree with Westpac that the economy is “in the cack” and that we are likely to see negative growth in the first quarter of 2006, which ...
KiwiSaver Bill
In Committee 29 Aug 2006
CHRIS TREMAIN ... which contributed comments in that regard. Thirdly, supportive of KiwiSaver as the means to improve savings rates is Westpac. In terms of submitters who were supportive with reservations we start to see, right from the word “go”, the reason ...
Second Reading 24 Aug 2006
HONE HARAWIRA Tēnā koe, Mr Assistant Speaker. Tēnā tātou te Whare. Tēnā koe ngā hui. In yesterday’s debate on the Westpac New Zealand Bill, National MP Mr Chris Tremain pointed out how petty it seemed to be talking about technical ...
First Reading 2 Mar 2006
HONE HARAWIRA ... in house prices, it is unrealistic that a family on a weekly income of $290 can service a $200,000 mortgage. When Westpac can get fail-safe mortgages from the Government while ordinary workers have to bust their backsides to pay every cent ...
Motions - Rugby World Cup 2011
Rugby World Cup 2011 22 Nov 2005
Hon PETER DUNNE ... that at the moment is reflected in the debate over where the grand final should be held. I put in a great plug for Westpac Stadium. It is a superb ground and it will have an elite crowd there. The third challenge, after all, will be to make ...