By Sia Aston
It’s been controversial, it's been complicated and now it's law. The Government's Emissions Trading Scheme passed just minutes ago and comes into effect on January 1.
Watch Sia Aston live outside Parliament shortly after the bill was passed.
The debate in Parliament today was about the emissions trading scheme, but MPs spent much of the session trading insults.
“The genial incompentence of Gerry Brownlee and his house management or has Nick Smith finally blown a gasket.”
That one was Labour MP Phil Twyford’s, but he was not alone.
The man behind the legislaton, Nick Smith, immune to all attacks, had a few insults of his own.
“He's an embarrassment to his electorate, he's an embarrassment to himself,” he said of an Opposition MP.
But it was not all insults, there were also further attacks on National's deal to give five wealthy iwi free use of Crown land for profit in return for Maori Party support for the bill.
The deal is considered compensation for iwi who planned to re-litigate treaty settlements.
“A very slipperly deal, a deal that has never been put under scrutiny, a deal that opens a whole can of worms around the whole treaty debate,” said Mr Cosgrove.
And Labour’s Shane Jones went further.
“Using grievance as a crutch, deepening the grievance mentality that keeps that party alive,” he said of the deal.
Rodney Hide was not happy with the decision either.
“Any settlement can be re-opened and re-litigated if the Government ever makes a decision that might somehow put a cost on an iwi that's done a settlement.”
The Maori Party remained in the hot seat after reports emerged of a last-minute revolt within the party's council for leaders to pull support for the bill.
“Listen to your members who are meeting as we speak, who have called meetings to say to the Maori Party, 'do not do this to Maori voters',” said Labour MP Chris Hipkins.
It is true some elements are unhappy, but rumours of pulling support totally were wrong.
“The Maori Party will stay with their stand and on that there is no discussion on the part of the national council,” said Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell.
And Maori Party leader Pita Sharples was standing firm.
“The point is we made a commitment, and that's our integrity on the line and we'll stand by that.”
So, New Zealand will have a new Emissions Trading Scheme and National says it will cost households $3 a week.
You can expect electricity, food and petrol prices to rise from January next year too. Consumers will feel the effects immediately, but costs to polluting industries will be phased in over time.
The Maori Party insists its deal with the Government has produced an Emissions Trading Scheme that will benefit everyone.
3 News