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My decision to retire from politics at the 2005 General Election has probably been well canvassed by now but I would like to say a few words of my own.
I will always be grateful to the people of Wairarapa for the support they have given me as a Carterton District Councillor, Carterton's Mayor and as Wairarapa MP.
When I first sought election to the seat in 1999 I stated that I would only be doing two terms and I am sticking to that. A great deal of my life has been spent in politics and the time has come for me to take on a different challenge - although I'm not too sure what that will be yet.
My thanks again to all who voted for me in all the elections - I wouldn't be where I am without you.
I will support whomever the Labour Party chooses as its candidate and I am sure they will also work with Wairarapa's best interests at heart.
Much has been said about my supposed suggestion to shift Waitangi Day celebrations away from Waitangi to our own Papawai Marae.
Unfortunately this was not what I had in mind.
I was asked why there were no organised Waitangi Day celebrations in Wairarapa and if I would support any moves to rectify this.
Of course I would support our own celebrations, but the national day was not mentioned.
When I put the idea of Papawai forward it was for Wairarapa celebrations. As Papawai was the seat of the Māori Parliament and Greytown was the first planned inland town, it seems fitting that Wairarapa celebrations be held there.
However, I support continuing national celebrations at Waitangi - I never suggested it should move from there.
I am grateful for the support my reported suggestion has received but would now like that support to be transferred towards making the yearly Waitangi event harmonious.
Our future lies in working together.
Self-employed people who pay provisional tax in their first year of business will soon be eligible for a 6.7 percent discount on that tax. This is part of a raft of measures being introduced over the coming year to simplify tax for small businesses.
The small business sector is a key driver of growth in our economy but many struggle to make it past the first couple of years. We want to give a hand up based on clear need.
Businesses do not have to pay tax on income earned during their first year until the second year, but both years' payments can be due about the same time - which can be a real financial knock-back for some small businesses.
We are offering an incentive to first-year self-employed people, and individuals who receive income from partnerships, to make voluntary tax payments during their first year of business. This helps avoid the later strain of paying two lots of income tax very close together. If they take up the offer, they will receive a 6.7 percent discount for each dollar of tax paid during the first year, to be calculated when their end-of-year tax bill is prepared.
This is one of several ideas proposed by the Government late last year in the discussion document Making tax easier for small businesses and the first to make it into a taxation bill. The bill is expected to be introduced within the next few weeks.
Other government proposals under active consideration include aligning provisional tax and GST payments, allowing small businesses to base provisional tax payments on GST turnover, and helping small businesses with PAYE.
Each of the proposals has been the result of extensive consultation with small businesses about ways to make tax easier for them and to reduce the associated compliance costs.
The first-year discount proposal, in particular, has received strong support from the businesses we consulted.
Further announcements on the balance of the small business tax simplification proposals can be expected later this year.
Finally I will be out of the country until March 13, as the Law and Order Select Committee is visiting the Australian State and Federal parliaments. Sheryll and Jo will still be on deck to handle any queries while I am away.
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