Parker wants to give the vote to anyone with an IRD number

In the debate of the Electoral Amendment Act 2016:

Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour): … There are a lot of Scandinavian countries that now use the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) system. Virtually everyone in New Zealand has an IRD number. You have got to have an IRD number if you have got a student loan. You have got to have an IRD number if you are on a benefit. You have got to have an IRD number if you are a superannuitant. You have got to have an IRD number if you are in employment. Virtually everyone in New Zealand has an IRD number. Why can we not use IRD numbers as being a legitimate representation of your ability to vote?

Well almost every foreign student in NZ has an IRD number. So Parker would allow them all to vote.

Can I return to the point that I made at the start. I think we should be able to use IRD numbers together with a declaration that someone is either a permanent resident or a citizen at the time they vote that should be enough to enable a person to vote. Thank you.

Yet no one would check that they are in fact a resident or citizen under his proposal – merely that they have an IRD number.