Doocey Matt; Rurawhe AdrianMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): Thank you very much Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure on behalf of the National Party to rise in support of this bill the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Amendment Bill but I do want to start by echoing my colleagues the Hon Gerry Brownlee and Hon Nicky Wagner. There was a lot more potential under this legislation that we are repealing today.I want to reference an area in my electorate of Waimakariri—Silverstream. Now that development didn't exist before the earthquakes but under the earthquake powers the former National Government was able to free up town planning and bylaws to free up large tracts of land. And what we learnt with that experience is that when you free up land it increases supply which equals demand. Interestingly enough with all the housing pressures in the last term the region of Canterbury was one of the very few areas where we didn't feel that housing pressure and that was a result of that legislation.It was disappointing that in fact the current Government couldn't learn that formula. It wasn't about the cost of the housing; it was about the ability to free up land. And now that development Silverstream in my electorate probably has 2000 to 3000 houses. But what's even more important in a time of one of the biggest economic recessions in our generation is that development has now earmarked another $600 million for development—that's much needed housing but also jobs and incomes. That's what this legislation that we're repealing now allowed for.Something I think we don't talk enough in this House about is the value of private capital in the earthquake rebuild. Yes there was a big role for local government and central government but equally some of the biggest developments in greater Christchurch were led by private investors because of course with the economic response needed in COVID-19 it is going to be largely driven out of the private sector. So we are disappointed on this side of the House—there was real potential to do more. There are huge tracts of land in the red zone in Christchurch City where we want to see projects that will see this best new small city in the world forward.So when we pass this ability back to our local leaders to make decisions we want to know that they are going to make decisions that will drive the local economy forward because the local economy for us is employing mums and dads in our communities. So by now passing the decision making back to our local leaders what we don't want to see is further delays. You could list the delays under this Government in Christchurch: the convention centre the multi-use stadium the Metro Sports Facility the Christchurch Northern Corridor. So it's incumbent on our local leaders to pick up the bill and run with it not only Christchurch City Council but Waimakariri District Council Selwyn District Council Environment Canterbury and of course Ngāi Tahu as well—all major players that need to come together to drive our regeneration forward.In a town Kaiapoi in my electorate—in the first earthquakes; we're coming up to a decade now since that first earthquake in September 2010—we have the only red zone outside of Christchurch. We lost over a thousand residential houses for a town that probably only has 5000 or 6000 houses. I'm proud of the way Parliament has stood behind the people of Kaiapoi of Waimakariri of Greater Christchurch and Canterbury during these challenging times.This piece of legislation is no different to the other pieces of legislation that have come before this House over the last 10 years. It's proudly being supported by Canterbury MPs across the House. I must say whatever party our Canterbury MPs are from at the moment I believe Canterbury has been well-served by their representation from all political parties in the recovery and the regeneration. But what we must ensure is that the progress of our regeneration continues. Christchurch and Greater Christchurch were facing some real challenges post-earthquake and now that is compounded by this economic recession that we have not seen for a generation.I too want to acknowledge Duncan Webb because Duncan Webb has been very public with his views—he's a socialist; he states that publicly. He believes in high taxes. In the end he's allowed his views and good on him for standing up and stating them. But unfortunately that sort of ideology will actually get in the way of the progress of Christchurch. So if we are going to devolve decision making back to local leadership then I would question what role is it for an MP to go blindly into their decision making processes and slam them for making decisions for their local ratepayers? Because in the end what local ratepayer wants to see increased rates considering the amount of expenditure that they have covered over the last 10 years? So I would caution. Here we are repealing section 71 which will give decision making back to local leadership but we've already seen Government MPs stray in and interfere in that although I must say it was an interesting message with Duncan Webb at the start of his submission when he said he wasn't there as a Government MP but a Christchurch-centric MP.Hon Nicky Wagner: He wore red.MATT DOOCEY: Yes. To conclude: this is an important piece of legislation. I think the House wants to see local decision making now. But if we are going to say that we are giving powers back then maybe the Government needs to rethink their behaviour over the last week. Thank you Mr Speaker.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): This is a split call—five minutes.