Dyson RuthHon RUTH DYSON (Labour—Port Hills): Thank you Madam Chair Tolley and welcome to this debate. I'd just like to answer questions that have been raised by the last few speakers starting with Christopher Penk. He asked particularly about the arrangements and how—I think complicated" was the way he described them. I know this is a little different in that there is a third party involved rather than just straight owner and the local authority but the Local Government and Environment Committee received submissions from the Society of Local Government Managers; the Retirement Villages Association of New Zealand which is the representative of the owners; the Retirement Village Residents Association of New Zealand; and Grey Power all of whom supported the bill. They had some concerns which in my view are addressed by the Supplementary Order Paper—could have been addressed by the select committee but weren't—and they are very keen on making it work and making it work in the best possible way. I know that our local authorities are as well. They administer rates rebates for thousands of people already. It runs very smoothly and there's no reason at all why particularly given the goodwill that's been demonstrated this won't work as well. So I understand the concern that he's raised and I'm confident that it won't be delivered. I'm confident that we've got players on board to make sure that it works really smoothly.The Green Party member Chlöe Swarbrick raised the issue of the current rates remissions which are given by four local authorities and how this bill passing might impact on that. I think it's a very valid question. I can't say what Auckland Council Kāpiti Thames-Coromandel and New Plymouth will do with their rates remission schemes—that's a matter entirely for them—but it would be my prediction that once this legislation kicks in and covers their area they will say "Our remission scheme is no longer needed." That would be my prediction but it's actually up to the councils in those four areas. At the moment they are filling a gap that has been left by the Government and once this Government fills that gap it would be my view that they would be able to back off. Otherwise the retirement village residents in those four areas will be advantaged compared to people in other parts of the country and actually if you want to attract people from places like Christchurch to Auckland a financial incentive might be a good place to start. It hasn't been successful yet but it may well be in the future. But that is up to them to determine.The Hon Tracey Martin asked about the threshold level and I think that she's entirely correct. The National-led Government did nothing for nine years to update the rates rebates scheme and I think they could have. Now with a new Government it's an opportunity to have a look at the rates rebate scheme again—so is it fit for purpose who else is missing out what are the levels and do they need adjusting? So that's an opportunity and the Hon Nanaia Mahuta has already shown an immense amount of interest in this area has been very supportive to me and the work that's been done on this bill and I have no doubt that she'll progress it further.Stuart Smith asked about unintended consequences. I can assure him that the only place further to go on the Supplementary Order Paper in terms of defining the residents who will be entitled to apply for a rates rebate would be to name them in a schedule. Seriously the Supplementary Order Paper to this bill is belts and braces and beyond so I'm really confident that any unintended consequences will not be delivered. This is sounder legislation than when I brought it to the House; that's to be expected. I had the support of officials. That was denied to me at the select committee in quite an unusual manner should I say but as a result I'm confident that it will deliver what is intended which is giving residents with occupational rights agreements in a retirement village the right to apply for a rates rebate. It works for me and I hope soon it works for the National Party."