Williams Andrew: Conservation (Natural Heritage Protection) Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWilliams Andrew: Conservation (Natural Heritage Protection) Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 04 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13290. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First): I take a call on behalf of New Zealand First on the Conservation (Natural Heritage Protection) Bill. It is a great pleasure to rise to discuss these issues of endangered species immediately after the North Shore MP Maggie Barry. In that regard this bill is very much about putting in place new penalties—increased penalties—to get round what has been somewhat of a problem over many years in terms of international trafficking of endangered and rare species.Looking back to some of the news reports in the last decade we will all recall instances where for instance a German tourist was caught with Northland green geckos smuggled in his underwear as he was attempting to leave Auckland Airport. There was another instance in 2010 where a German tourist tried to smuggle 44 live geckos and skinks out of the country. Obviously the Germans have something about our geckos and they would like to get hold of them. There was another instance where two Czech botanists were convicted in 2004 for attempting to smuggle out 363 wild plants including 93 endemic orchids.The list goes on and on and it is often the case that this is being done for commercial gain and for commercial interests. It is interesting that Interpol estimates the smuggling of wildlife around the world for instance to be in the order of $10 billion to $20 billion. The trade in wildlife-smuggling is estimated at $10 billion to $20 billion by Interpol.We are only a small tip of the iceberg because we are at the end of the Earth. We are an island nation and therefore it is far more difficult here compared with those countries that are perhaps closer to Europe or Asia where there are cross-borders and that sort of thing. But in our situation we do have some very very rare species that are unique to this country. Some of you may have had an opportunity last night to catch on Television One theWild About New Zealand documentary that was about Fiordland. It showed that wonderful area of New Zealand our largest national park and it showed the likes of the New Zealand kea a parrot unique to New Zealand which again is sought after around the world and which is highly prized. It is those sorts of species and many others that we have in this country that have ended up uniquely New Zealand birds and animals and fauna and flora that we have to ensure that we protect.I commend Jacqui Dean for bringing to the House this member’s bill in relation to increasing the penalties and making them much more substantial than they were in the past increasing the likes of some penalties from 1 year’s imprisonment up to 5 years’ imprisonment. That is a significant increase to go from 1 year’s to 5 years’ imprisonment for those who have committed offences that are for commercial gain or reward. Similarly putting those penalties figures up to $300000 or $20000 per day is sending a very strong message to those around the world or indeed any New Zealanders who might wish to participate in any illicit trade of any flora or fauna.It is also pleasing to see that this legislation does take into account that sometimes it is not done for commercial gain. It may have been done as other speakers have mentioned for some reason such as that they were not fully aware or that they did it carelessly but they should still be penalised for having not taken due care and regard of the native natural reserve. In that instance under this bill people can be sentenced to community work and again that is a good situation. It is sensible that some people who have offended who perhaps do not require a financial penalty but who should be made to learn from their mistake can be subject to community work to make amends for their wrongdoings.In this respect New Zealand First is supporting this bill. But New Zealand First members do echo the comments of some other speakers that although it is very good to be increasing the penalties and making the regime and the governance of our flora and fauna much stricter and sending a stronger message to those who do not abide by our laws at the same time we are very mindful that the conservation estate is under threat.We hear figures bandied around by the National Government which says that there is as much money if not more in there today as there was a few years ago. But we have to remember that we have a growing population. We also have growing numbers of tourists coming to this country. The conservation estate is under increasing pressure. There are increasing numbers using our conservation reserve and as a result we have to be upping the ante not just trying to tread water with the conservation reserve. Therefore in that respect upping the ante in terms of the penalties is going part of the way to helping protect our conservation reserve.But at the same time we cannot forget that the basis of this country and our supposed “100% Pure New Zealand” image and also the basis of our economy being clean green and agricultural based are also dependent on us having a very good clean environment. The environment is absolutely without doubt the jewel in the crown of New Zealand’s economy and if we let that suffer in any way then the rest of this economy could well suffer.So I do just say to the Minister for the Environment Amy Adams and we mentioned it before that going hand in hand with this bill there is a responsibility on the part of the Minister to ensure that other aspects of the conservation estate and the environment are equally protected and safeguarded. Thank you.