Bennett David: Hamilton City Council (Parana Park) Land Vesting Bill — Third Reading 
Bennett David: Hamilton City Council (Parana Park) Land Vesting Bill — Third Reading 
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DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 I move  
That the Hamilton City Council (Parana Park) Land Vesting Bill be now read a third time 
. I am sure that members of the House have been looking forward to the third reading of the Parana Park bill. 
Hon Members 
: We have. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: We have indeed. This bill has now become famous in Hamilton for the time it has taken to get to this stage. Many members of this House have spent more time discussing the Parana Park bill than some other legislation that has gone through in the year that we have just had. 
Tim Macindoe 
: Underlining the significance of Hamilton. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: Underlining the significance of Hamilton as my colleague from Hamilton West says. 
The bill is important legislation because it is another case of the Government delivering for Hamilton. It shows that we are doing what the people of Hamilton want and have desired. 
Chris Tremain 
: We’re going to campaign on it. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: We can campaign on this bill as my colleague Chris Tremain from Napier says. Many members would be jealous that they cannot say they have put through legislation that is important for their cities like this bill is for Hamilton. 
When we look at the bill we see that it has become famous for the name “Parana Park” which has no relation at all to the fierce fish one sees in South America. In fact a play on names is the best explanation we have heard. George Parr was the original person to own this property. He vested it in the city council through legislation. He died in 1929. The 1958 Hamilton City (Parana Park) Empowering Act was enacted which gave the city council more effective administration and management over the Parana Park area. 
For those people who have not listened to this debate before but are in awe of what Parana Park is I say that it is a very small section of land right beside Memorial Park in Hamilton. This land was originally vested in the council so that the council could use it as a children’s convalescent home because there was a large house on the property. That did not eventuate as the best use of the property so it basically became part of Memorial Park which is just parkland but has a very significant purpose for our city: it is where our war memorial is situated. If one goes to Hamilton— 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Some people do. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: —as many people do—one will see our war memorial and beside that Parana Park which has been used as a park for children over the past many years. 
Tim Macindoe 
: Don’t forget the playground. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: There is a playground there. 
Tim Macindoe 
: There’s a lovely playground. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: There is. It is right beside the river which is the natural asset that provides great entertainment to those visiting Hamilton and to Hamiltonians. 
This bill therefore is a response to the city council looking at furthering its ability to use that property in the most efficient way for members of the community. The city council sees a need to have better control of that resource so that the council can manage it appropriately. Parliament today—and I am assuming that all parties will be supporting this bill— 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Oh that’s a big one. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: I know that is a big assumption I say to Mr Williamson. There will be unanimous support I am sure to do what the people of Hamilton require and desire: to see that Parana Park is further vested in the control of the city council so that the city council can use it appropriately as required. 
During the debate on this bill we heard a very interesting fact which was raised by one of the members of the Opposition about the composition of land that would be involved in the Parana Park vesting. There is a slight issue. When this land was first put into the bill it was done under an older planning scheme. The planning that was used did not replicate the actual land area now. I think 0.02 hectares was the differential that the very fine Labour member David Shearer— 
Sue Moroney 
: A couple of acres. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: Was it 0.2 of an acre? That member read the bill and found that there was a difference. As was explained during the Committee stage that difference was not a problem; it was merely an error in how the land had been subdivided in the past for land purposes under the registry. That was many years ago so under more modern approaches the full and final land area was able to be put into the bill we now have before us. We do not have an issue about any land being lost in the process. Members can take full comfort from the fact that they are vesting the quite appropriate and right amount of land in the city council and not a smaller land area than was anticipated. 
In essence this bill is important in the sense of central government delivering for and working with local government. It is important in a symbolic way for the people of Hamilton as well. The park land has a very important meaning being right beside Memorial Park. Anzac Day was merely a week or so ago and at that time thousands of Hamiltonians attended ceremonies in that very part of our city at Dawn Parades and also at the official morning ceremony. 
It is an important part of land that is used by the people of Hamilton. It is used in a manner in which the community finds great satisfaction and remembrance. I think George Parr would take a lot of pride in knowing that the land he gifted to the city is being used in a very constructive way for the enjoyment of all people of the city and especially for young people of the city who now turn out to those Anzac Day parades. This means the land has gone back to its original use in a different way: not as a convalescent home which George Parr had probably expected but certainly for the value and the enjoyment of young people and the remembrance of people who have gone by who built the city of Hamilton to such a strong point. People like George Parr and his family were important ancestors and founders of the city. 
I thank all members of this House for their contributions in passing this bill. I thank members from both the main parties and also the smaller parties for taking an active interest in the bill during the Committee stage. I look forward to its progression through the House and to this Parliament delivering once again for the people of Hamilton.