Hayes John: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — Second Reading 
Hayes John: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — Second Reading 
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JOHN HAYES (National—Wairarapa) 
: 
 Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill this afternoon. It is a very important bill because it will underpin the fact that next year New Zealand will be on show throughout 2011. 
I am quite astonished that the previous speaker Rahui Katene made no submissions in the select committee process. In fact I do not recall a member of the Maori Party coming to our select committee at any point or making any representations along the lines that are being made here in the House this afternoon. 
We are dealing with an event that will involve something like 85000 visitors coming to New Zealand. This bill is critically important to the promotion of Brand New Zealand—who we are—and it is also important for economic reasons. As I recall about 4 billion people will be watching New Zealand on TV. This will be the opportunity to showcase New Zealand to the world and to demonstrate that it is a great place to live in a great place to do business in and a great provider of food. The Rugby World Cup 2011 will be the largest event New Zealand has ever hosted and we are turning the whole country into a stadium of 4.5 million people with 48 games spread over 13 venues. 
Inevitably an event of this size and importance presents significant challenges. Anybody in this community who has actually tried to do something will realise there are rules that kill initiatives. Mr Mallard has sought an example of a reason why we need to have the particular provision to give the Minister for the Rugby World Cup an overriding power in this process. I would like to give an example from my electorate particularly from the southern end through the South Wairarapa District Council. 
New Zealand’s next newest and most major music event will hopefully take place in Martinborough at the Alana Estate on 31 December this year as the kick-off to the Rugby World Cup. By July this year negotiations had taken place between the concert organisers and the South Wairarapa District Council. Whether there was a miscommunication I am not in a position to judge but I can say to this Parliament that something like 12500 tickets were sold at an average price of $350 each for the concert. Then the whole event was ankle-tapped by the South Wairarapa District Council which said: “No no this concert cannot proceed; it needs a resource consent.” As I said whether there was a miscommunication I do not know but the consequences of this decision—and it was all spelt out about a month ago in the  
Dominion Post 
—was that an employee of the South Wairarapa District Council publicly said: “I’m going to try and stop this process from happening.” rather than: “How can I help this economic activity to happen?”. The council was absolutely negative in its approach and the consequences for the concert organisers is that they now have to fork out $50000 for consultants to put in a resource consent application and it is still not clear 2 months from the event whether the concert will be able to proceed because there is no permission in place. This situation absolutely highlights why we cannot organise something that involves 48 games in 13 venues right throughout this country trying to do something on the world stage when we have the nanny State imposing regulations and closing down activities. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: What happened to the rule of law in New Zealand? 
JOHN HAYES 
: Our select committee recognised this—and Mr Mallard was at our committee—and it came up with some significant recommendations. I acknowledge that Mr Mallard raised concerns about Part 4 the part that will allow the Minister to grant an approval in circumstances where the authority has recommended against that. Mr Mallard argued that power to grant urgent approvals should rest with the authority rather than with the Minister. He raised similar concerns in the media. The power of the Minister to grant urgent approval under Part 4 requires a recommendation from the authority. Although the Minister is not required to act in accordance with the recommendation before granting approval the Minister must also consult with the Minister for Economic Development— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Gerry Brownlee. 
JOHN HAYES 
: —yes Mr Brownlee—and he must also consult with the Minister with the relevant portfolio responsibility. For example it might be that the Minister for the Environment would need to be consulted on matters that would ordinarily require consent under the Resource Management Act. It may be that the Minister has to consult with the Minister of Police or another Minister. 
It is hoped that no need arises for the powers in Part 4 to be used but it is necessary to have available an urgent and flexible approval process to deal with approvals that may be necessary in the event that some unforeseen situation—as we have in Martinborough—occurs that could impact on the delivery of the tournament. It is considered that the provisions in Part 4 will ensure that appropriate decisions will be made in such circumstances. It is also appropriate given the extraordinary nature of the power to grant urgent approvals that that power is given to the Minister of the Crown who is publicly accountable rather than to an unelected body. With those comments I say that I support this bill wholeheartedly.