Ngaro Alfred: Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No 3) — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No 3) — First Reading[Sitting date: 24 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4774. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALFRED NGARO (National): It is an honour just to round off the debate and also the speeches in the House. I would like to respond though that the Hon Maggie Barry was actually addressing an issue that had existed for quite some time so it was not a bit of a stoush with another local ward member or chair over on the North Shore. In fact this had been in existence for some time and as I said there was a press release by Phil Twyford in 2010 so this is a long-held issue of concern that has been going on for some time. So I think I just want to acknowledge that first of all.One of things that I think is going to be important as we head to the select committee is also the wealth of experience and I can speak only for those who are on our side that Jamie-Lee Ross my colleague over here—I will not say how old he was but he was one of the youngest members on the Manukau City Council. He served ably on the Manukau City Council for 6 years. [Interruption] That is right he did say he was shaving at that time—apparently—with a butter knife but it was a shave. He spent half a year with the Auckland Council prior to coming into Parliament as well.There is also my colleague over here Jono Naylor who was a councillor for 6 years in Palmerston North and then became the Mayor of Palmerston North for 7 years as well. Our good friend Ian McKelvie who was the Mayor of Manawatū District for some say 100 years but no it was only 6 years. He was the Mayor of Manawatū District for some 6 years and very ably led over there. Jacqui Dean was the Deputy Mayor of Waitaki District I think it was and again has a wealth of experience. The Hon Anne Tolley too was also a councillor for Napier; and then there is also the Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga who was also on the Auckland Council and he was the councillor for Tāmaki-Maungakiekie as well. And also who could forget the Hon Paul Goldsmith who served on the Auckland Council and in fact he was the chairperson for the community services committee—he did a great job on community services. He showed lots of empathy for the communities Auckland-wide. I mention the experiences of my colleagues because I truly do believe that that is a wealth of experience that will be added to this bill and to me that is going to be quite significant and quite important as well.We do look forward to the submissions that will come forward. I do think that what has been raised too is the potential under the local government legislation in 2001—and my colleague Mr Matt Doocey talked about community boards—where there are potentially situations there for some discussion and some conversation around those. I know that Mr Sio also talked about that opportunity as well. So we are looking forward to the discussion and yes there could be more Supplementary Order Papers in there.I just want to again remind members that there was some comment about the bill being a bit sloppy with regard to Supplementary Order Paper 418. It was an administrative error that had happened. So in the Supplementary Order Paper where it has clause 6 this is just to ensure that at the commencement of this bill we are not going to have a series of by-elections up and down the country and I think that is really important as well.There is not much more to say but I just say that we look forward to the ably chaired Local Government and Environment Committee process. We do hope that there will be—I know that in the Greens’ speech that there was a thought that there would not be many submissions but I think what it will do is again begin to answer questions around the Auckland Council. I do know that there has been wide conversation and concern at times around I suppose how effective the Auckland Council has been in the engaging of seven territorial authorities to come together. Although we have said that there have been some savings there could be some concern as a whole as to whether the leadership of that council has actually continued to pay dividends and make a difference. I think it is not a judgment call but it is a challenge I know that is there as well.I look forward to this bill going to the select committee. I look forward to sitting in the select committee to hearing the submissions and I look forward to the bill returning back to the House with the hope that there will be widespread support across the House for this bill too as it comes back and hopefully it will gain the Royal assent and then be enacted into law as well. I commend this bill to the House.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Local Government and Environment Committee.