Williams Andrew: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWilliams Andrew: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 05 December 2013. Volume:695;Page:15334. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First): I am taking a call on behalf of New Zealand First on the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill in its second reading. I rise to speak to this bill and to say that New Zealand First will not be supporting it. We do concede that some aspects of the Historic Places Act do need updating. That Act was originally drafted in 1975 and it was amended in 1993. As time has marched on what has not been regarded as historic under that Act—that is what has been post-1900—is becoming of significant heritage and historic value now as we move well into the 21st century. For instance the World War I centennial era is now upon us so we must be mindful of the importance of such important periods in the history of this country. Important structures to commemorate the Great War are most certainly now being regarded as having historic importance. Likewise architecture from the 1930s such as the art deco buildings in Napier is now coming into that same category of unique historic significance.However putting that aspect of the bill to one side the most controversial focus of this bill and the area where New Zealand First has grave concerns is to change the name and completely restructure the Historic Places Trust. That iconic name of Historic Places Trust will become Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and with it the whole structure will be radically changed. New Zealand First does not agree with the proposed change that will see one the disestablishment of the local branch committees; two the removal of the three positions for elected members of the trust board; and three the creation of two new positions for members who are to be appointed by Ministers. In short this is another case of this National Government taking over the democratic local interests of heartland New Zealand and replacing it with dictatorial “we know better” control from the Beehive.The Historic Places Trust has comprised volunteer committees in communities all over New Zealand which have provided invaluable time energy and local knowledge to maintaining and protecting the history and heritage of New Zealand. They represent all that is good at grassroots level in New Zealand as dedicated guardians of much of our most precious history. These volunteers are being ungraciously moved aside in favour of a more centralised corporate model run from Wellington. The Local Government and Environment Committee heard from many branches and individual members who felt that they were being sidelined by this whole process. They felt that it was detrimental to the heritage movement across the country and would result in fewer people taking the trouble to volunteer their time and money to this most worthy endeavour: protecting the history of our nation. They felt aggrieved that their annual fees will continue to be taken but with greatly reduced representation within the restructured organisation.This is not what New Zealand is about. The history of our country is not another piece of Government property that it can corporatise and commercialise. It is therefore with these grave concerns that New Zealand First opposes the intent of this bill because it certainly does not put New Zealand heritage and dedicated volunteering New Zealanders first.