Utikere TangiPALMERSTON NORTH RESERVES EMPOWERING AMENDMENT BILLFirst ReadingTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker. I move That the Palmerston North Reserves Empowering Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Environment Committee to consider the bill.I rise in support of this bill from my local council. I have to say that being a member of Parliament obviously is littered with a number of firsts. Having a bill drawn from the biscuit tin is one and I can very gladly at this stage tick that box and now having a local bill as part of the proceedings today is another.Legislatively this issue before the House today stems from 1922—some would argue before that when we look at the ownership of the land in question. But specifically the Palmerston North Reserves Act of 1922 historically nearly 100 years in the making meant that the Palmerston North City Council holds or owns certain lands in the area. That 1922 Act identified that certain specified land could not be sold and those were identified by way of a list in the Act and by way of a Schedule as well.The situation that my local council or the Palmerston North City Council finds itself in is that if any of that certain specified land becomes surplus to requirements which I accept can be a subjective consideration then it needs to go through a legislative process through the Parliament not simply something that the council can manage and determine itself in order to be able to sell the land or lift the status of the land so that it could be potentially developed or sold. That essentially is the Palmerston North Reserves Empowering Act of 1966. This local amendment bill seeks to do exactly that.The land in question here is locally or colloquially known as the Huia Street Reserve. Now Huia Street is actually the roadway or the street that runs between the local tennis club and Palmerston North Girls' High School. Actually those that have a look back through the parliamentary record will see that this Act has actually been amended in the past to provide for some land to be transferred over from the Crown to the Palmerston North Girls' High School. The land in question here obviously has a legal description. I'm advised that it's 1.6032 hectares in size but essentially it is a parcel of land situated on the corner of Fitzherbert Avenue and Park Road. Now those travelling into Palmerston North from the south-eastern entrance—and yes we have more than one entrance into our fine city. Actually you can get there through the north-eastern the north-western and the south-western entrance. But those travelling the south-eastern entrance coming across Fitzherbert Bridge over the Manawatū River will notice that it's actually parked up on the left-hand side as you enter the city. Actually it's halfway between the river and the square Te Marae o Hine. So it is centrally located and an ideal location.Now I along with others were born in Palmerston North so I grew up fairly familiar with this piece of land and the use over the years. And I know that others will be familiar with it as well. My colleagues Deborah Russell; Rachel Boyack who may wish to take a call; Teanau Tuiono; Mr McKelvie I acknowledge in the House—he is familiar with it as well. But also—Simeon Brown: I think I drove past once.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Order! Order!TANGI UTIKERE: And anyone's happy to have a drive past in Palmerston North to check this bit of land out.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Order! Order!TANGI UTIKERE: Madam Speaker?ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Is also familiar with Palmerston North please don't leave me out.TANGI UTIKERE: Oh my apologies. And can I just acknowledge Madam Speaker who has a fine history with my former school—ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Only born and bred.TANGI UTIKERE: —Freyberg High School as well. So my list is not an exclusive one; it is one that reflects the fact that there are members in this House who are very very familiar with this fine city of Palmerston North.But what I would say is that there has been a lot of chat over the years that this prime site would be developed in particular ways for a petrol station and the like—there's many there. But it's been known as a bowling club occupied by the Manawatū Bowling Club alongside petanque opportunities and currently it sits vacant. And it actually has been vacant since 2005 so some 16 years. So the local council via this local bill wishes to explore future options around residential development of the site in question.This is not the first time however that this piece of land has been subject to the parliamentary process. In 2007 the member for Parliament North at the time the Hon Steve Maharey introduced an amendment bill that went through first reading and went to the select committee. Now the outcome of that select committee process was that the bill as I understand it was discharged. It's fair to say that there were a few hiccups along the way. So I've had a look back through the Hansard at the comments from Mr Maharey at the time because I have been keen to ensure that those hurdles are not hurdles that may from a process perspective get in the way of the select committee and its determination if this bill proceeds beyond first reading. So when I have a look at the comments from the Hon Steve Maharey he says in the Hansard that it is the parliamentary convention that the local MP sponsors bills of this nature through the House. It provides a mechanism whereby people can make sure that legislation is passed from a local point of view. In this case it is the Palmerston North City Council that wants this legislation to be passed and it is my duty to ensure that it is advanced so it can be discussed."Now I go a little bit further than one of my predecessors—Mr Maharey—in that I think before that duty is discharged it is the responsibility of a local member to satisfy themselves that the relevant processes by a council have actually been followed. So I do want to just acknowledge the Palmerston North City Council—in particular Desiree Harvey the legal counsel David Murphy and Michael Duindam—for the preparation that they've undertaken in this particular regard.In looking at this local bill and back to the issues raised at the time there were four. The first is concern about the notification process: the lack of a community mandate for any future development back in 2007. The council in my view has commenced a process. It has produced for me and for the Clerk a council resolution. It's not a unanimous resolution. It was as I understand it a 12 to two vote in favour. I have to say that I was acutely aware of this because I was the deputy mayor at the time that the consultation process was undertaken. However as the council's planning and strategy committee considered this position and voted on it three days before the general election out of an abundance of caution I withdrew from considerations so there is no conflict of in that particular regard.The previous Hansard does indicate that the former member for Rangitīkei Simon Power also had some concerns about the process being followed. The council informed me that Mr McKelvie and also the member for Te Tai Hauāuru Adrian Rurawhe have also been notified and kept informed of this throughout the entire process. I also note that concerns previously around the tennis club have also been advanced as well.The second issue was a concern that the select committee had a number of city councillors who fronted up to the select committee and so the council needed to be very clear that its justification for proceeding was there.Number three as a concern was about an insufficient amount of reserve land as a result of a potential change in the land's status. Now I would suggest that there is a significant amount of green space. I'm advised that it's around 80 hectares in the immediate vicinity of that area. When we talk about Ongley Park Manawaroa Park Fitzherbert Park the Victoria Esplanade which is iconic and a jewel in the city's and region's crown as well alongside obviously the Manawatū River pathways and He Ara Kotahi. So those considerations I'm sure will be addressed by the select committee but in my view they need to be balanced alongside the fact that there is around 50 hectares of green space in immediate surrounds of the Huia Reserve land.And the final concern at the time back in 2007 was raised by the Māori Party which was concerns around the lack of engagement with local iwi Rangitāne. I actually want to acknowledge the strong relationship that the Palmerston North City Council has with Rangitāne. It is something that has been worked on and developed over many years. I have to say that I have also been advised that Rangitāne are aware of this and that this will not come as any surprise to them as the bill works its way through the select committee process.So considering those four hurdles that were fairly clear when this bill came to the Parliament last I am satisfied that yes it is my duty as the local member for Palmerston North to proceed with this bill and having those four hurdles cleared I am satisfied that it is appropriate to be able to be in a position today to say yes we'll await the next process if this does pass first reading this afternoon but on that basis I am delighted to be able to commend this bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The question is that the motion be agreed to."