Mitchell Mark: Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Empowering Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMitchell Mark: Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Empowering Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 16 March 2016. Volume:712;Page:9824. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney): Mr Chair I noticed that you looked over at Grant Robertson. He has been following this debate intently throughout and I am surprised that he has not taken a call on this bill. I am very happy and pleased to take another call on the Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Empowering Bill. I was referring to some of the Churches that are actually involved in this group and are going to be affected by and empowered by this very important change that we are debating in the Committee tonight. I said that there are churches from the far north to the far south. I spoke about Mairangi Bay Community Church which I know personally and I want to acknowledge it. I want to acknowledge the work that it does in our communities and I also want to acknowledge its member of Parliament the Hon Murray McCully.Carmel Sepuloni: Acknowledge Part 2 of the bill.MARK MITCHELL: No I think it is important actually that I go through some of the Churches that are part of the Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Empowering Bill. We have got the Freedom Community Centre in Invercargill which I am sure the outgoing deputy chair of the Government Administration Committee Sarah Dowie who is the very good member of Parliament for Invercargill would know very well. And of course her predecessor Mr Eric Roy was also heavily involved in the community as a Christian leader as well. The Reach Christian Centre in Rimutaka and the Church of Christ community in Dunedin North—I want to mention them and of course I want to mention the very good list MP for Dunedin North the Hon Michael Woodhouse. I want to mention the Unite Church in Nelson because this is really important—Brett Hudson: Can you tell us about that church please?MARK MITCHELL: Well the thing is this bill of course was brought to the House by the Hon Dr Nick Smith and the Unite Church—Brett Hudson: The local member.MARK MITCHELL: —that is right—is in Nelson. I do not know why the Opposition has got a problem with me actually highlighting some of the Churches and the areas that they operate in. Like I said I would be very keen to hear from Mr Robertson because he appears to be very engaged in the debate but he does not want to take a call. I would also like to hear some more thoughts from the member in the chair Alfred Ngaro because I do not think there is another member in the Chamber who has got more experience and more background than him. And actually—The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): I am going to intervene now. It is all very well talking about where the churches are located and that is fine—that is within scope of the bill. But accolades about every member who happens to be associated with the Church within that region is really stretching it I would have to say. I am happy that you include Churches because that forms the basis—they are the Churches involved. That is fine but then to have the accolades about how your colleagues are actually associated with that region is really stretching it too far. So I ask the member to come back and be more focused on where the churches are but not then give a précis of the member who happens to be representing that particular area.MARK MITCHELL: That is a good point Mr Chair. I guess I did get a bit carried away in wanting to highlight the great work—The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): Yes that is right. I have made a ruling now and if the member just concentrates—you cannot comment on a ruling I have made. So just focus on what I have suggested you do on Part 2 and the clauses associated with that.MARK MITCHELL: Thank you Mr Chair. Like I said I am very happy to have another call on the Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Empowering Bill. I have got a list of about 30 churches here. I might come back to them in one of my future calls. I think it is important to name them but I am going to come back to Part 2 and the transfer of property—Carmel Sepuloni: The member was never at Part 2. What do you mean “come back” to it?MARK MITCHELL: Well I would like to if you give me a chance. I would love the member to take a call. Please take a call because I can see how engaged you are on the bill.The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): Come on. Let us start on Part 2.MARK MITCHELL: Yes. Sorry Mr Chair—you are right. Back to Part 2 “Transfer of property rights and obligations from old board to new board”. I want to acknowledge my colleague Chris Bishop who had some insightful comments to make around this. Clause 5 is headed “Transfer of property rights and obligations” and subclause (1) states: “On and from the commencement of this Act the property rights and obligations of the old board are vested in the new board.” Mr Bishop made a very good point: this is going to be a seamless transition. That is important because obviously the new board cannot begin operating making decisions and managing its assets until the bill has the Royal assent and the new board is vested and has the authority to do that. So that was a very important point that he highlighted and raised in his contribution on this bill.