Carter David: Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Carter David: Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 18 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5301. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 I move  
That the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
 I nominate the Local Government and Environment Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the committee present its final report to the House on or before 30 January 2013. 
The Canterbury region is of national significance. It has over 60 percent of New Zealand’s freshwater resource. It has around 34 percent of New Zealand’s hydro generation capacity and 70 percent of its generation storage and accounts for in the order of 18 percent of the country’s overall hydroelectric generation. The region has huge economic growth potential and is a key driver in making New Zealand a more productive and competitive economy. It is vital that a clear vision is developed for economic growth and sustainable management of the natural resources in the Canterbury region. To do this the Canterbury region needs leadership that is effective in its planning and decision making leadership that works in a constructive and collaborative manner with councils iwi and other key stakeholders and leadership that inspires confidence throughout our Canterbury community. This bill provides for the continuation— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I understand that it is normal where there is an interest declared in a matter—and I understand that the Minister in charge of the bill is a major landowner and is affected by this legislation—for that declaration to happen at the beginning of the speech rather than later in it. I have been listening carefully and I have not yet heard him declare his interest in this particular legislation. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: The Speaker has no knowledge of what anybody may have in terms of a pecuniary interest in any particular section. It is normally left to members to make those declarations if they do apply. It is not up to the Speaker to judge whether a member has that kind of connection. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With due respect the interests of members are tabled in this House and one of the reasons for that is for the Speaker when asked to be in a position to make a ruling on these matters. I know that there is a slight problem when there is a Deputy Speaker in the Chair but I would have thought that this is a matter that should be the subject of an early not later declaration. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I stand by my comment earlier that it is for any member to make that declaration. Speakers do not have the pecuniary interests listed here at their desk. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: As I was saying this bill provides for the continuation of commissioners in Environment Canterbury or ECan over the next local body electoral cycle. It continues the limitation to points of law only on the rights of appeal to the High Court on Resource Management Act plans and policy statements and provides for a ministerial review of governance arrangements in the Canterbury region commencing in March 2014. 
No Government wants to roll over local democracy. My preference is always for local democracy to work effectively and efficiently. That is why we have set such a high benchmark for any such interventions. But when a council is ineffective when a council loses the confidence of its community including every one of its 10 mayors and when a council puts at risk the region’s prospects for economic growth something has to be done. 
In 2009 the Government commissioned an independent report into the performance of Environment Canterbury. This report was commissioned after an extended period of serious poor performance including an inability to deliver a clear strategic vision for the region an inability to effectively manage and deliver a number of its core regulatory functions and an inability to manage relationships with stakeholders in the region. This report found that the extent of the gap between the capability of Environment Canterbury and what was required of it to adequately manage freshwater issues was enormous and unprecedented. It said that the failures of Environment Canterbury required “comprehensive and rapid intervention on the part of central government to protect and enhance both regional and national well-being.” So in 2010 the Government intervened. 
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the seven commissioners led by Dame Margaret Bazley on the outstanding job that they have done in the last 2½ years. They have addressed Environment Canterbury’s systemic problems and reformed its decision making and conduct. In particular I want to note their success in managing the Canterbury Natural Resources Regional Plan to an operative stage and starting work on a second-generation land and water plan. I want to note that they have made significant progress on the implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy they have significantly improved relationships with territorial authorities iwi and other stakeholders and they have dramatically improved compliance with statutory consent time lines under the Resource Management Act from 29 percent in 2007-08 to 92 percent in 2010-11. 
When the original Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Act was introduced in 2010 the responsible Minister noted: “The explicit intent is for the commissioners to withdraw and be replaced by elected representatives as soon as their task is achieved and the present systemic issues are resolved.” Although I did acknowledge the success of the commissioners the fact is that the job is not yet complete. Subsequent to the original legislation the Canterbury region has been hit by four devastating earthquake events. Those earthquakes have placed a nationwide focus on the importance of rebuilding Christchurch and on the wider Canterbury economy. They have brought into sharper focus the need for a competent and consistent approach to planning for vital infrastructure. Getting the infrastructure planning right is crucial for both the earthquake recovery and continued regional economic growth. To give Cantabrians the best chance of a successful recovery the region needs strong and effective leadership. As Canterbury recovers from the earthquake it is vital that the relationships between agencies such as the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority the Christchurch City Council and the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team are kept strong. Currently those relationships are working effectively. To displace or interrupt these linkages would significantly affect Canterbury’s recovery. 
Finally the bill provides for a ministerial review of Environment Canterbury governance arrangements to take place in March 2014. It is important to transition the regional governance of Canterbury back to democracy. The inclusion of this review in the bill shows that this Government is serious about providing the best long-term governance solution for the Canterbury region. This bill is about providing the Canterbury region with the stable and effective governance arrangements that are desperately needed to assist the earthquake recovery and providing a platform for future economic growth. I commend this bill to the House.