Warren-Clark AngieANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I rise to take a short call on the Conservation (Infringement System) Bill. I commend the Minister of Conservation the Hon Eugenie Sage for her shepherding of this bill through the House the submitters for their robust submissions and our officials for honing and crafting this bill to its current form. The bill amends eight conservation statutes—we've heard this—which manages New Zealand's protected species areas and natural resources. It's a great thing to do and we've heard what those Acts are so I'm not going to go into that. Essentially this bill allows for the extension of options when people fail to comply with the law. Previously as we've heard there were two outcomes: one a warning and two a prosecution in court. This bill provides a well-needed—as we've heard—third option: an infringement notice which is similar to a parking ticket and we all agree that a parking ticket shouldn't go straight to prosecution or have a warning. We are talking about infringements of say a maximum of up to $500 for what has occurred and once that's paid that's the end of the matter. We have also heard that if this infringement is disputed prosecution is available so the right to attend the day in court to defend yourself is available. Therefore this bill provides for the proportionate response to low-level offending. I'm just going to say a low-level offence could include—and we've heard a couple of these but my personal favourite having been situated in the Bay of Plenty is getting too close to a whale a dolphin or a sea mammal but not injuring it. I've seen some really amazing footage of brief encounters where whales have popped up under paddleboards and things like that and people—because they're excited they follow these creatures. Now who knew that that was an offence? I certainly learnt something. So without harming them we know that that can cause the animal distress and therefore a warning may not be appropriate. Perhaps the third option of an infringement might be an appropriate. It's certainly not worthy of a full prosecution. So how does this infringement system work and who can issue a notice? Firstly the Fish & Game Council—which I'm very pleased about—will be given the power to issue infringements. They're a statutory body. They currently have these powers in other areas. The Government side on the Environment Committee recommended inserting some protections around that. Clauses 4A to 4D set out minimum requirements for New Zealand Fish & Game Council. We were really careful that there needed to be some planning to go in place around this. The Conservation Act must create and maintain a natural enforcement and compliance policy—so that's 12 of them creating this. Then that goes to the Minister of Conservation and they cannot issue anything until that is signed off by the Minister. No notices can be issued so we take care of that matter around the process of how it will happen. We also included who could issue notices. Quite simply it's only some Fish & Game rangers who are authorised by the director of New Zealand Fish & Game Council. It's not automatic—it's not everyone. It's not people who are attending as honorary members. My time is up—I've talked way too long. This is an opportunity. I think Fish & Game are a reputable resourced and competent bunch of people. I think they'll do the job well and I support our environment to thrive. I commend this bill to the House.