Finlayson Christopher: National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Finlayson Christopher: National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 28 August 2012. Volume:683;Page:4803. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage) 
: 
 I move  
That the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill be now read a first time. 
 I intend that it be referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee. At the appropriate time I am going to move that the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill be reported to the House by 18 September and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting except during oral questions during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House despite Standing Orders 188 and 191(1)(b) and (c). 
On 7 August the Prime Minister announced the Government’s intention to create a National War Memorial Park in front of the National War Memorial. New legislation is required to give effect to Cabinet’s decisions and to enable this work to be completed in time for the centenary commemorations of the Gallipoli landings on Anzac Day 2015. 
Before I outline the provisions of the bill it is very important to remember why the memorial was erected and to acknowledge how the current precinct falls short of the original vision. In the First World War over 100000 New Zealanders served overseas. This would be an astonishing commitment today from a population of 4.5 million let alone from the 1914 population of just over 1 million people. A total of 18500 servicemen and servicewomen lost their lives and we can only imagine now the depth of grief across every community in this country let alone the challenges facing the families of the nearly 50000 wounded who returned. 
So in 1919 the Government of William Ferguson Massey decided that a National War Memorial should be erected so that future generations would remember this enormous sacrifice. It was decided that the memorial should be erected on a site with a commanding position so that it could be seen from many points in the city and from the harbour. The Pukeahu site on Buckle Street met those criteria. The term “Puke-ahu” is the ancient Maori name for that particular ridge. In fact over a decade passed before the memorial was finally opened in 1932. Fifty thousand people were there to hear the national Carillon bells ring for the first time. 
A grand boulevard from the memorial to the sea had been included in the plans but this never eventuated. In my opinion that was a good thing too because I always thought it looked as though it had been designed by Albert Speer. The planned Hall of Memories was thwarted by the onset of the Depression and the Second World War and it was not completed until 1964. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior was added in 2004. These developments all complement the 1919 vision but the setting clearly does not. In particular State Highway 1 is incompatible with the memorial’s status as a place of quiet contemplation and reflection where families dignitaries and visitors can honour the service of our forebears. Quite apart from the constant noise of traffic there simply is not enough space immediately in front of the memorial for the ever-increasing number of New Zealanders who come together to remember the fallen on Anzac Day and other important occasions in the life of our country. With the centenary of the First World War approaching it is time to address these issues. 
The project made possible by this legislation will divert the traffic underground and unite the different sections of the memorial precinct for the first time. The Anzac Day commemorations in 2015 will take place in a new open space flanked on either side by landscaped areas with trees seating cycleways and walking paths. The new park is also going to provide an appropriate setting for an Australian memorial which is planned to complement the existing New Zealand memorial in Canberra. Other memorials will be added over time and there will be an interpretation centre which will provide information to those who come here to reflect on the sacrifices of those who served their country. Under the existing statutory processes it would not be possible to guarantee the completion of the project within the required time frame. 
What I want to do is just briefly outline the very extensive consultation that has taken place with the community and with affected parties about the memorial park over a number of years because it shows why we are able to fast track this matter. Since 2008 I have consulted over the years with the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust Mount Cook residents the local Mt Cook Primary School the National War Memorial Advisory Council Massey University the Wellington City Council the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association and the regional council. I have to say that the response was positive—indeed universally positive. What consultation with the community made clear when I became the Minister was that the original plan for the park which involved the option of moving State Highway 1—that section of Buckle Street—back away from the memorial and closer to the children’s playground was not acceptable. I have always been very concerned about the welfare of the children at Mt Cook School. With the passage of this bill stage one of the development can commence. This will see State Highway 1 temporarily diverted northwards. The undergrounding work will begin in early 2013 and landscaping in late 2014. 
I want to acknowledge the assistance of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport in achieving this outcome. Once again they have gone in to bat for Wellington. Two years ago they intervened to save the  
Hobbit  
movies in this country and they have once again brought their considerable vision to this project to ensure there are no corners cut and no halfway measures as we develop a memorial park that the soldiers deserve. This would not have happened without Gerry Brownlee’s support and I salute him. He is a wonderful colleague. Secondly I acknowledge Sandy McCallum the Principal of Mt Cook School who has been a tireless advocate for the children under her care and has helped us to this best result. Finally I acknowledge the Deputy Mayor of Wellington Ian McKinnon. He and I have worked closely on this project for years to get the best outcome for the city. 
The bill will empower the creation of a National War Memorial Park providing the certainty necessary for its completion by Anzac Day 2015 while ensuring the integration of the park and roading networks within the wider city of Wellington. The bill will grant the statutory authorisations and property rights necessary to complete the roading and landscaping in time for that important centennial event. These authorisations are necessary to complete the park on time and to avoid remedy or mitigate any actual or potential adverse effects on the environment. It requires the Transport Agency and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage to comply with existing social and environmental responsibilities and expectations. 
Subpart 6 of Part 2 gives the Governor-General authority by Order in Council on the recommendation of the relevant Minister to grant additional authorisations and rights or to amend authorisations and rights granted by the bill if reasonably necessary or desirable for the purposes of the Act. The enactments that may be the subject of an Order in Council are listed under clause 24(2) of the bill and clauses 26 and 27 provide for a National War Memorial Park Review Panel to provide advice in relation to Orders in Council that may be required. Subpart 7 requires the Minister to arrange for a community forum of at least 20 people to provide advice in relation to the development of the park and the bill stipulates relevant stakeholders to be represented at that forum. The provisions relating to Orders in Council and the removal of appeal and objection rights will expire at the close of play on 31 July 2015. 
In conclusion this legislation has been drafted for a very specific purpose and will deliver a result that I believe that all New Zealanders will be proud of. I believe that we are all agreed that the National War Memorial should be one of the most solemn and sacred places in this country. In 1919 the National War Memorial was approved without a single voice of dissent in this House. It was a matter that was above politics. I hope there will be similar broad support for this bill in 2012.