Wagner Nicky: Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWagner Nicky: Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 22 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7518. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon NICKY WAGNER (Associate Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery): I rise to support the first reading of the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill and I would like to thank Dr Megan Woods for her support and for her kind words. We need to make sure that the future brings the very best out of Cantabrians and that something not just good but very good comes out of our tough times.The recovery the redevelopment and now the regeneration of Greater Christchurch following the Canterbury earthquakes are an ongoing challenge. More than 15000 earthquakes resulted in mass devastation the loss of life strain on our communities and damage to our built environment. The Government facing a seemingly insurmountable task made the Christchurch rebuild one of its four main priorities and committed over $16 billion to support Christchurch and its communities.In the last 4½ years the Government has acted not just to replace what was lost in Greater Christchurch but also to build back smarter and create more opportunities for Cantabrians and I think we are making great progress. In December 2014 the cricket oval in Hagley Park became the first anchor project and it is now fully completed. We are a proud sporting province Canterbury and hosting thousands of visitors to the February 2015 International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup was good for our soul. The Te Papa Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct work continues along The Terraces and the new promenade. Already the environmental benefits can be seen in the precinct and the riverside trail is being enjoyed by Cantabrians and visitors alike. More recently the new bus exchange has become operational. It is built for the future and especially designed to be accessible to everyone. That interchange is expected to handle 70000 passenger movements a day by 2041.We have also recognised the need for a place to reflect on what occurred during our earthquakes and to pay our respects to the 185 people who lost their lives on 22 February 2011. A national earthquake memorial has been approved to do just that. Next year stage one the more informal family-focused area will be ready for the anniversary of the 22 February earthquake and stage two the more formal part of the memorial will be ready for the following new year.Although much is being achieved under the current Act the time is right for a change of approach a change to move the focus away from rebuilding and recovery and towards regenerating and creating a 21st century new city with everyone working to develop new opportunities for the people of Christchurch. This is what the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill is all about. It is about finishing projects begun during the rebuild period but principally allowing Greater Christchurch communities to engage and embrace new opportunities for Christchurch to become fully functional again not just with new buildings but also by engaging communities with new-found civic pride and entrepreneurial spirit.The bill does feature some remnants of the current Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act but only those necessary to allow continued momentum. Other parts have been designed to ensure more voices are heard in the decision-making process and I look forward to working closely with the community and the councils. The bill allows local government to not only be involved in decision making but to actively direct regeneration activities. The Selwyn District Council and Waimakariri District Council have been active working hard to provide new space for homes and industry and they along with Environment Canterbury Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Christchurch City Council will now be actively involved in ministerial decision-making in the form of regeneration plans. Regeneration plans will allow new ideas and even grand visions if they are so desired by their communities.The bill encourages the people of Greater Christchurch to have their say by providing for public input when regeneration plans are developed or are amended or are revoked. This bill also recognises that the out-of-the-ordinary and transitional role of central government in the regeneration of Greater Christchurch is expected to continue for the next 5 years.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! I am just going to warn the member. She has read her entire speech to date. There are circumstances where members are allowed to read their speeches—when they are very technical and especially when a Minister is introducing a bill or where the member is relatively inexperienced. I am ruling that none of those apply to this member. She is an experienced member she is not introducing a bill and frankly it is not that technical. So I am now going to ask the member to cease reading her speech.Hon NICKY WAGNER: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. Yes I will continue. As I have said this bill will underpin the relationship between the council and local government for the next 5 years. But I think it will progressively move forward so that we move the power from the Crown to local government and go back to a more business-as-usual relationship that is similar to that of any other place across the country.This bill builds on the significant progress that has been made over the last 5 years and it will allow for an orderly transition from the Crown to local government. It will be a good time for Christchurch. It will mean that we will be able to realise the expectations of the people of Christchurch. We will be able to build a city that is people friendly that is smart and that provides opportunities for this generation and generations going forward. I commend the bill to the House.