Moroney Sue: Walking Access Bill — First Reading 
Moroney Sue: Walking Access Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:646;Page:15659] 
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
: 
 It is my pleasure to speak on the first reading of the Walking Access Bill. It is good to see this bill come before this House. This legislation backs up the public debate that has occurred for quite a number of years now over this issue which is closely felt by a range of people. It relates to the ability of all of us to have access to the very wonderful parts of our precious country. 
I found it very interesting to listen to the contribution made by Heather Roy on this legislation. She was clearly bothered about which members from particular parties should sit on front benches and in front seats. Perhaps it was a bid to see herself on the front bench of a potential National Government. However there is a bit of a problem there. There is just a wee democratic thing called an election in the way that will mean there is no possibility or opportunity for that to happen. However another problem for the member is that Sir Roger Douglas thinks that he would like to be in a potential National Government Cabinet and I think the member will have a battle on her hands to convince him otherwise. Of course we know what Sir Roger Douglas would feel about this bill. I note that currently the National Party is supporting this bill at its first reading. However were National to fall under the spell and influence of the likes of Sir Roger Douglas then we know that it would not be able to go forward and support such a good and honest bill as this one. 
When looking to the future for New Zealand it is easy to see by looking at this bill which party truly understands how to have a future for New Zealand that is full of peace and harmony and negotiates win-win situations. I think that this legislation demonstrates Labour’s ability in this field. It is disappointing to hear the Green Party’s opposition to this bill because I think it demonstrates again that it does not understand the ability of this country to work together in peace and harmony to ensure that parties can negotiate and work through issues. All too often for the Green Party it is about having winners and losers that only one side can win and therefore the rest have to lose. However the purpose of this bill is to make sure that we can all have a say over walking access and that it is done in a negotiated way. 
The bill establishes a Walking Access Commission and defines its powers and functions. The commission will be a Crown entity with the status of a Crown agent under the Crown Entities Act 2004. The bill implements recommendations made by the walking access consultation panel in its report in February 2007. So this bill has not just been plucked out of the air. There has been a full and thorough consultation process that involved every part of New Zealand. My colleague Martin Gallagher talked before about the panel’s visit to Hamilton and how thorough and well-managed that process was. That process was repeated up and down all parts of this country. The panel was set up following the Government’s decision in 2005 not to proceed with legislation that provided for deemed water-margin access. It arises from public concern about the availability of public walking access to the outdoors especially around our fabulous coastline. 
It is appropriate that this legislation will shortly be referred by the Minister to the Local Government and Environment Committee. I know there has been some comment on that from Opposition members who for some reason think that this legislation ought to go to a select committee that concerns itself with primary production. However this legislation bears very little resemblance to producing in the primary sector. It is actually about land access and walking access rights for the public of New Zealand. Therefore the Local Government and Environment Committee is absolutely the right committee to consider this bill. I wish the select committee well in its deliberations. I know that it will receive many submissions on this bill and I feel that its members will be well informed because I believe that many of the submitters will have participated in the consultation undertaken by the walking access consultation panel. I join my fellow members of Parliament in congratulating Mr Acland on his fine management of that process. 
This bill is part of Labour’s plan for the future to ensure the enjoyment of the great outdoors for all Kiwis. It is part of our plan to reflect the importance of preserving in perpetuity access to and enjoyment of the great outdoors which is so important to our national identity. Labour has a wide vision for the preservation of the heritage of all Kiwi families young and old. It also reflects two fundamental values that underpin our New Zealand character and lifestyle—access to our many natural recreational resources and having our very own piece of dirt. It encompasses both of those fundamental visions of New Zealand. We have to work together to solve any incompatibility between these two important values. It is not about one side winning and the other side losing. This is something we have to walk through together—if members will excuse the pun. 
This bill will achieve a proper balance between the rights and aspirations of the public in terms of access to the countryside the property rights of landowners and the practical needs of farmers and other land users to carry out their business without undue hindrance. The bill does not undermine private property rights. Public access to private land including Maori land remains subject to negotiation and agreement with landholders. 
I am pleased to stand in support of this type of vision for New Zealand that Labour has. It is one that involves everyone. It is a process of working through difficult and important issues together; it is not about the winner takes all. We must continue to have a balance in the equation on issues as important as walking access. I commend the bill to the House.