Power Simon: Palmerston North Showgrounds Act Repeal Bill — Second Reading 
Power Simon: Palmerston North Showgrounds Act Repeal Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:657;Page:6815] 
Hon SIMON POWER (Minister of Justice) 
: 
 Thank you Mr Speaker for that nice addition to my introduction. I appreciate my electorate being recognised from time to time. In the old days members were recognised only by their electorate name. Would it not be interesting to go back to those days? 
The Palmerston North Showgrounds Act Repeal Bill as Iain Lees-Galloway the MP for Palmerston North has indicated is a bill that has merit and should be progressed quickly and swiftly through the House. I am advised by the senior Government whip that so meritorious is the legislation that we will not be delaying its passage in any way shape or form following my contribution today. We are keen to see the matter moving. I give a slight nod in the direction of Mr Lees-Galloway’s predecessor the Hon Steve Maharey whom I spent many hours with in this House debating a variety of legislation. This bill is one of those pieces of legislation on which we agreed. If members check  
Hansard 
 and the first reading debate of the bill they will find that both the Hon Steve Maharey and I had only very short contributions to make in respect of the bill largely because it was one of the rare occasions when we agreed on legislation in such a concerted way. 
Iain Lees-Galloway 
: I’m sure there were plenty of times where that happened. 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: It is true that we agreed on many other things—in fact most things—but when it came to legislation this place being what it is that was not always the case in the House. Now that Mr Lees-Galloway has seen the necessity to lift the bill in the way it deserves and to pursue its passage through the House he can be assured of the Government’s support on the matter and on making some real progress today. 
I recall as a young lad in the Palmerston North area spending some time at the showgrounds either playing rugby or in latter years refereeing rugby. I spent time at what was from time to time the A and P show. The show has fluctuated in its capacity to draw numbers over the years but it is fair to say that it remains a crowd favourite when it is in town. 
The legalities surrounding this bill are pretty straightforward. Mr Lees-Galloway has outlined them. He has also quite rightly in my view addressed the matters that were raised in respect of Ngati Kauwhata’s concerns about the bill at its first reading. In fact if my memory serves me I think the Green Party may have voted against the bill at its first reading. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: No. 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: It did not. Well it certainly indicated that it was concerned about that particular issue. On that basis I am sure that the Green Party like members on this side of the House will be pleased that the issue has been resolved. 
Some of the most exciting things that are going on around the Palmerston North area include those at the Palmerston North Showgrounds but I cannot let the opportunity pass without saying that Manfeild Park which is being developed in the Feilding area will prove to be a very big drawcard for many of the events that would have historically found themselves at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. I am sure that members on the other side of the House will agree with this because although they are not usually fans of competition in this context I think they will agree that competition is a good thing. The important thing for those who are not familiar with that territory to realise is that the capacity for the wider region what we would broadly describe as the Manawatu-Rangitikei catchment to draw people to the region through high-class facilities such as the showgrounds and Manfeild Park can be only for the betterment of the entire region.  
I think Mr Lees-Galloway has gone some small way today to filling the very big shoes left by Steve Maharey and this bill is one of the ways he can show he is up to the task that his predecessor left for him to complete. The National Party and the Government will support the Palmerston North Showgrounds Act Repeal Bill. It is a bill that I too have had some discussion with Palmerston North City Council employees about from time to time. We are pleased to support the bill at its second reading.