Pillay Lynne: Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill — In Committee 
Pillay Lynne: Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:675;Page:14446] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
: 
 I will take only a brief call but the first thing I want to do is acknowledge all parties who support this bill—in particular the Maori Party and Taito Phillip Field who have also put up very constructive amendments to the bill. That support did not come just from nowhere either; it came from them consulting with tangata whenua on the part of Taito Phillip Field from meeting with the Pacific Island advisory board and indeed from both the Maori Party and Taito Phillip Field meeting with many many people within Waitakere. The amendments they put up add value to the bill. I really thank them for their support and of course the Green Party and the Progressive party. We see people in this Parliament who are committed to supporting our beautiful areas within New Zealand where the councils have had the foresight and vision to look at and think about how they work with the Resource Management Act and how they can build on what is in place to ensure that what we have—a beauty that is so valued by the vast majority of people who live within the area—is protected for generations for come. 
When I hear people saying that the member in the chair—me—should look really carefully at and reconsider my support for this bill I remind them that first and foremost I am actually a resident who lives within the area proposed by the bill. I am really proud of that. I have to say that Paula Bennett and Tau Henare despite all their rhetoric cannot say that. I guess I am “walking the talk”. I am somebody who if I were to listen to them it would be confiscation by stealth. If I were to listen to Dail Jones—[ 
Interruption 
] The member Paula Bennett said something; I could not quite hear it. If I were to listen to Dail Jones it would be socialism by stealth. What a dreadful thing that would be in this country! 
Sandra Goudie 
: Well it is. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: The member says it is but that is not the case. I remind this House because I think it is important that this bill was put forward after extensive consultation with every group possible—Waitakere City Council Auckland Regional Council and Rodney District Council—and was supported by many residents’ and ratepayers’ groups. The professional polls which have been denigrated were carried out by very reputable organisations. 
Let us face it the west is actually held by Labour members of Parliament except for that one who never actually turns up and does not live in the electorate. We never see him. Who is that? It is John Key. John Key never fronts up and has a debate in this Chamber. He never fronts up on this bill. Do members know why? It is because he does not want to commit himself. 
I am very proud to be accountable to the people of Waitakere. I know that this bill is driven at the grassroots by the people of Waitakere and is supported by councils who listen to the people and do what they wish. Waitakere City Council and the members who drove support on the Auckland Regional Council were absolutely re-elected. Mayor Bob Harvey who was a very strong advocate for this bill—and I commend him in this House—was re-elected. That is an endorsement by the people for this bill. The “confiscation by stealth” Paula Bennett said the area is a divided community. She is right but why is it divided? It is because National members divided the community by false information. 
I am proud of the parties that support this bill and I am looking forward very much to seeing its progress through the House if we can actually stop some of the silly amendments that are being brought in and that are designed just to delay its progress. Thank you.