Smith Nick: Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Smith Nick: Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 07 November 2012. Volume:685;Page:6391. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
: 
 There is much of what Ruth Dyson said about the importance of Riccarton Bush to the heritage of Christchurch and Canterbury with which I agree. That is why the Local Government and Environment Committee unanimously recommended that this Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill in the name of the Hon Gerry Brownlee the member of Parliament for Ilam have broad support. 
I think we should at this stage of the bill’s debate in the third reading acknowledge the huge heritage that goes with the Deans family 169 years ago in building the initial buildings that are part of that which is protected and the step 98 years ago back in 1914 when it was gifted for the benefit of the people of Christchurch and Canterbury. It is truly a national icon and a treasured area. This bill quite sensibly updates the governance arrangements for that Riccarton Bush area. 
I want to join with other members and acknowledge the work of the trustees of Riccarton Bush and the work that they have put into this bill. I acknowledge that the member of Parliament for Ilam Gerry Brownlee is actually a former trustee of Riccarton Bush. I think the— 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: And former chairman. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: A chair I am told of Riccarton Bush. I correct that. I also want to acknowledge that the stand of kahikatea trees that is in Riccarton Bush is a reminder of the forest that once covered the bulk of the Canterbury plains. It is of huge significance as part of the natural heritage. I think that at a time when tragically so many Christchurch buildings have been damaged we all are relieved that those buildings that go back to 1843 in Riccarton Bush including the homestead which was built in the 1850s and parts of it in 1900 have been able to survive the earthquake. On those things I agree and there is consensus. 
I do though find some of Ruth Dyson’s comments about the broader heritage issues in Christchurch in respect of the enormous challenge for my colleague Gerry Brownlee around the earthquake recovery a bit off beam. You see like so many areas that we see from the Opposition you would think that the New Zealand Government has a blank cheque. If Labour’s position truly is as Ruth Dyson expresses and that is that every heritage building in Christchurch is going to be protected and built then I say—[ 
Interruption 
] I see the Greens are interjecting. Every single debate we hear in this House you literally would think that money grows on trees. In fact I say to the Green Party—the Green Party actually proposed to print money. I am just pleased that the Hon Gerry Brownlee is not in that camp that he is realistic and realises there are balancing— 
Metiria Turei 
: You are wrong wrong wrong. Wrong. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: You are not going to print money? 
Hon Members 
: Wrong. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: They are not going to print money. Well I actually specifically heard the members—the leader of the party—say that they are going to print money to be able to rebuild all the heritage in Christchurch. I would simply say to the Green Party if the proposals that I have heard that every single piece of heritage in Christchurch can simply be protected by printing money are not— 
Phil Twyford 
: Is that what Ruth Dyson said? Is that what she said? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: No I was referring to the interjection from the Green Party. What I would say to Ruth Dyson and to the member who has just interjected is show us the money. Show us the money. If you are going to go around the people of Christchurch and say that you are going to protect—and the latest we have had is the tunnel building at Lyttelton—I simply challenge members opposite show us how you are going to pay for it. The last thing the people of Christchurch and Canterbury need is the hollow promises from Labour members around heritage. 
I want to simply commend the very realistic and practical approach that Gerry Brownlee has taken around that hugely difficult issue of the heritage that we are going to protect to making buildings safe and the $6 billion of public money that Gerry Brownlee has secured for the people of Christchurch in the rebuild of that great city. This bill is a sensible bill which will mean that generations of the people of Christchurch and Canterbury will be able to enjoy both the historic heritage and the natural heritage that is Riccarton Bush. I commend the local member for the work that he has done with this bill and the trustees of Riccarton Bush who have put the work into it and I join with the select committee in saying this is a bill of which Parliament should be proud and that we should get on and pass.