Huo RaymondRAYMOND HUO (Labour): Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. We all know how rapidly technology is evolving and we must change and modify as technology does. This bill re-enacts the 1995 Act to ensure all provisions are presented in an up-to-date and accessible form. This bill will deliver a piece of legislation that is modern fit for purpose and futureproofed. This Government wants to maximise the benefits of the growing digital economy. This bill will make it easier for New Zealanders to interact with the Government agencies in an online environment that is trusted and trustworthy.I'd like to follow the members who spoke before me and thank the former Minister the Hon Peter Dunne who led a comprehensive review of the rules governing public access to registered information about life events—birth death and marriages. I'd like to thank him for his contributions to get this bill to this point.The 1995 Act was the first time the law governing the civil registration of life events—birth death and marriages—had been brought together in one place. Civil unions were added in 2005. It is important to note that the 1995 Act was drafted at a time when paper-based access was the norm. During the review a consensus was reached. Preference was expressed for digital and online access over paper-based access via certificates and print-outs.It is also important to note that in this bill the language used has deliberately chosen to futureproof the law to provide the flexibility for future service delivery solutions. But the new service options will be in addition to rather than instead of existing ways of doing business.This is the first reading of the bill. As the Minister the Hon Tracey Martin who is responsible for this bill said we welcome the opportunity to test the policy behind all aspects of this bill through the select committee process. This is important. This is not only about modern technology. It is also about the participation of all New Zealanders in this democratic process especially for those new New Zealanders who are from countries regions or backgrounds that are different from New Zealand.Reflecting on my own ethnic background we have often heard or witnessed kinds of observations from the Chinese community that there is an anomaly in terms of the matters covered under this bill. For example during the Cultural Revolution where the rule of law was interrupted and there was no order for those who were born during that period of time especially in the rural countrysides which are remote from the city centres they may not have a birth certificate or a birth certificate that has a similar or the same effect to the one we have in New Zealand. This has created a certain level of issues or problems with the Immigration Service.Another example is the difference between the notary public system in China and the one here particularly when coming to the issues of attestation. This may have created problems not only with the Immigration Service but also with Land Information New Zealand when processing certain overseas-sourced instruments for a certificate of title to be registered.So this is a good bill. It is not only about modern technology; it is also about encouraging participation especially by those new New Zealanders in this democratic process. Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker.