Mahuta Nanaia: Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill — Third Reading 
Mahuta Nanaia: Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:646;Page:15304] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 I rise to take a very brief call on the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill. In many respects some would think that one has to be from Waitakere to be able to portray the feelings that local people have towards this particular part of Auckland City. It is a very distinct part of the Auckland region and many of the previous speakers certainly on this side of the House have attested to the cultural natural and historical significance and heritage of the Waitakere Ranges. In many ways only they could because they are from there they understand the community they have been brought up in the area they have raised their children in the area and they can attest to the reasons why a bill like this should be brought to the House. 
In fact listening to the member who has just spoken Paula Bennett one would think that she had not actually lived in the area herself. I am assured by many many members on this side of the House—such as Lynne Pillay the member in charge of the bill Darien Fenton David Cunliffe Pita Sharples from the Maori Party and Chris Carter—that this bill is supported by local people. Yes it has taken some time to get there but not without the tireless effort and commitment of a number of stakeholders to ensure that this bill will achieve an outcome for the benefit of that community. That is as it should be. 
What stakeholders have been involved? There were two councils—Waitakere and Rodney. Numerous local members of Parliament from west Auckland have become involved. Various Government departments have offered advice to try to work on some of the local issues that have come through the select committee process. A number of Ministers such as myself as Minister of Local Government have raised issues and sought solutions to be able to get something into this House that could be passed and that could be useful to ensuring the preservation of the Waitakere area. 
Lynne Pillay should be commended for her tireless endurance if nothing else in lobbying across the House at the select committee and in the community to ensure that the balance of interests was reflected in something in this House that could be moved forward positively. 
That is really all I have to say. Many members have exhausted themselves discussing the bill. What I think we will see overall is a model of an approach whereby communities can work together ultimately for their own interests. Members opposite say that the Government is trying to stop any type of development. That is simply not so. We need only to look at the  
Hansard 
 record of the Committee stage of the bill to see the response to those types of issues. 
In the long term I think we will see a model that may be looked at by other regions to offer the same type of protection. We are not sure about that but in time we will see some of the benefits emanating from this particular bill. I certainly support it. I am disappointed that Paula Bennett a local member from west Auckland did not seem as a thinking member to be able to support the bill. That is a shame but never mind with the support of the Maori Party the Greens and Taito Phillip Field this bill will continue through. No reira tena koutou katoa. Kia ora.