Hipango HareteHARETE HIPANGO (National—Whanganui): Kia ora. Thank you Mr Chair for the call this evening before going into the dinner break. My contribution is in relation to Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 467 amending clause 7 of the Abortion Legislation Bill by inserting new section 18. I invite everybody to look at that because it is rather lengthy. I particularly invite the Minister of Justice also who carries the responsibility as Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations to factor in—and I hearken to the phrase from my colleague across the House Louisa Wall—futureproofing this legislation.My SOP is in relation to the placement of cultural considerations to be recognised within this bill. This bill deliberately omits for some unknown reason when we have a Government—and it is a Government bill—that talks about the importance of diversity within our nationhood our nationscape but also the importance of welfare caring and transparency.I'm returning to clause 18 as proposed: cultural considerations to be recognised. In addressing the House the explanatory note to this Supplementary Order Paper—for the benefit of members of the public listening in—is very much prefacing the health disparity and outcome for New Zealand Māori which is far worse and disproportionate than for non-Māori in our nation. This bill is very much focused on the accessibility and availability of a quality abortion service. This debate is to reform health outcomes for women the pregnant women many of whom are in fact children under the age of 14 and it's also very important with this health reform to be cognisant of the fact that we are not absent of cultural context and the relationship of the Treaty of Waitangi and where that is positioned in our nationscape.This bill is very much consequent on the Crimes Act 1961 and the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977 both of which have no specific reference of any cultural construct or context or mention of the Treaty of Waitangi—thus the very reason for my Supplementary Order Paper for the inclusion and the inclusivity of this in terms of equality abortion service and the provision of care. This bill should be—as our Government has repeatedly purported in many bills that have been introduced to this House—about the welfare and wellbeing of our most vulnerable. In this instance we're talking about abortion service and the availability and accessibility of that for women. But we must not forget the fact that the unborn child has a touch of humanity and humanness about this. This SOP in terms of cultural considerations looking to the wording of it—and I would seek to take another call because it is very lengthy in fact—talks about (2) The performance of duties or responsibilities in accordance with … a responsible organisation [which] must ensure"—and it goes through the detailing of the wellbeing of a woman being the centre of that decision making.Now I've heard repeatedly before the House throughout the debates on the first reading the second reading and now the committee of the whole House this is all premised on the woman's rights—all rights; less responsibility if any responsibility. So I'm inviting the House and the Minister of Justice the Minister of Treaty settlements to factor in the significant place of Treaty rights within our nationscape and this bill around the responsibility with the organisations the service providers for abortion treatment.I will refer briefly—and again seek to extend a call if permitted—to the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. It's noted that it has as its specific purpose "to provide for the public funding and provision of personal health services public health services and disability support services" and at section 3(1)(b) of that Act "to reduce health disparities by improving the health outcomes of Māori and other population groups:". That's a purpose that is under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 in relation to the specific provision of healthcare services which the Abortion Legislation Bill is premised upon.Under section 4 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 is the specific section there to do with the Treaty of Waitangi which states "In order to recognise and respect the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi"—to recognise and respect; there's no mandatory requirement in terms of the inclusion of that with the provision and delivery of services which is the very point that my SOP is seeking for the inclusion under the Abortion Legislation Bill—"and with a view to improving health outcomes for Māori"—and I've returned to section 3 again of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act—"Part 3 provides for mechanisms to enable Māori to contribute to decision-making on and to participate in the delivery"—ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe): Sorry to interrupt the member but it's come time for me to leave the Chair for the dinner break.Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.HARETE HIPANGO: Madam Chair thank you for permitting me to resume the call.Prior to the dinner break I was speaking addressing the committee on Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 467 in my name in relation to clause 7 seeking to introduce clause 18. I was speaking to the committee in relation to section 4 under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000; that section specifically relating to the placement of the Treaty of Waitangi. My contribution to the committee is signalling that under the Abortion Legislation Bill—inviting all members of this committee for the inclusion of cultural considerations particularly premised on the recognition of the partnership rights and principles under the Treaty of Waitangi.I was speaking to the committee around section 4 talking about in particular the services that district health boards must provide as has been detailed under the commentary on the Abortion Legislation Bill and around the availability of the services. It is my view in a submission that there is a compromising of that absent the SOP issues that I raise. Section 4 is outlining that there is a requirement under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act for the provision of health services by the district health boards that there is a view—it's only a view; there's nothing mandatory around that—for the improvement of health outcomes for Māori. Part 3 under the particular New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act also speaks about providing for mechanisms to enable Māori to contribute to decision making and to participate. There is nothing mandatory within the provisions of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 for the district health boards to factor in more than just consideration or enabling contribution and participation but the actual equity of access to health services.Now I invite members to look at page 13 of the commentary under the Abortion Legislation Bill and there's specific concern that's outlined there where submissions made to the select committee detailed the inequity of access to abortion services throughout New Zealand. So the very purpose of Supplementary Order Paper 467 that I'm introducing is inviting all members of the committee and in particular the Minister of Justice who is also the Minister of Treaty settlements to factor in the due placement and consideration of my Supplementary Order Paper. Although it may be specific in terms of cultural construct and context around addressing the disparity and inequity of Māori this is not just specific to Māori. It is about a Māori cultural lens and the placement of that that is of benefit for all of those who seek to access the abortion services that are provided as is outlined in the Abortion Legislation Bill.I also reference that when it comes to looking out for caring and protecting our vulnerable—and certainly under this bill there is a focus on the woman and much has been spoken about the woman's rights—my SOP is about the responsibility of health service providers in the provision of that care. I will invite all members also—when the Government under the Children's Act of 2014 looked at the strategy for improving children's wellbeing and an Oranga Tamariki action plan there is a specific section under section 4A again that details the duties of the responsible Minister and the service provision around addressing issues pertaining to principles under the Treaty of Waitangi.Time is limited. This is a detailed bill. The SOP is to improve the bill. The whole point of my Supplementary Order Paper is inviting all members to consider the improvements that this would give to women accessing abortion services."