Tizard Judith: Historic Places Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Tizard Judith: Historic Places Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:632;Page:3884] 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage) 
: 
 I am very disappointed by the approach National Opposition members are taking to this bill. I am particularly disappointed given the undertaking they gave a public meeting of the arts community in Auckland that they were going to take a more positive line and given the bipartisan history between parties in this House on cultural and arts legislation that they are being so negative. 
The Historic Places Trust is an amazing organisation that Nick Smith when he was Minister of Conservation insisted—and I think quite rightly—should regionalise. National members also quite rightly have pointed out that in spite of their desire for tax cuts they think this area has been badly underfunded. Indeed this Government has taken heed of that and has taken the funding for the Historic Places Trust from $3.7 million in 1999-2000 the last year of a National Budget— 
Lindsay Tisch 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Part 2 is about the transitional provisions and it is a very narrow part. We are not talking about the title or commencement; we are talking about the number of members who will be on the board. That is what the debate is about. The Minister is talking about funding issues and talking about other issues that have nothing to do with the transitional provisions. 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: Speaking to the point of order Mr Chairperson I point out that the Opposition member has gone on at some length about the lack of justification—as he understands it—for this. That is why he is opposing the transitional measures. I am supporting the transitional measures by explaining the questions that he asked. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Clem Simich) 
: Thank you for raising that Mr Tisch. That was by way of a rebuttal in the main and I expect the Minister to come back to the bill or come to the bill. 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: I am speaking absolutely to the bill and to the questions that the National Party—in spite of the fact that this bill has been before the select committee for several years—appears not to have the answers to. I am very proud to say that this year the Government is supporting the Historic Places Trust to the extent of granting it $10.4 million—up from $3.7 million in 1999-2000. The result of that change that Nick Smith and the last National Government put in place is that the Historic Places Trust has far more work. We are seeing extraordinary regional and national moves for New Zealanders to take charge of and support their own heritage. The result has been a huge call on the Historic Places Trust staff—and indeed on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage staff—for advice on the application of the law for example on the right to export. We say the Government needs good advice on developing this rapidly changing legislation. This bill is entirely a result of that call. 
I am very proud of this legislation. The transitional period is about taking the old Historic Places Trust through into the new modern world. We as a Government take very seriously our responsibility to be accountable for public money just as we take very seriously our undertakings given to New Zealanders—whether at a meeting in Auckland or in this House. I am delighted to say that the wonderful people who work for the Historic Places Trust have agreed that they think the Government should have a more direct conduit to that advice and that accountability and they are delighted to give it. It is time National came to the party on heritage in this country and kept its word.