Macindoe Tim: Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMacindoe Tim: Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 02 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9342. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) on behalf of Hon Nicky Wagner (National—Christchurch Central): I move That the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill be now read a first time. At this point I would have been nominating a select committee to consider the bill should it pass its first reading but I noticed that there is actually a contradiction between the notes I have received from the sponsor of the bill and the advice contained on the drill sheet. So for the benefit of the House I propose to nominate later—probably in the right of reply—which select committee should be considering the bill.At the outset I should acknowledge that the Hon Nicky Wagner is the sponsor of this bill and I am honoured to be performing this task on her behalf. I also want to extend my greetings to Blind Foundation members and staff in my home Waikato region. I very much enjoyed as I know did my colleague David Bennett the MP for Hamilton East joining them last year for their 125th anniversary celebrations. They do an excellent job and David and I are very proud to represent them here in our Parliament. I know that they and many other organisations are deeply grateful for the genuine interest and enthusiasm that the Hon Nicky Wagner demonstrates for their work needs and challenges in her capacity as Minister for Disability Issues. She is an excellent advocate for and friend to the many organisations supporting disabled communities throughout New Zealand.Carmel Sepuloni: Why is she not doing the speech then?TIM MACINDOE: It is most unfortunate to receive such an unhelpful and ignorant interjection I must say. I am also delighted to be introducing a bill for the first time in my parliamentary career; after nearly 7½ years that is quite something for me.In 2015 the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind which is now known as the Blind Foundation celebrated as I have mentioned a few moments ago 125 years of providing life-changing services to people who are blind or partially sighted. The foundation traces its origins to the Jubilee Institute for the Blind which was established in 1890.Simon O’Connor: When was that?TIM MACINDOE: Back in 1890—just a couple of years before you came into existence I think Mr O’Connor. More recently in 1963 the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind Act 1963 was passed which established the foundation as a statutory body under the name Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind. In 2002 the foundation wished to clarify its status as a body controlled primarily by and for the benefit of people who are blind or have limited vision and to modernise its structure and governance arrangements giving it the characteristics of an incorporated society. The foundation also wished to change its name to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind to more accurately reflect the organisation’s modern philosophy. To that end this House enacted the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act in 2002. The Act provided the foundation with an option to register as an incorporated society and was structured in such a way as to become spent if the foundation chose to exercise that option. The foundation registered as an incorporated society on 10 January 2012 and accordingly that Act is now spent or redundant.The foundation considers it desirable therefore that the Act be repealed. There are two main reasons for this: firstly that keeping the Act on the statute book causes confusion as it suggests that the foundation is still a statutory body when it is not; and secondly that the repeal of the Act will emphasise the foundation’s status as an entity that is completely independent from Parliament.Throughout the foundation’s rich history the organisation has continued to adapt to the changing needs of society from its beginnings as a school for blind children to today’s multifaceted organisation that offers a range of services and support. Currently the foundation offers services that empower and support people who are blind or have limited vision to lead independent lives and reach their full potential. These services include support for the blind and partially sighted in independent living and getting around; helping them with technology and ways to continue reading—which of course is so vitally important to them—and communicating in general; and advice about staying in or looking for work which is obviously also of tremendous importance to those wishing to maintain a high level of independence. The foundation also offers professional services to assist the wider community to engage constructively with people who are blind or partially sighted. Such services are invaluable to our communities.The foundation’s strategic plan for the 2015 to 2020 period contains four key priorities: promoting independent living achieving access for all reaching more people and building a foundation for the future. The foundation’s members and associated parties regard the repeal of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act as the final step towards full member governance and self-determination and towards assisting the foundation to achieve its goals.I am sure that everyone in this House is aware of the great work that the foundation achieves for New Zealanders who are blind or partially sighted. I hope that all members therefore will join me in congratulating and thanking the foundation for its fantastic work so far in the 126 years that it has provided service throughout this nation and wish it all the best as the foundation takes this next step in a long and proud history.I understand that it is necessary during the course of this speech for me to nominate a select committee to consider the bill. I therefore nominate that the bill be considered by the Health Committee. I know that it will give it excellent consideration and I am delighted to have the chair of that very fine committee Simon O’Connor here in the House tonight. I know he will receive it with rapture and give it due consideration.Simon O’Connor: With rapture or with—TIM MACINDOE: With both Mr O’Connor. You are a person of great capacity and I have enormous confidence in your abilities.Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Do not bring me into it.TIM MACINDOE: You too Mr Deputy Speaker are a person of great capacity—Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I said do not bring me into it.TIM MACINDOE: —but I do not wish to be making any personal comments.It is therefore with great pleasure that I commend the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill to the House and I am particularly pleased that the Attorney-General has enjoyed this fine oration.