Wall Louisa: Sullivan Birth Registration Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWall Louisa: Sullivan Birth Registration Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 April 2014. Volume:697;Page:17081. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]LOUISA WALL (Labour—Manurewa):Kia ora Mr Assistant Speaker. I move That the Sullivan Birth Registration Bill be now read a third time. To begin proceedings tonight I want to thank on behalf of Rowen and Doreen and myself as the sponsoring MP the Office of the Clerk and specifically Tim Workman for the assistance given to ensure that we both understood and complied with the requirements of progressing a private bill through this House. What could otherwise have been a daunting and exhausting process was in fact a simple and methodical process for introducing the bill and then progressing it systematically through our House of Parliament.In that progression through the House I want to again thank my colleague the Hon Ruth Dyson as chair of the Government Administration Committee and committee members for the professional and caring manner in which they conducted the progression of Rowen’s bill. This private bill was by definition incredibly private to Rowen Doreen and their family. To know that they have been empowered through the process of sharing their life story is something that this House should celebrate and be proud of.Finally I thank all members of this 50th Parliament. We have consensus on this bill which means we have not been required to vote. That too is something to acknowledge celebrate and be thankful for. Again on behalf of Rowen Doreen their family and friends and myself I thank my colleagues for their collective support for this bill.This bill exemplifies why we have private bills. It is about addressing the special circumstances of an individual situation that does not come under the general law. This bill does exactly that. This bill as the select committee members have recognised allows Rowen Sullivan to have her family formally recorded on the very documents that are used to confirm who she is and to quote the select committee report to “make what is a matter of fact … a matter of law.” Although this bill is specific to the circumstances of Rowen and her parents Diane Sullivan and Doreen Shields it does highlight how important it is to allow people to identify themselves with reference to their family.We have a number of antiquated laws on our books that reflect society in a bygone era. Our Marriage Act had been applied as society existed in 1955. With the 2013 amendment it now embraces the reality of relationships in respect of the State’s role which is to issue licences. This private bill has highlighted the inability of the Adoption Act 1955 to properly reflect the reality of families today. An adoption order that would result in Rowen having her living parent on her birth certificate meant her recently deceased birth mother could not remain as her mother on her formal birth documents. Such a cruel action will be righted by this private bill but it emphasises the need to look at the Law Commission’s 2000 report and the subsequent proceedings filed in a Human Rights Review Tribunal and for there to be a united approach across this House to address the many situations that do not fit into the 1955 societal model.We all know someone who has been affected in some way by the operation of the adoption laws. It is time now for a comprehensive review that puts the child at the forefront of adoption decisions and recognises the importance of being able to stand firm in the knowledge of who you are and who your family are. I thank my colleagues in the House who have taken the time to understand Rowen Diane and Doreen’s situation and to acknowledge the importance of their family unit being recognised officially in all things that Rowen does from now into the future.I have been very proud to sponsor this bill and proud that this House can take steps that can make a difference to this family particularly to the memory of Diane which will not be confined just to the efforts of Doreen and Rowen alone but will always be a formal part of their story. Doreen and Rowen who are here tonight have asked me to add their thanks. In Doreen’s words: “We didn’t expect many people to be interested in our story and we have been profoundly moved by the sympathy and support we have received. When Diane was diagnosed with cancer they gave her 2 years at best. She fought and suffered for almost 4 years because she wanted so desperately to be there for our daughter. Rowen should not have someone who loved her so much erased from her history. On behalf of Diane and her family back in Yorkshire thank you for giving Rowen her mum back. After 21 years she finally has both her parents.”The final word must go to Rowen: “Having my mum’s name taken off my birth certificate was hard. It was a horrible thing to do to someone who really wanted to have me and love me so much. This was never really about me. All I ever wanted was to honour and acknowledge my mum.” Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tātou katoa.