Parata Hekia: Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Parata Hekia: Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
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HEKIA PARATA (National) 
: 
 Kia ora Mr Assistant Speaker Barker. Kia tatou hoki huri noa i to tatou Whare. I am pleased to stand and take a call on the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill. As previous speakers have noted—or as I at least would like to characterise it—this bill puts into civil and technical jurisprudential language the common-sense relationship that New Zealand is interested in securing stabilising and sustaining with Australia. 
We have long been committed to a single economic market between our two countries. In fact that commitment was the subject of our Prime Minister’s state of the nation speech earlier this year and it has continued to be demonstrated by a number of bills and other work that our National-led Government is doing. The trans-Tasman relationship is extremely important to New Zealand in many dimensions. 
This bill places on a very sound and comprehensive platform the civil jurisdiction between our two countries. It enhances international legal cooperation which is a vital part of the Government’s broader economic agenda. As we all know businesses require certainty in the way that they carry out their business. The role that the law and civil jurisdiction plays is a critical part of that certainty. This bill as speakers have discussed provides that certainty. 
Australia is often the first stop for New Zealand businesses looking to expand offshore and to develop overseas markets but getting to grips with different federal and state legislatures can be rather complex and difficult. This bill provides for the establishment of one seamless set of rules that will allow businesses whether they are geographically located here in New Zealand or in Australia to be able to be confident that they understand what their liabilities are and what remedies may be available to them in the conduct of their business. 
The bill is an important step towards closer cooperation and integration of the Australian and New Zealand civil justice systems and it enhances the legal cooperation between our two countries. It shows that we have greater confidence in each other not only at a business level but also in terms of the judicial and regulatory institutions that operate between our two countries. 
Mr Bridges spoke about his example of someone who flees his or her responsibilities here in New Zealand. In the past that person has been able to seek protection if not invisibility by relocating him or herself to Australia. At that particular level of criminal malfeasance that will no longer be possible at least in the civil sense. 
My colleague Te Ururoa Flavell talked about the many many Maori who have relocated to Australia and set up successful businesses there. One often wishes they would come home to New Zealand and contribute the business nous that they have established. This bill provides a platform to ensure that those businesses continue to flourish and that the across-the-Tasman relationship that goes on every day as Maori seek to cement and continue their whakapapa ties with New Zealand is supported by this legislative context as well. 
There will no longer be any possibility of avoidance between our two jurisdictions of Australia and New Zealand. That gives comfort not only to businesses but to travellers on both sides of the Tasman. Since the Australia and New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement was signed 26 years ago when many of us in the House were but 5 or 6 years old—no no—but since the agreement was signed 26 years ago— 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Oh now. 
HEKIA PARATA 
: Obviously I was not able to get that one past my colleague Te Ururoa Flavell but the rest of the House seems to agree on the lack of ageing amongst many of us here. Since the agreement was signed a generation ago many other steps have been put in place to secure the relationship between Australia and New Zealand and the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill is yet another example of that. 
There has been good progress on the single economic market between Australia and New Zealand. We have worked towards and are making good progress on a single cross-border insolvency proceeding. Another key area is in progress on the alignment of accounting standards for profit entities the establishment of an accounting and auditing standard and the establishment of infrastructure that will mirror that of Australia so that we will have not only a happy legal fraternity but also an equally happy accountancy fraternity as those professionals see that significant legislation incorporated into the relationship between New Zealand and Australia. Another key area is in the potential for mutual recognition of auditors and financial advisers. 
So as we can see we are steadily and incrementally putting in place a strong foundation for professional relationships between Australia and New Zealand. The Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill is yet another example of that. I commend this bill to the House. Kia ora.