Mark Ron; Tolley AnneHon RON MARK (Minister of Defence): Thank you Madam Speaker. Well that was a bit of a jump there coming from the member for Rangiora. I didn't realise you were so out of tune with the speaking order but never mind. I just will rise to make a short call. I think pretty much everything about this bill that needs to be said has been said. I think suffice to say from New Zealand First's perspective we're supporting the bill through the third reading. We look forward to seeing it finally passing recognising that this is one of a tranche of pieces of legislation that will come before the House dealing with the issue of water—of course water safety being top of the order in terms of priority because it affects the public health particularly on the back of what we saw at Havelock North; it made it imperative that this piece of legislation progress quickly.I think it's very good it's very pleasing to note that all the parties throughout the House have worked so collaboratively and so cooperatively to ensure that the bill is progressed in a very expeditious manner actually. I think everyone's very mindful of the fact that a large number of people were made ill in Havelock North—there were deaths unfortunately. The public of New Zealand have a right to expect that the water that's provided by their territorial authority is safe and it is potable and it is fit to be served up to their children—be it in glasses of water or be it water that they bathe in because we know how toddlers put things into their mouth and the water that they run in their bath needs to be safe.I think there is a salient message though that has come through in all of the debate and that was quite evident in the first reading second reading and the committee stage and that is that one does have to be careful when one sets standards that the standards are achievable and are affordable. I think most of us know—those of us in particular who have been in local government—two things actually. We know that in some areas of provincial New Zealand—not that some people who live in metropolitan New Zealand would realise it—upwards of 45 percent of the local population can be on their own water supply. My partner Christine and I are on our own water supply. It behoves each and every one of us to be very mindful of the quality of the water that we're serving up to our children whether that be our own private water supply or from the territorial authority. Of course when the territorial authority gets it wrong the consequences are so much greater. If we get it wrong at home as happened to us—well we didn't get it wrong. We just started drinking the water we had once we bought the home. Unfortunately my current partner Christine went down with crypto—I can't even say the word—cryptosporidiosis and was very very ill. So we learnt a lesson from that and we improved the filtration system and included 21 micron filters and UV.Councils like the council that I came from—Hon Maggie Barry: We heard this story last time.Hon RON MARK: Sorry?Hon Maggie Barry: We heard this story last time.Hon RON MARK: I know and I've got to repeat it. I think it's worth it the Hon Maggie Barry. Some of us—like the Hon Maggie Barry and I—are aware that you can drive for high-quality water standards and the cost is exponentially going to increase. So there is a level of pragmatism that I would expect those who are setting these standards going forward will adopt so that we are not foisting unreasonable and unrealistic costs upon ratepayers. Something that this House is very good at doing is passing legislation that has a consequence for ratepayers and then some people sometimes even then criticise local government councillors for increasing rates which is very very unfair given the costs initiated are very often generated from this House.I think the other issue which this bill deals with quite nicely is the question around consultation. Arguably local governments are far more connected to their communities than central government is. Arguably the reaction when local government gets it wrong is very quick. Arguably you could say that there is less need for some of the very restrictive and prescriptive consultative processes that were in place prior to this piece of legislation—well they still are in place right now and they will be removed once this bill gets signed off by the Governor-General. But I think that in itself—sharpening refining eliminating some of the consultative processes and making it more streamlined—will be very helpful indeed bearing in mind that the legislation we're amending was first drafted back in the 1950s I think if I remember correctly which probably in itself suggested a rewrite a rethink was long overdue.On behalf of New Zealand First I recommend the bill to the House.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just a reminder to the House that the Speaker's obliged to take the call from whoever's standing.Hon Ron Mark: I was standing.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Right but you weren't standing and calling. So whilst we may have agreed to lists and things the Speaker is obliged to take the person who is standing and going for the call. So be quick.Hon Iain Lees-Galloway: It can be hard to tell when that member is standing.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Oh that's cruel. No that is cruel. I can tell when he's standing because he's close.