Pillay Lynne: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Pillay Lynne: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:673;Page:19877] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour) 
: 
 Thank you at last Mr Chair. Along with everyone else I have been dying to get into this debate on the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill. I acknowledge all the contributions that have been made by my colleagues. Certainly there has been nothing from the other side of the Chamber. There have been some excellent examples of skills and talent not only within the society with the members the fellows the companions etc. but also with the skills and the sheer talent—raw talent in the case of David Shearer—of the speakers who spoke today. I would like to— 
Jo Goodhew 
: Oh! 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: I know the member in the chair Grant Robertson is listening because many members have talked about honorary fellows but I do have a question and I will ask it. 
I am very much a details person as most people do acknowledge—at the risk of sounding a little big-headed—but I noticed when I looked at the definition of “Honorary Member” in the principal Act that the council may from time to time grant honorary membership of the society to any ordinary member who— 
Jo Goodhew 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. It does feel to me that we are on the wrong clause. We are talking about “Honorary Fellows” and this has not been mentioned yet. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Speaking to the point of order I say that if the member had given me a moment she would have seen that I was making a very valid comparison— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The member is now debating the issue. Would the member now narrow the debate and come to order. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: The point is taken. I will make a comparison as I was going to do before I was interrupted between honorary members which I started to define and honorary fellows. 
The point is that section 16 of the principal Act headed “Honorary Members” states that honorary members are not required to pay any levies to the society. I accept that but what I notice under “Honorary Fellows” is that they are not normally resident in New Zealand. I do hope that the member is listening because I am coming to the point that is very important. When we look under “Honorary Members” we see that they are not required to pay any levies to the society but there are no other points. When we look at “Honorary Fellows” in section 17 of the Act we see that they are not normally resident in New Zealand but as David Shearer has said they have contributed and they are admitted as an honorary fellow. Like honorary members they are not required to pay any levy to the society but in addition—and this is the point—they are not entitled to vote in respect of any matters before the academy council or the society or to hold office in the academy council or the society. That is something different. They are not normally resident but even if they are resident whilst they do not pay fees they are not able to participate within the society. 
The difference is that the principal Act is silent in terms of honorary members so does that mean that honorary members are able to participate in respect of any matters before the academy council or the society or to hold office in the academy council or the society or is it the case that honorary fellows cannot do that because they are not normally resident? That does not mean they are not New Zealand residents of course—because they are—but they are not normally resident in New Zealand. I feel quite proud because there are quite a few sharp people on this side of the Chamber but I was the one who pointed it out. I know that the member Grant Robertson is very interested in this and may be able to enlighten the Committee. 
The other thing I add is that everybody has acknowledged the movement from being a member or a fellow to honorary status and how significant that is but what is even more significant is that that will happen to people who are now working in the humanities. So when we acknowledge all the people who perhaps are New Zealanders working overseas who have made a tremendous contribution and reached this honorary status it will also apply to people in the humanities. That will be a tremendous honour not only for the people who have that honour bestowed on them but also for us as Kiwis. It will be an honour to have people recognised in that way because often when they are not resident in New Zealand much of what they achieve happens on the world stage. So it is very much an acknowledgment of what is happening there.