Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Kia ora Madam Speaker thank you. There is only one original agricultural and pastoral society and it's the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association which held its first meeting in 1852 in Hagley Park right at the heart of Christchurch Central. However I will not hold that against the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society who needs a hand to get around what is it must be said if you look at the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act of 1908 a relatively arcane piece of legislation. It may well be that in the next term or the term after that the Labour Government will have a look at updating that legislation to make it a little bit more amenable to the kind of innovative things that the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society are looking to do in this empowering bill.It's a funny thing that agricultural and pastoral societies are in fact incorporated not by registration but by incorporation by Order in Council by the Governor-General. So it's a somewhat different arrangement. And to find the constitution of the association we need to go actually to the Gazette to find its incorporating documents there.But this is a sensible piece of legislation because section 7 of the original Act constrains the society to only apply the proceeds of any sale of land to other land which is suitable for the purchasers of the society. And we know in today's age we can be a bit more flexible with land holdings. It is perhaps a little unusual to own a large piece of land for 365 days a year simply to conduct a show for five or six days a year. So it's entirely reasonable for this transaction to be entered into.I understand that there's been a fair bit of discussion in Hawke's Bay as they're wont to do over in that part of the country around the proper use of the land. But I understand that the parties have come to an agreement that the land itself will be held in perpetuity as a reserve but that the society will still be able to use the land for A & P shows into the future. And that seems to be a pretty good solution to me because we do know—and I do accept that the land which I understand is situated at the heart of the Tukituki electorate—that the show's quite an event. It's something where town and country come together and in fact it's really quite a fantastic event that people from around the country go to to enjoy the hospitality and produce of the Hawke's Bay and of course to see the fine pastoral animals that are produced there and no doubt to take them back to Canterbury where they can eat proper grass and grow even larger and flourish better. I do note though that it appears from the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act 1908 that the lands held by most A & P societies were held by Crown grant. So it is important I think to note that the funds do need to stay within the purview of these societies because essentially these are lands and now assets held in trust for the purposes of agricultural and pastoral societies. I do want to just pause on that and recognise the really important part that agricultural and pastoral societies play not only as a festival not only as a kind of industrial show where people in the industry can go and look at new machinery or innovations but also in actually bringing parties together so that townies can go and have a look at animals go and see the sheep pet the ducks whatever you want to do and understand that what goes on in our rural communities is an important part of New Zealand society. And I know that the catchcry of bringing town and country together of the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society is actually exactly what they should be doing so that we are one society we understand each other we understand the roles we have to play and so that we build a stronger community together and recognise the important place that both agricultural and pastoral farming play in New Zealand's society.So this is an absolutely fantastic bill. Perhaps could do with a tidy up of those old Acts in the long run but at the time this is a really good piece of legislation to take it forward. Kia ora Mr Speaker.