Mark Ron: Wellington Town Belt Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMark Ron: Wellington Town Belt Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 16 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6716. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]RON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First): Once again we get to this point in the debate and you wonder how much more you can add to that which has already been said. But I will start by saying congratulations to the Wellington City Council to the mayor and the councillors and to all the staff involved in getting this piece of legislation on to the floor of the House. Most definitely congratulations also to the local MP Grant Robertson who has been more than studious in advocating for this bill and getting around the House around the parties to garner the level of support required. It is not that I think it took a whole heap of arm-twisting Mr Robertson because it is difficult to disagree with or to object to this piece of legislation.There is something that stands out as quite striking for me at this point if I could look for a point of difference in the kōrero thus far. It is the fact that the Government supports this legislation—the principles the purpose and the intent. Why I say I am astonished and pleased that the Government is doing this is that green belts town belts reserves public reserves and Crown reserves are all there—they all exist within communities for the same purpose. They are there to promote the well-being of the people who reside in that locale—their well-being.There used to be a time when local government was guided directed through the Local Government Act by well-beings and the need to focus on the well-being of the community be it social cultural economic or indeed might I add spiritual. It seems strange that on the one hand the Government should say that we no longer need to have well-beings mentioned in the Local Government Act but here today it stands and recognises that the Wellington town belt is fundamental to the well-being to the character to the spirit and indeed to the economic well-being of Wellington City. It would be nice to think that this epiphany this realisation this coming back to reality might actually permeate a little deeper into the thinking of National Party MPs as we passage this bill together as a complete House—unanimously—through to its final reading and that they might wish to reflect on those changes that they inflicted imposed and dictatorially handed out to the public of New Zealand through their amendments—Alastair Scott: Democracy.RON MARK: There was no democracy about it at all—no democracy about it at all. The weight of numbers dictated against the overwhelming objection of Local Government New Zealand and all the National Party mayors and deputy mayors and councillors throughout New Zealand who actually objected to it.This piece of legislation probably stands as an example of why we need to focus on the well-being of communities. It is good to see that we are recognising that. It is also good to see that in the “Purpose” clause of this bill there is not a thing we can disagree with. The principles—I will home in on a couple in clause 4: “(i) the Wellington Town Belt should be managed in partnership with mana whenua:”. Being Ātiawa myself and being very aware of the manner in which the land was obtained in the first place it stands to reason that this is the just and right thing to do. Clause 4(1)(b)(ii) states:“the landscape character of the Wellington Town Belt should be protected and enhanced including by recognising that it was the New Zealand Company’s intention that the original Town Belt not be built on:”. But this also recognises that there will be times when there will need to be adjustments for the betterment of Wellington in terms of allowing building. The fact that this legislation makes it possible for more land to be added to the town belt is eminently sensible and in fact fundamental because it allows Wellington City to grow its town belt as the opportunity arises.For the record New Zealand First will support the passage of this bill and looks forward to working in the Local Government and Environment Committee alongside our other colleagues—cross party. We look forward to seeing the day when Mr Robertson will get to see his bill read for a third time. Thank you.