Pugh Maureen; Butterick MikeIMMIGRATION (MASS ARRIVALS) AMENDMENT BILLSecond ReadingDebate resumed from 2 May.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Maureen Pugh): Members this was the second part of a split call. It's a National Party call.MIKE BUTTERICK (National—Wairarapa): Good evening Madam Speaker. This evening I have the opportunity to speak on the Immigration (Mass Arrivals) Amendment Bill. For me this bill is about three things. First it's about ensuring we manage risk both to the security of New Zealand and therefore New Zealanders and to those genuinely seeking to escape persecution in their home country; second this is about due process affording the judicial system and immigrants from mass arrival more timely access to legal advice and representation and for their applications to be considered; and thirdly this is to acknowledge that this Government is pragmatic and able to take a considered approach to decision making.We started in a position of opposition to this amendment bill when it was first presented by the previous Government. However now after having won the Government benches we've been able to access further information some of which was previously considered confidential advice from officials. Taking this into consideration we are now in a position of support for this bill.Although there is a low likelihood of mass arrivals to New Zealand we're living in a fool's paradise to assume that it won't occur. Quite simply a failure to plan is a plan to fail. This bill is not about scaremongering and misinformation. It is not about saying that immigrants are dangerous to this country. It is also not about imprisonment. This bill is about mass arrivals of immigrants to our shores not one by one but in a group at one time and without any permission to be here. It is simply about legislation that allows New Zealand to strike a balance between detaining any mass immigrant arrivals and their right to access legal advice and representation to support their applications to stay in New Zealand. More time to undertake this process is not a negative. We are a nation of immigrants. Our arrival to this beautiful country started some 800 years ago and continues to this day. This amendment bill will allow this to continue in a considered and humane way allowing those that have a desperate need to leave their home for reasons that we as New Zealanders will hopefully never experience: war political instability and the targeting of specific groups. This bill is about protecting their rights along with ours and having a right to put forward a case to remain in New Zealand—again in the unlikely event of a mass arrival. We all know our district courts are under significant case load pressure and allowing more time will reduce the risk of additional pressure if any mass arrival group was to arrive on our shores. In addition to this is the already well-known court system pressure. We have limited capacity of appropriately qualified lawyers capable of representing any such group. Currently there are only around 40. Therefore the current time frame is entirely impractical as security and health screening checks are likely to need significantly more time to complete. Allowing more time will ensure that judicial decision makers are afforded all the information needed to make a fair and considered decision which has taken into account every relevant piece of information.To finish I would like to reiterate that whilst initially as a party we did not support this amendment bill once we had all the information at hand enabling our support we've made sure to expedite this process. Why when the previous Government had introduced this bill did they not continue the process and finish the legislative pathway? But rest assured not only are we adult enough to reconsider our previously held position on this amendment bill; we will actually do something that will seem refreshingly original given the previous administration's record of non-delivery. We will finish the job and deliver. We are back on track. Therefore I commend this bill to the House.