Barry Maggie: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Barry Maggie: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 08 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:2069. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MAGGIE BARRY (National—North Shore) 
: 
 It is with great pleasure I rise to talk to the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill in its first reading. The Hon Chris Finlayson is the sponsor of this bill. He introduced it last October and when he rose to speak a bit earlier he reminded us of National’s proud tradition of supporting culture and the arts and that Sid Holland was the man who established the Historic Places Trust back in 1954. So it is entirely appropriate that this National Government continues the leadership that it has undertaken in arts and culture and heritage. As with many bills this Government introduces it reduces ambiguity and clarifies provisions.  
This is a bill whose time has come. The Historic Places Trust needs a new name to reflect its modernity in the 21st century. The word “trust” for example is not appropriate. I think that the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill properly encapsulates the intentions of all of us as we seek to look after our heritage. Nikki Kaye has talked of some of the examples in Auckland. We have heard the Greens talk about examples. They have done a bit of archaeological digging themselves around this bill to find some fault with it and I think that within the Local Government and Environment Committee which I sit on it is entirely appropriate that we look at the definition of “minor” and that we look at the archaeologists who pays them and the provisions. It is a good thing for this to be nutted out in the select committee. So I commend for me anyway the relatively rare sign of inter-party support around a bill that really does seek to do what needs to be done.  
Nothing about this bill lessens people’s ability to complain and protest about heritage problems; it only enhances it. The structure is important. There need to be changes around the regulatory and community advocacy roles. This needs to be done to improve and increase the efficiency. One of the many legacies of the Canterbury earthquake has been to show us that there need to be emergency provisions to protect life as well as heritage. It is about getting that balance right. I think this bill addresses these things with a degree of intellectual rigour which is essential to something as precious as our historic legacies.  
The Treaty of Waitangi clause which again is a clarification of an interpretation is also overdue. The new clause includes specific provisions of the Act that must require a level of consultation that will ensure that iwi have a part in what goes on. There is strengthening around the provisions for Maori consultation—the requirements rather than the laissez-faire-faire “let’s consult them but when it’s too little too late”. That sort of stuff will go by the by. It is really quite the opposite of some of the concerns that have been raised but it is right to raise them at the first reading. I am sure as I said earlier they will be addressed.  
But this is not a bill that is going to silence heritage advocates—quite the opposite; it is going to encourage them. It provides a framework that is easier to understand that simplifies laws that need to be tightened up. I think that it will in fact make our heritage and its protection more viable than it is currently and that has to be a good thing. I think the Maori Heritage Council has done a great job. I agree with the Labour member who spoke before about the science-heritage advocacy role and about the way that in fact the eight-member Maori Heritage Council will be consulted. It think it is appropriate that that be done and that it is now a requirement. I think sometimes you can leave people to sort out their own measures but at other times there needs to be provision for ensuring that that is done. Without taking too much time on this matter at its first reading I am entirely in support of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill and I look forward to it coming before the Local Government and Environment Committee. Thank you.