Penk Chris; Tolley AnneCHRIS PENK (National—Helensville): Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to rise and speak in this the first reading of the Maritime Powers Extension Bill. I wish to make a relatively brief contribution focusing on the context of this proposed legislation its purposes and ways in which it can hopefully achieve the aims that it sets out to.As for the legislative context we've already heard on both sides of the House some good background regarding this including that it will change our Customs and Excise Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act. I'll note only in passing that various colleagues have spoken eloquently on the scourge of drugs and the desire that we must have as a Parliament and indeed as a nation to reduce—ideally eliminate but of course at least reduce by every means possible—their flow on to our shores.The context of this legislation also includes the fact that we are a maritime nation of course. While it might truly have been said that no man is an island—or perhaps today we'd say no person" is an island—New Zealand is of course a succession of islands and yet we're not an island in the sense of being isolated. It is very much in an international context that we will be passing this legislation; if indeed it does proceed all the way through beyond the select committee to a second and third reading. It will be precisely for the reasons that the member Louisa Wall has outlined in relation to those international conventions that we will be making these changes.I think it's appropriate that the Minister of Defence has acknowledged the role that our Defence Force will be playing in implementing this legislation—effectively doing things that they already do so well but with certain additional powers. It will be entirely appropriate for the select committee which I'm very pleased and privileged to say I'm a member of to examine exactly how it is that they will be able to carry these out in accordance with international law again as Minister Mark has said and also in accordance with rules of engagement that do give them the tools that they require to do exactly that.I acknowledge as well the other agencies involved—customs and police—and in doing so it is of course the customs Minister Meka Whaitiri who is bringing this bill to the House. I acknowledge her and her work and that of her department so far. No doubt we'll work constructively with various advisers and indeed those who have drafted the bill at select committee along with those who will be making submissions in relation to seeing exactly what we can do by way of clarifying and strengthening the law so that it is fit for purpose.Speaking then of the purposes it's been outlined already that the provision of the Customs Service with the opportunity to disrupt drug-smuggling will be important as is the jurisdictional matter that has again already been touched upon in relation to clarifying the position of vessels that are not flagged or maybe have different flagged or unflagged statuses and are within and beyond our exclusive economic zone.Briefly on the subject of protecting our shores and indeed our people from the harm caused by illicit drugs the bill is reasonably careful it seems to me already—but again we can examine it to ensure that it remains as robust as it can and should be—to set out that there will be reasonable cause to suspect that a drug-smuggling offence has been committed or is likely to be committed and it is that forward-looking opportunity that ability that rather hefty tool in the tool kit of our various agencies that will be very important. So again it's exactly the parameters of that type of operation that will be significant to give to our respective services.As well as the navy I'll also mention the air force as has already previously been acknowledged. On a slightly parochial note it's no doubt various members of my electorate of Helensville specifically the Whenuapai airbase and its residents who will be conducting much of this good work. Also on a parochial note having had some background in the navy I recall perhaps on a light-hearted note if I may that we used to joke that the word "navy" was in fact an acronym for "never again volunteer yourself" but I can assure you that the good men and women of the navy will be volunteering and happily carrying out their tasks to do such work as this because they know as indeed we all know—I hope indeed the whole country knows—how important this work is to support and to protect our people from the scourge of these drugs.My final comment is just to note that setting out the purpose of the Act and referring specifically to those international conventions has a threefold purpose. One is that it makes the Act accessible in terms of showing exactly what it is that the Act is setting out to do. Second in "related purposes" that it will be an aid to interpretation so that we will see hopefully our lawmakers and those carrying out its provisions do so in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for example. Finally it will also signal to the rest of the world—again going back to that point that New Zealand is not an island except in the geographical sense—that we are ratifying and taking seriously and implementing those international obligations.So with that I join all members of the House it seems so far in commending the bill to the House and saying that I look forward to our work as a select committee in ensuring that it is fit for purpose.DEPUTY SPEAKER: This next call is a split call and you'll get a bell at one minute. I call Jan Tinetti."