Hutchison Paul: Franklin District Council (Contribution to Funding of Museums) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Hutchison Paul: Franklin District Council (Contribution to Funding of Museums) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:652;Page:1676] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
: 
 I firstly thank all members of the House for their contributions this evening on the Franklin District Council (Contribution to Funding of Museums) Amendment Bill. I also specifically thank the Hon Nanaia Mahuta for her very gracious comments and I thank my colleagues Alan Peachey Colin King and Nathan Guy for their excellent comments. I am very pleased to sponsor this bill on behalf of the Franklin District Council and the wonderful constituents I represent in the magnificent electorate of Hunua. 
I was reminded by Moana Mackey—who also gave an excellent speech—of the contribution of Mayor Mark Ball who gave a very thoughtful and fine submission to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Auckland Governance. One of the interesting aspects of his contribution was that members of the Franklin District Council have indicated that they prefer to go along with Environment Waikato rather than the Auckland Regional Council. Their view is that Environment Waikato has a greater understanding and feel for rural issues than does the Auckland Regional Council. 
This bill is a classic example of where central bodies located in Auckland have unfortunately perpetuated an inappropriate rate out into a rural community and not taken on board the fact that there is an anomaly and stopped it spontaneously. Unfortunately this situation gives a body like the Auckland Regional Council a false perception. Hopefully whoever replaces the Auckland Regional Council or the council itself if it continues will gain over time the sort of reputation that Environment Waikato has in terms of an understanding for rural issues and the needs of rural people. 
I was also concerned that the Hon Darren Hughes may have been misrepresented by me tonight. I was extremely pleased with his enthusiasm for this bill and to see it rapidly pass through all stages and I hope that will happen. 
The major point about this bill is that it represents an unfair anomaly in rating that could happen anywhere in New Zealand. New Zealanders are fair-minded people and it makes good sense to support the bill. I also think it is very important to emphasise the point made by the Hon Pita Sharples that this bill is in no way a criticism of the Museum of Auckland or the Museum of Transport and Technology. Both of these institutions are icons. They are of huge cultural value and benefit to people living in the Auckland region—and in fact to all New Zealanders. 
It is important to make the point that two-thirds of the Franklin District Council is physically in Environment Waikato but is only about one-third of the population. The area is truly magnificent. It takes in Tuakau the area of Onewhero Pukekawa Port Waikato and Waikaretu going down deep into the Waikato. It is a wonderful area. 
Once again I thank all my colleagues for their excellent contributions and support in rectifying the anomaly in the bill. 
Bill read a first time.  
Bill referred to the Local Government and Environment Committee.