Hawkins George: Unit Titles Bill — First Reading 
Hawkins George: Unit Titles Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:652;Page:1715] 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) 
: 
 Naturally Labour will be supporting the Unit Titles Bill. 
The speaker who has just resumed his seat Phil Heatley has not even dotted one of the i’s or crossed one of the t’s in respect of this bill; all the work was done by the Hon Shane Jones. The previous speaker has done nothing. It is very important that we acknowledge that. It is also very important that people make submissions when this bill goes to the Social Services Committee. You see since the original bill became law in 1972 lifestyles have changed dramatically in New Zealand. Having lots of apartments— 
Hon Phil Heatley 
: I already said that George. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Well the member may have said it but he probably read it somewhere; he does not know it. 
This bill makes sure that the law keeps up with the changes in people’s lifestyles. I say to the Hon Phil Heatley if he is awake—he probably went to sleep during his own speech—that this bill will be very important for people who live in apartments that have the leaky homes syndrome. Under the Unit Titles Act people needed to get a 100 percent agreement in order to make decisions; now only a 75 percent agreement will be needed. That will be a huge change. It will be a change that I think people will welcome. 
People who live in apartments—many of them are young people attending university—may have had those apartments bought for them by their parents and they do not understand the Act. This bill will make things far better for them. The fact that we have more than 16000 unit title developments in this country means that there will be widespread interest. Between the time this bill is read a first time and then sent off to the select committee Mr Heatley should get someone to read it to him because I do not think he understands it. He got up and read a speech prepared by his officials and the pity was that he did not have a dress rehearsal; he got muddled up as he went along. I am not going to waste my time in the Chamber going through all this other than to say that I hope the select committee will advertise this new bill very widely because many people need to know about it. They need to know what it will mean for them as individuals so that they can make good submissions on it. One of the very good things about Parliament is the select committee system where people can have a say. 
I conclude by thanking the Hon Shane Jones because he actually did all the work. I am sure that Phil Heatley may try to grab hold of the bill and promote it as his greatest achievement—even greater than the 69 State houses he will build this year which is actually down on the number Labour would have built. This bill belongs to people who are living in apartments and feel trapped in the present situation. The bill will allow them to be more widely dealt with. I am sure the New Zealand Law Society will come and make submissions and I am pleased by that. I am sure the select committee will ask the society to make submissions as well as many other groups. I welcome this bill. I think the repeal and replacement of the Act is long overdue. Once again I thank Shane Jones.