Hughes Gareth: Register of Pecuniary Interests of Judges Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hughes Gareth: Register of Pecuniary Interests of Judges Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 27 June 2012. Volume:681;Page:3454. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
GARETH HUGHES (Green) 
: 
 Kia ora Mr Speaker. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora. First I would like to acknowledge the respectful thoughtful intellectual debate we have heard here today. Just for the members’ interest this is what you get when you get a Green bill in this House—a respectful debate. 
Chris Auchinvole 
: You’ve just spoilt it Gareth—you’ve just spoilt it! 
GARETH HUGHES 
: Ha ha! We would like to thank the other parties in this House for their comments. I would like to acknowledge Dr Kennedy Graham who is possibly one of our most thoughtful intellectual and respectful MPs. It is good that the other parties are supporting this Register of Pecuniary Interests of Judges Bill. It is good that it is going to get another hearing at the Justice and Electoral Committee. It is good we will get to hear from the judges and the public because it is an important issue. Obviously conflict of interest is a reality in our modern world. Kiwis have got to have confidence in our judiciary. We need to have as a goal I think the most open Government and judiciary that is possible within practical means. We pride ourselves on being one of the least corrupt nations on earth and as the old cliche goes sunlight is the best disinfectant. Public transparency and openness is the best way to have confidence in a vital sector in our country. 
As we heard from the member Julie Anne Genter the executive in New Zealand had a register of pecuniary interests back in 1990 MPs followed in 2006 and now 2012 is the year when we need to have the Register of Pecuniary Interests of Judges. I think we could also widen the debate to look at local government which has a register but it is still not made public. What we want to have is across the judiciary and democratically elected positions in New Zealand those principles of openness and transparency enshrined. 
We acknowledge that this law will not be onerous for judges. It is going to be easy fast and transparent. As Julie Anne Genter outlined the bill is relatively simple. It outlines how the judges can make the register of pecuniary interests and explains how to do their returns how interests must be listed the fact that the value is not disclosed and that the register must be made public which is crucial given the example we have of the Register of Pecuniary Interests of Local Government Members. Judges have to do it. The important clause which is the part that Charles Chauvel picked up on is whether we do want this legislation to be enforcing a provision on the judiciary. We hear what the member is saying about the judiciary doing it themselves but we have made that crystal clear with clause 4 which is trying to protect that very important constitutional principle. 
We note National’s reservations. Will it achieve its stated aims? We think it will. We think it works. The register works for us in Parliament. But this is why it is good that the bill will be going to a select committee so that we can have that in-depth discussion. The bill can be amended and made better. As to Labour’s question about who is going to be policing it I think the member Charles Chauvel answered it himself. It is the judges. Ultimately we have to limit the legislature’s influence or engagement with the judiciary in that sense. So it is up to the judges but again we will see that detail come out at the select committee. 
In summary we would like to thank the other parties for their support. We would like to invite the public and interested parties to make a submission to the select committee. We have had a great track record with members’ bills over the years from forming the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority through to the groundbreaking waste legislation section 59 mothers with babies and flexible working hours and we look forward to having another Green member’s bill joining that list. Kia ora.