Salesa JennyHAWKE'S BAY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY EMPOWERING BILLFirst ReadingANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) on behalf of the Hon Meka Whaitiri (Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): I move That the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society Empowering Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Governance and Administration Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 11 April 2023. I am presenting this on behalf of my colleague Meka Whaitiri who is attending her son's graduation. This is her speech.This is a simple and practical piece of legislation which will enable the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association to sell its interests in the Tomoana Showgrounds without being required to invest the money from the sale in the purchase of other land. The society has entered into an unconditional agreement to sell the showgrounds to Hastings District Council under arrangements which will give the grounds reserve status ensuring it is protected for the community. The council also has plans to prepare a reserve management plan and with the community to determine how the showgrounds are looked after and create opportunities for events in the years to come. Importantly this will still allow the society 10 days of annual fee use of the showgrounds in perpetuity which means it can continue to host four key regional events: the annual Hawke's Bay A & P show horticultural field days the Hawke's Bay Wine Awards and the Primary Sector Awards which celebrate the region's food and fibre industries. I grew up in Whakatū a short drive from the Tomoana Showgrounds and can remember attending field days and the A & P show when I was younger. Only a few weeks ago I was there at the Hawke's Bay anniversary day along with colleagues Stuart Nash and myself—Anna Lorck—enjoying the latest edition of the Hawke's Bay show and chatting with locals. These are crucial events for the local economy great fun for families and the key thing is it will not change under this bill. The reason the bill is needed is because currently the provisions of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act 1908 require the Hawke's Bay A & P Society to invest the money received from the sale of land in purchasing other land suitable for the purchasers of the society. The Act controls how the sales must be handled and what can be done with the proceeds but this may not be the best financial use for the society. The society is seeking to change these requirements as it considers they prevent it from achieving optimal profit in the short and long term whether that be through term deposit investment land purchase or other means.Amending the bill will allow the society to achieve optimal profit to continue promoting its primary sector to a wide audience facilitating events acknowledging local history and heritage developing educational programmes awarding scholarships and helping its sector and region to continue to develop grow and prosper. To achieve the purpose of allowing the society to apply the money received from the sale of land towards the purposes that are consistent with the objectives of the society the bill treats certain provisions of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act 1908 the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Act 1912 and the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Act 1920 as never having applied to the society.If the land was sold the society must apply the money received from the sale towards the purposes that are consistent with the objects of the society. It is important to note that under the agreements of their sale to the Hastings District Council the society is still able to host all their key events at Tomoana Showgrounds. They do not need to purchase additional land to do so. As mentioned in my opening remarks the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association Empowering Bill is a simple and practical piece of legislation that would allow the society to sell its interests in Tomoana Showgrounds without being required to invest the money from the sale in the purchase of other land and it will ensure these fantastic events will continue at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds. It is preferable that this bill is passed in time for the settlement of the sale on 31 March 2023. But in light of the tight time frames at hand there is some flexibility with both the Hawke's Bay A & P Society and the Hastings District Council who are two parties to the sale. As mentioned earlier the intention of Meka Whaitiri is for the bill to spend four months in select committee and she has spoken with the chair and deputy chair of the Governance and Administration Committee who are happy to take this bill on board. I can assure members that this bill has strong community support. Hastings District Council which is purchasing the showgrounds have written a letter of support as has Waipatu Marae. Society members voted in favour of the sale. I am also grateful for the interest and support of the member for Taranaki - King Country Barbara Kuriger. The society has also fulfilled all of its requirements under Appendix C including advertising notices of the proposed bill in local newspapers in Hawke's Bay and each of the other cities in Aotearoa being Auckland Hamilton Wellington Christchurch and Dunedin. It might also be helpful for members to know that this is not the first time a bill of this kind has gone through the House. The Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association Empowering Bill was passed in 2006 which empowered the association to sell its fee simple and lease interests in the Invercargill Showgrounds and any other land it may require without having to apply the money received from the sale to purchase other land suitable for the purposes of the society as required by the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act 1908. On that occasion there was less than five weeks between the bill's first reading in the House and its passing a third reading. I note my colleague the Hon Damien O'Connor was amongst those to speak in support of that bill during the House debate some 16 years ago. This bill enables a sensible and practical outcome for the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society and means our region will be able to continue celebrating and promoting the successes of our local food and fibre sector. It is supported by the local community and I look forward to the House expediting this bill at its earliest opportunity. Thank you Madam Speaker.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): The question is that the motion be agreed to. This debate is interrupted until after the dinner break at 7 p.m. when I will resume the Chair. Ka kite anō.Sitting suspended from 5.58 p.m. to 7 p.m.