Barry Maggie: Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBarry Maggie: Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 25 June 2014. Volume:699;Page:18891. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MAGGIE BARRY (National—North Shore):I rise with great pleasure to speak to the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill at its first reading. As the chair of the Local Government and Environment Committee I am delighted that the Hon Nicky Wagner has chosen to take this bill to our committee. It is a very good thing indeed and of course she is extremely well placed unlike a member from Auckland. Nicky Wagner understands only too well the importance of the Arts Centre to the community of Christchurch. It is an essential part of the fabric the history of the town.As someone who studied horticulture in Christchurch many many years ago to me the building really does typify what is quintessentially Christchurch. It is a magnificent building. One of the many tragedies that occurred after the earthquakes is the fact that all but one of the centre’s 23 buildings were very very badly damaged and it is wonderful indeed to see this magnificent building be restored and be able to be used in a way that will reflect the history of the city even when so much else all around it has changed.It seems to me that when you modernise and make more fit for purpose buildings of the importance of the Arts Centre it is also very important to change the governance structures so that they too are able to reflect the changing needs of those buildings. So to get people in charge of the buildings who have the skill set required to guide and push them through to the place where they need to be—to be again a jewel in the crown of Christchurch City—is indeed a very important thing.As Nicky Wagner pointed out in the opening call in this debate the centre used to be visited by 1.5 million visitors annually and of those half came from outside the region. I think that when you look at the proud history of Christchurch’s buildings—apart from the Cathedral and I share members’ concerns that that is a building that has not been restored to the grandeur it deserves—we can see that the remaining buildings do need to be very carefully looked at and preserved. Piece by piece stone by stone these magnificent buildings will rise and be fit for modern purpose. Buildings of this kind are very representative of Christchurch.This bill will enable the centre to modernise the governance arrangements. It will set out the objects of the trust in legislation which will protect it and enshrine those protections. It will also reflect as a baseline the cultural heritage significance of the Arts Centre but with that modern edge and with that post-earthquakes edge as well. This is a bill that will ensure that the Arts Centre will be in a safe pair of hands in the short term and in the longer term the vision for the future and the governance role of the directors will ensure that it remains relevant and fit for purpose no matter what challenges might occur for it in the future.I think that setting out the trust’s current objectives in legislation with the consequences that they can be changed only by amendment to the legislation is a further strengthening. It is as important as the earthquake strengthening. It is important that people cannot fiddle and tamper with something that really needs to be able to just get on with the very challenging job that it has for its future. As I indicated this is a bill that provides for a skills-based board that will be appointed by an appointments committee.Sometimes in the past—I have seen it a little bit in Christchurch and in other places—well-intentioned people who have got time on their hands and who would like to get involved in a project do get involved in it but sometimes there is more required than that. So with the best will in the world that very important decision-making role of who should be on a board and what skill sets are required needs to be properly protected and enshrined so that there is not going to be any misunderstanding.Given the amount of time energy and resources that have been put into this bill and into the centre itself it is really important that in the future it be secured in perpetuity. I think the objects of the trust as set out in the legislation do need to be clearly distinguished from the powers of the trust board and that is all because those objects need to be advanced. Along with the other reasons and points that have been made by other speakers in this debate I join with them in commending this bill to the House. I look forward to it coming before the Local Government and Environment Committee and going through due process in due course. Thank you.