Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker. It's a pleasure to rise and take a call on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for Race Meetings) Amendment Bill. I think it's a great use of the House's time to spend talking about what is a pretty important industry to Aotearoa New Zealand. Can I acknowledge my colleague Ian McKelvie who has brought this bill in its current form to the House. I'm in the position where Mr McKelvie is the member of Parliament for an electorate that completely encircles my own electorate. I cannot leave the borders of Palmerston North without encroaching upon his electorate of Rangitīkei. But I do know that many other members from all around the House will I'm sure agree with me that Mr McKelvie is one of those gentlemen of the House despite political differences from time to time and I know that that certainly occurs at a local level as well.I want to acknowledge that he seems to have some success with members' bills. I've had a look back over time and I see that he had a livestock rustling bill that was taken up by this Government—is now a piece of legislation. He also had a Dog Control Act amendment bill that meant that people like judicial justices of the peace (JP) could deal with dog control matters as category 1 offences—something that as a judicial JP I was very familiar with presiding over as well. Obviously this bill as well. I thought maybe there's a theme here that what he has in the biscuit tin also is something related to animal welfare or something alike—no I see that it's something to do with allowing a little bit more flexibility with the sale and supply of alcohol in a different sense for restaurants and the like.I also know that this is something that the member is not only passionate about but is an industry that he knows a lot about. Previous contributions that he has made in this House—I know that he has commended members who have successfully shepherded through bills particularly in situations where they know something about it. Given that I see Mr McKelvie probably as frequently on racecourses as I do in the House that is a testament to his involvement in that particular sector.I listened to the comments of my colleague the member for New Plymouth Glen Bennett—an excellent member—who identified that the position of the Labour Party is to treat this as a conscience vote. I think it's really important that members should be able to freely express their views around why they wish to vote the way they do and that is exactly what I intend to do this evening. I have taken the position of supporting this bill through all stages and it is my intention to continue to support it at third reading this evening.This is something that I think will assist those smaller clubs that are largely in rural communities. I remember when I was young I saw a photo of my great-grandmother who was dressed up to the nines and was in front of a semaphore. I didn't know what a semaphore was back then but it's basically the tote board where they used to change the odds. She was clearly dressed up ready to go somewhere and have a good time. Sadly when it comes to racing in the current context those times have changed as we move to more of an online offering—and I know that as a Government we've made some huge steps in that particular space as well.But I do come to this bill with some experience in two areas. One prior to Parliament having served as a deputy chair of a district licensing committee (DLC) for my community considering things like special licences considering the reports by statutory officials whether they be a medical officer of health whether they be the police or whether they be the local authority's liquor licensing inspector. And yes—Glen Bennett: You're a jockey!TANGI UTIKERE: I wasn't a jockey Mr Bennett. My sister will tell you that I used to ride my bicycle with a whip pretending I was a jockey but the common theme used to be around weight at the moment. But the issue there is that there is obviously an awareness of DLCs and the responsibilities that they have.But I also come to this House with more than a decade dealing with judicial matters within New Zealand's racing industry. So I spent more than 10 years as a member of the judicial control authority which was an authority that was responsible for dealing with discipline matters whether they be alcohol-related drugs-related conduct-related protests all of those sorts of things. So I have had my fair share of visits to racecourses around Aotearoa New Zealand. I sat down and I tried to tally up exactly how many racecourses I had been to. I got to 42—42. The majority of those racecourses I have managed to—in an official capacity—deal with in terms of my role as a member of the judicial control authority.But I do know even places like Taranaki - King Country where you leave Palmerston North and then the first racecourse you hit is Whanganui and then you go to Waverley and then Hāwera and then Stratford and then Pukekura Park and then you get in the car and come back. Likewise if you were to head up the East Coast it would be a similar experience. But I reflect on the occasions where I have spent times on racecourses like those but also racecourse in Cromwell Gore Winton Wairoa Waipukurau Ruakākā. They all have a very different feel in terms of how they function. Yes there are rules; there are regulations that govern the racing and the way in which things are conducted but there are diligent hard-working community members who go about their duties supporting those meetings. They really are huge community events. Why? Because people are passionate about the work they do in their community but also because they know that this is an opportunity for communities to come together. In my own electorate of Palmerston North I know we have Awapuni supported by the Government's investment for an all-weather track of more than $10 million. But that is a commercial operation; it is a multipurpose operation—quite different to the nearby Manawatū Harness Racing Club which I note was one of the submitters that submitted to the Governance and Administration Committee. They will be disappointed with the change because as it stood prior to committee they were one of the clubs that would be permitted to function under this legislation but with the move to three or fewer they will miss out. But I'm sure that they will still be none the less pleased with the recommendations that the select committee has made and what that means for other communities and clubs around New Zealand. I want to just very briefly touch on some of the changes that the select committee has made that have led to the bill in its current form today. One is obviously we now have a bill in front of the House that changes the reference to racing legislation so that it is accurate—that's a small change but an important one. But the key one is that it creates a distinction that captures some clubs and not others. That is by inserting the word small" which is defined in racing legislation as those clubs that hold three or fewer betting licences a year. For those who might be tuning in thinking "Well what is a betting licence?" Well the reality is we have clubs all around the country that conduct racing all year round. Not all of them actually have a betting licence where people can place wagers. So this would only apply to those clubs around New Zealand where the club held a licence and it was a club that held a number of meetings that sat at three or fewer per year.I think this change that the committee had recommended and the House has clearly adopted is a good one because it targets where this law will lie. It is for clubs that don't run meetings every month it is for clubs like those in Gore who hold two or three a year or in Kaikōura who I think strangely is the only club that holds two meetings a year that are back to back on a Sunday and a Monday. Well attended but also will ensure that it's able to support those diligent workers who are fastidious about the duties that they undertake from the moment you set foot on the racecourse from the car parking attendants right through to those who are committee members who go about supporting the work of the day.Clubs still have a responsibility—that is clear—but I have full confidence in small clubs. I have confidence in their ability to manage things to mitigate things but also to ensure that they are continuing to do the work that does a couple of things. It will ensure that we have a strong racing industry here in Aotearoa New Zealand but also that communities are able to continue to gather around a hamper or a picnic from the car boot continue to enjoy a day out at the races and something that I think will be a huge benefit rather than a barrier to local clubs. I commend this bill to the House."