Peters Jim: Public Records Bill — First Reading 
Peters Jim: Public Records Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:620;Page:15778] 
JIM PETERS (NZ First) 
: 
 It is a sign of the maturity of the country when we begin to take into account and give high regard to our past. Therefore New Zealand First supports the Public Records Bill going to the select committee. Apparently 20 years ago I am told such a bill was in the House and it may be that this bill will have a similar fate. In 1984 this very matter was being discussed and someone called a general election. Fate intervened and 20 years later it is back here with us. I am not necessarily saying that that will be the fate of this bill because it deserves a much better fate than that. 
In looking through the years and with the knowledge of modern technology it may be that we can say that this bill comes in the fullness of time. We have today the ability to store and restore documents and records and a far greater knowledge of how they can be preserved long term. We see the immense value of a systematic approach not only for central government but also for local government in the way these matters are taken in hand. For future researchers would-be historians planners and so on this bill in time when it is implemented and put into practice should be a ready source of easier access. That brings me to one of the issues we do see which is that access is maintained and is there with some qualifications. 
However the issue in this bill that really intrigues me is that for the first time as the Hon Georgina te Heuheu has just said there is a properly constructed purpose clause about the Treaty of Waitangi—at long last. New Zealand First has called for that over the years and has talked about the Treaty of Waitangi clause being—to use the old-fashioned historian’s phrase—“high-sounding nothing” in Metternich’s words. But at long last a bill has arrived in the House with a treaty clause that expands and sets out with clarity what that clause means for this bill with regard to the issue of public records. We in New Zealand First are pleased to see that. 
Clause 7 states in relation to the functions of the Chief Archivist and the Archives Council what advice will guide them with regard to tikanga Maori. It also picks up the fact that there may be some unique methods of record-keeping—and there are of course. Last of all it states that hapu or iwi may have places where those records may reside. In respect of that I would hope that the same access procedures are able to be carried out wherever those records reside. 
We have worked through the provisions relating to functions and duties and they seem to us to be eminently sensible and straightforward. I will not take the time of the House much longer but I say that we hope those issues that are not so clear on first reading will become a matter of concern at the select committee. Specialists always find unique matters that are of particular and peculiar concern to them and if those specialists are out there we hope they will come readily to the select committee and help to put together what looks to be a sound bill and a bill that will preserve for the future a more adequate knowledge of the past.