Eagle PaulPAUL EAGLE (Labour—Rongotai): Thank you Madam Speaker. It's a pleasure to speak on the Thomas Cawthron Trust Amendment Bill which is my first time as I'm not a member of the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee. None the less I'm a huge supporter of Rachel Boyack the local MP for Nelson and what a wonderful job the member has done.Hon Kieran McAnulty: You've always said that.PAUL EAGLE: I've been consistent about that haven't I? Yes.When I look back at her purpose for bringing this bill to the House she talked about it being a privilege as a member of the institute trust board and one of the statutory trustees as she is. She tells a story that all members of the trust board have their personal liability limited and indemnified by way of this bill. And I'll come back to that because I know that it's been some journey—she mentioned it in the House earlier today; she mentioned it in her first speech. And I hope as she said today it's done and dusted and so we get through a truncated third reading and she can take it through the committee of the whole House stage with all of your support.I too want to thank a number of people who are involved. These things don't come to the House without the hard work—and for some it's many years. And I know through the member that the chair of the trust John Palmer is here today. There's also Sarah-Jane Weir and Harvey Ruru. I had the pleasure of working with Archdeacon Ruru when I was in New Zealand Police and he was I think the iwi liaison officer for the Tasman district. But they have been what the member would say are the driving forces around the introduction of this bill.The lawyer is always important—Hon Dr Duncan Webb: Yeah bro.PAUL EAGLE: —and I think David McLay should get a mention. I see the member for Christchurch Central trying to put his hand up. He's a Minister now; not a lawyer but—oh he's both. But David McLay should get a mention for his patience and perseverance in getting the bill to the stage. It is a high bar to get anything like this into the House—and so it should be.When I look at the purposes of the amendment bill—and look just bear with me here—to provide for the appointment of a member of the trust board nominated by Te Tauihu iwi to clearly articulate the objects of the trust board—I love all that legal language—to specify the legal liability of the trust board members and update and modernise the governance arrangements. And can I say many other bills are brought to this House in terms of modernising legislation—I know the omnibus bills do that really really well. In addition there was a change made to the existing Act by the Trust Act of 2019 which I'm told was inconsistent with a previous High Court judgment and this bill this process will correct that error.There is some historical background there and several of my colleagues from across the House have talked about that. But it's worth noting first and foremost that it is New Zealand's largest independent science and research and institute—that's been here for 100-plus years. They had their centenary in 2021 and I thought Wow". And when I googled actually and had a look at some of the literature I thought "Well done for surviving." I often think there are so many turns and intersections that institutions like this can have but they can also live or die by the sword in terms of what they do. And of course I understand why the member for Nelson is bringing it because it does play a special role in the life of Nel-Nelsonians—there we are. But it's also what is known as the "jewel in the Crown" of the Te Tauihu top of the southern region the South Island there.Its benefactor Thomas Cawthron—a name that anyone from Nelson will go "Oh yeah. Yeah the institute." And there are plenty of Nelsonians living here in Wellington and they certainly will always have some knowledge small as it may be but powerful in terms of its contribution. And I would like to say that words like "philanthropist" and "pioneering businessman" come to mind in terms of his contribution to the scientific community and the city of Nelson. Some might know that he was born in London in the early 1800s: 1833. Somehow he hopped over the ocean and got into Nelson in 1849. But none the less he's always had a link to the sea because he did focus on shipping—I guess his enterprise that focused on shipping enabled his philanthropic endeavours.Can I also just acknowledge some of—and I know the member's got a love in this area too in terms of music—Barbara Kuriger: She's already refused to sing today.PAUL EAGLE: She refused to sing. We may have to get her to sing after the final speaker and she can demonstrate as a tohu her work to signify the late Thomas Cawthron's efforts. And I know that the Nelson school of music is a beneficiary—Hon Michael Woodhouse: That's right it is a school of music.PAUL EAGLE: Oh OK it sounds like we've got some students or maybe people want to be students of—there's a future career there members and you too can maybe sing in the iconic Christ Church Cathedral there in the heart of Nelson. Look he gave some funding which is important—$127 million in today's term—and got that I guess industrial and technical school now known as the Cawthron Institute.I want to say when I talked about reading some of the literature that the Cawthron Institute has put together—a great website I have to say—it's a respected and focused science organisation. I know that every year I read some report some endeavour that the wonderful staff there have put out that's really advancing the scientific world either here or overseas.One of the areas of focus that I like about the institute has been on aquaculture and seafood safety—maybe just seafood but aquaculture none the less—and ocean and freshwater health. These are some of the areas that I think have been very valuable in my little patch of the world.And I always have to talk about Wharekauri the Chatham Islands and some of the work there. I would hope that one day there's a much stronger link between the institute and the work that the Chathams and those on the Chathams do—they really have everything the world at their fingertips in this area. I just think they need a visit by a few scientists or two from the institute to help particularly in seaweed—I know that there's been work being done around that area—but also mitigating problems associated with warming seas and climate change.If I look at the bill I'm not going to repeat some of the changes to some of those clauses that have been talked about. But I do want to say that there are a couple of clauses that will ensure that the locally iwi can appoint a statutory trustee—I just wanted to get that right—to join those four existing trustees: the member for Nelson the mayors—Their Worships—of Nelson and Tasman respectively and then the Anglican Bishop of Nelson. And I think that's honourable and well done to the member personally. Actually it's a small piece of detail but I believe—in terms of modernising legislation and reflecting where Aotearoa New Zealand is leading and particularly some of the mahi of the institute—that's an admirable piece of work to ensure that that is enacted to have somebody from the local iwi appointed as a statutory trustee.I've only got a short time left. Can I just once again acknowledge the member for Nelson Rachel Boyack: her mahi her passion how this has been a big part of her life and for ensuring the work of the institute—the flow-on effects of their work across Aotearoa New Zealand and the rest of the world. It ticks a box with her passion for music—I think that's a good thing—and I look forward to her getting this through the House tonight. Kia ora."