Allan KiritapuKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour): This is the final speech of the second reading and it's incumbent I think to provide a couple of brief observations in respect of the debate that's been had in this reading. We've just heard from our colleague from Papakura—Simeon Brown: Pakuranga. KIRITAPU ALLAN: —Pakuranga my apologies—who gave an impassioned speech about the limitations on rights. I think therefore it is very useful to refer to the section 7 report that has been prepared by the office of legal counsel and referred to by my friend Nicola Willis across the aisle. Just prior she made a brief reference to paragraph 38 in the section 7 report and to that extent she talked about how the summary was that this particular bill may impose arguably the most extreme and significant limitations on New Zealanders' ability to freely go about our daily lives as has occurred in modern New Zealand history. She concluded her remarks at that point. Now we know that in a debate as significant as this one it is very important that New Zealanders who are tuning in to understand what is being debated in this House and what legislation is being introduced understand the full advice that has been provided to this House. So I will therefore read the next part: Nevertheless and despite the potential degree of these restrictions the bill may be consistent with the Bill of Rights if the limitations are necessary and can be justified in a free and democratic society." The office of legal counsel did an analysis on an array of the freedoms and the rights that are bestowed upon us within the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. They assessed peaceful assembly freedom of association freedom of movement freedom from discrimination freedom from unreasonable search and seizure the liberty of the person and the right to justice in civil proceedings. The key consideration that he had to turn his mind to was whether or not the limitation can be justified and in making those very clear observations about the extent to which this bill does impose—as has been stated in this House—some of the most extreme and significant limitations the finding was that these limitations can indeed be justified on the basis of what it is that this bill is going to address which is the rapid spread of COVID-19. That is the rapid spread of COVID-19 and now in this House this afternoon we are debating whether or not we introduce a public health response and whether we can provide the full bespoke legal framework that is required for our country to adequately respond to a once-in-a-lifetime public pandemic and this legislation enables us to transition to alert level 2 with that framework being in place. Whilst there have been some impassioned speeches given in this House this afternoon I do note that it is interesting that our friend Mr Penk who revels in his legal abilities—it was an interesting remark that he made after an impassioned speech on the rights and limits that would be placed on freedoms which was that he hadn't actually turned his mind to this particular piece of advice that is sitting on a website for all of us to find. So look from this side of the House we understand the gravity of what is being asked of New Zealanders and we have at every stage been aware of what is being asked of New Zealanders. But sir at this late stage in the night and with that look upon your face I can only say we commend the bill to the House."