Worth Richard: Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill — First Reading 
Worth Richard: Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:652;Page:1731] 
Hon Dr RICHARD WORTH (Minister for Land Information) 
: 
 I move  
That the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill be now read a first time. 
 At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be considered by the Primary Production Committee. This bill is an omnibus bill as provided for in Standing Order 258(1)(e). The intent of Reserves and Other Lands Disposal bills known as ROLD bills is to make non-controversial changes to land status that cannot otherwise be easily dealt with. These bills deal with authorisations transfers and validations of matters relating to Crown land reserves and other land held for public or private purposes. The last Reserves and Other Lands Disposal legislation was enacted in 2003. There are now sufficient matters to warrant this present bill. 
I will shortly refer to the detailed contents of the bill but may I say that although this is certainly technical legislation it provides for an important set of law changes with significant impacts. This bill deals with land throughout our country at all four cardinal points of the compass. Looking north we have provisions dealing with the reserve at Mahinepua Bay in North Auckland—in the Speaker’s electorate of Rodney. To the south we have provisions tidying up the administration of the Winton Racecourse in Southland—the Deputy Prime Minister’s electorate. Looking east we find a number of land-related changes including a reserve on Port Chalmers which is on the east coast of the South Island. To the west we have the Sugar Loaf Islands off the west coast of the North Island near New Plymouth. 
This legislation deals with some very iconic areas of New Zealand. I am sure that not too many pieces of legislation can lay claim to resolving issues with three of our national parks Kahurangi Paparoa and Westland; one of the most iconic features of Dunedin city the Octagon; all of the volcanic cones dotted around Auckland city; and an offshore island marine sanctuary. The benefits of this legislation are considerable. There will be real benefits for people throughout the country from the community in Port Chalmers whose residents will see their local bowling club’s lease formalised to the Otago Aero Club which will have its future secured and to the art aficionados in Auckland who will appreciate the extension of the Auckland Art Gallery. 
The bill has no fewer than 58 clauses covering 17 items. Nine were proposed by the Department of Conservation six by local authorities and one each by the Ministry of Transport and the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board. Clauses 1 to 3 relate to the title of the bill—its commencement and its binding of the Crown. Clause 4 is a standard provision in this type of legislation. It authorises the Registrar-General of Land to carry out any technical actions needed to give effect to the legislation. Clause 5 repeals sections 48(A)(6) 114(5) and 115(6) of the Reserves Act 1977 to correct an oversight that limited the range of reserves over which local authorities as administering bodies could exercise various powers. 
 Clauses 6 to 9 amend the definition of Albert Park in Auckland City so that the Auckland Art Gallery can be extended on to land that is currently part of the park. I understand that there is now a difference of view on this item between the Auckland City Council which requested it and the Auckland Regional Council but maybe that is a matter best resolved at the select committee. Clauses 10 and 11 update a Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act from 1915 so that the decision-making power over the excavation of volcanic cones or hills adjoining reserves in Auckland will be with the Minister of Conservation instead of the “Governor in Council”. Clauses 12 to 14 remove a restriction in a previous Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act on the erection of any structures in the Octagon in Dunedin city. That is to better enable the management of that piece of land by the Dunedin City Council. 
Clauses 15 to 17 formalise a realignment of State Highway 6 from the Hope Saddle to the Buller River at Kawatiri Junction through parts of Kahurangi National Park. These parts will be declared road. Clauses 18 to 20 clarify the status of land at Lookout Point in Oamaru Waitaki District. It will be confirmed that this land is endowment property in terms of the Local Government Act 2002 and is vested in the Waitaki District Council for the purpose of aiding council funds. Clauses 21 to 23 address local community wishes by vesting landlocked reserve land at Mahinepua Bay in North Auckland in the trustees of an adjoining Maori reservation while facilitating public access to land. Clauses 24 to 27 validate a 1903 transfer of the land where the Picton office of the Marlborough District Council is located and remove an antiquated interest on the title to the land. Clauses 28 to 34 remove specific hospital-related purposes and other constraints on five titles to land held by the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board. That change will enable the board to make more effective use of the land in providing health and disability support services in the Nelson-Marlborough community. 
Clauses 35 to 37 formalise a widening of State Highway 6 at the Punakaiki Village through part of the Paparoa National Park. This part will be declared road. Clauses 38 to 41 remove a restriction on the sale and lease under a 1901 statute of an area of reserve at Port Chalmers so that the Dunedin City Council can manage the reserve subject only to the provisions of the Reserves Act 1977. That will enable the council to regularise an existing lease of part of the land to the local bowling club. Clauses 42 to 44 rectify the anomaly of having sanctuary areas and a conservation park within the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area that are owned in part by local authorities rather than by the Crown. The land concerned will be transferred to the Crown. Clauses 45 and 46 requested by the Ministry of Transport amend section 9 of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act 1973 to enable the Dunedin City Council to transfer the land of Taieri Airport to a community trust. This will provide the users of that site which includes the Otago Aero Club with some certainty that aviation activities will be able to continue there. An issue relating to the proceeds of any future sale of the land will need to be considered further during the select committee process. 
Clauses 47 to 49— 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: This is important. 
Hon Dr RICHARD WORTH 
: —remove local purpose reserve status over a residential subdivision—mostly now developed—on land that is currently vested in the Waitakere City Council for cemetery purposes. I have responded to the interjection of the honourable member. Clauses 50 to 52 remove all trusts on an area of forest reserve land originally held in trust for the Waipa District Council and four other local authorities but now held by the council alone. Clauses 53 to 55 formalise a realignment of a bridge on State Highway 6 through parts of Westland National Park. These parts will be declared road. Clauses 56 to 58 amend section 3 of the Winton Racecourse Reserve Management Ordinance of 1873. Members may ask why. It is so five trustees of the Winton Racecourse can be appointed for 3-year terms rather than three trustees for life. 
This bill will enable the resolution of the 17 items that I have just outlined at length. The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill is diverse legislation that spans this country has wide-ranging community interest at its heart and deals with a number of iconic New Zealand locations. It should not surprise members to learn that I commend this bill to the House.