Davis Kelvin: Carter Observatory Act Repeal Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Davis Kelvin: Carter Observatory Act Repeal Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:663;Page:11351] 
KELVIN DAVIS (Labour) 
: 
 Labour supports the Carter Observatory Act Repeal Bill. We agree with dissolving the observatory and moving all of the functions and the assets over to the Wellington City Council. The report by Michael Bessell in 2005 said that the Carter Observatory was unable to fulfil the functions of a national observatory because of resourcing issues. It has now become more of an educational and tourism facility. I saw on the news tonight David Perks of Positively Wellington Tourism the Wellington tourism board standing outside of the Carter Observatory as they were celebrating Wellington being named the most popular winter destination. The Carter Observatory will complement that and other facilities such as Te Papa and Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary Experience. This has become a good asset for Wellington City in terms of supporting the tourism industry here. It also provides a fantastic educational facility for school groups to come down to the observatory. It provides lesson plans for teachers and it provides support for them. So this is a good bill. 
I will talk about the facilities. There are a number of conference rooms so that groups can have meetings for up to 100 people. There are various-sized rooms. But there is a point and it is the one Te Ururoa Flavell raised last night. We accept that the observatory is transferred to the Wellington City Council. The question I have and I wonder how well it was considered is the role that local iwi play whether they have any role at all and whether there was any consideration given to the needs of the local iwi. They may have a role to play they may benefit in some way from the observatory. There are at least half-a-dozen tribes in the area: Ngati Toa Rangatira Taranaki Whanui Te Atiawa Ngati Tama Ngati Ruanui and Ngati Mutunga. I wonder whether any of the members of those tribes were involved in this decision or had any input whatsoever. It would be good to think that they in some way benefited from this facility that is on their land and in their city. 
In terms of the observatory moving to an education and tourism facility I believe that it is a good idea. I do not think in a city such as Wellington that having an observatory with all the lights and everything around makes for the best conditions for an observatory to flourish. If we look overseas we see that there is an observatory stuck on the top of the highest mountain in Hawaii. It is away from all the cities and lights so that it gets a clear view of the night skies. The Wellington skies particularly on a day like this are not the best for viewing the night skies. There would be a number of nights during the year when it would be difficult for people using telescopes to get a clear view of the skies. So as I have said dissolving the Carter Observatory board and transferring the assets of the Carter Observatory to the Wellington City Council is a good idea. 
I do think we need to consider the fact that iwi probably have not had a big say in this decision. It does not look like they are going to really benefit in any sort of way through having this facility in Wellington City. 
Jo Goodhew 
: There’s really not much to be said is there? 
KELVIN DAVIS 
: It is difficult to have much to say because we do— 
Hon Member 
: Don’t waste the precious energy. 
KELVIN DAVIS 
: They are telling me not to waste the precious time. I say OK. Labour supports this bill. Thank you.