O'Connor GregGREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu): Thank you Mr Speaker. Just leading on from the previous two speakers I think it's important when we look at the Earthquake Commission (EQC) to look at what it doesn't cover currently. It takes a disaster for people to get rather nasty surprises. For example it doesn't cover intangible property—for example information stored on a computer; motor vehicles or parts or accessories of motor vehicles; trailers or parts or accessories of trailers; boats or other vessels or parts or accessories of boats or vessels; aircraft or anything in or on an aircraft; bushes forests trees plants or lawns; growing crops; explosives; animals; roads; streets; drives or paths. Well of course we've already heard one of the previous speakers say that some of that is going to be addressed now—drains; channels; tunnels or cuttings; dams; breakwaters; fences or poles; reservoirs; swimming pools; baths; spa pools; tanks or water towers; tennis courts; jetties wharves or landings; paving or other artificial surfaces.So one can imagine that after a disaster such as that which struck Christchurch that which struck Kaikōura recently—although I do have to say the Kaikōura earthquake was as much the Wellington earthquake as it was the Kaikōura earthquake; just of course Kaikōura claimed it much earlier. But when one looks at those things rather than guaranteeing a surprise following a disaster it is absolutely appropriate that we look at the legislation look at what we've learned. After all New Zealand is a country that in many parts is actually defined by its earthquakes. We have the member for Napier in front of me. The Napier earthquake caused a whole city to be rebuilt—the fact it was rebuilt quickly so Hastings wouldn't get a start on them is neither here nor there but of course the Napier earthquake is something that looms large. I know growing up on the West Coast the Murchison earthquake was something that loomed large. The Īnangahua earthquake and of course Christchurch and Kaikōura latterly. In fact just while I do speak about the Wellington earthquake the fact that there was so much damage in Wellington—I know that I was offshore when the Kaikōura earthquake occurred. I had no idea of just how much damage had been caused to Wellington and still today there are buildings which are being affected. That list which I actually read through—people are getting nasty surprises.So it is apt and timely that we now look at the lessons that we have learnt and of course the inquiry recommendations we're now putting them into practice because now the Natural Hazards Insurance Bill will cover damage covered by landslips volcanic eruptions hydrothermal activity and tsunami. What is interesting of course is that what started out as the earthquake and war damage—war damage has actually dropped off. Now as the world looks at the possibilities of us slipping into another world conflict it's time that we did have a look and make sure that we are actually included. So of course it was actually the War Damage Commission up until the 1940s. It was the Wairarapa earthquake that actually did bring about the need to ensure that those houses that weren't able to fixed following that 1942 earthquake—there was requirement for a bill like this.So it gives me great pleasure to be—knowing the generosity the eagerness of our committee chair to stand and wave his hand when the decisions were being made about where this bill would go. I think such is the gravitas of the Finance and Expenditure Committee chair that he was able to ensure that it does come to our committee. I look forward to having it and I'm sure that with our collective experience we can send this back to this House in an improved relevant and more importantly in a state that New Zealanders—knowing that it is only a matter of time before we get the next big one then at least this aspect of it will be covered. So I commend this bill to the House.