Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Kia orana e Te Mana Whakawā. It is an absolute privilege to be the last speaker to make a contribution on the Minors (Court Consent to Relationships) Legislation Bill. I would like to echo all the speakers before me in terms of their congratulations to Joanne Hayes who also co-chairs the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians branch of Aotearoa New Zealand and of course to Dr Jackie Blue who actually kick-started this journey to where we are now here today.I want to extend my acknowledgment of the chair of the Justice Committee Raymond Huo and the seven men and the four women who were part of the select committee. I want to acknowledge their due diligence as we've heard from many of the speakers before that it was a tricky and challenging area to navigate. I want to acknowledge Raymond Huo's leadership in that select committee. I also acknowledge there were 30 submitters and in particular the voice of experience from Shakti. We've heard many of our members refer to Shakti.As the last speaker I'd like to make a brief summary of what all the members today have contributed to this bill. The member Louisa Wall took us through a journey—the history of marriage in New Zealand where it was legal to marry at the age of 12. She also took us internationally and in her kōrero she shared the experiences and we were vicariously traumatised by those experiences that she shared but nevertheless they needed to be shared. We heard the Hon Maggie Barry talk about the journey of the bill through the House and how at one time her name was on this bill. I think her contribution was very insightful. I commented on my notes that it was very insightful. Angie Warren-Clark talked about the role of the Family Court and the decisions that they would make. All those three speakers—Louisa Wall Maggie Barry and Angie Warren-Clark—also mentioned it that has been 125 years since New Zealand women fought for the right to vote. I want to acknowledge Maggie Barry for saying that it was actually a fight; it was not given. The Hon Tracey Martin spoke about her personal experience in terms of having known someone personally who has gone through this experience of what we are trying to protect children from: forced marriages. She also challenged us in terms of what happens when a licence is declined. What then? What then is the protection for those minors whose licence has been declined—protection from whatever inevitability that's waiting for them after that decline? She also talked about funding and any follow-up that would be required. She also mentioned a member in terms of the clarification of the difference between forced marriages and arranged marriages. That's where the Minister the Hon Tracey Martin took us on an insightful contribution. The member Nicola Willis talked about the protection of vulnerable women. She also reminded us of what she believes marriage is all about. Jan Logie talked about the work of Shakti the work of the select committee and of course her aspiration and mission that New Zealand be a society that is free from domestic violence. My colleague Priyanca Radhakrishnan talked about the voice of experience. She dedicated her speech to the courage and the bravery of those young women who have sought help and also of the tautoko from the other women that had supported these young women when they had sought help. She also talked about closing the loopholes.Harete Hipango talked about her insight as counsel for a child—she shared it with us. Jo Luxton—quoting Maggie Barry yet again—talked about the untold story tugging at her heartstrings of a 16- or 17-year-old being forced to marry somebody they did not want and inevitably the life they lead after that. Louise Upston the member who just finished talked about the importance of members' day and how we as a Parliament are united in this union in terms of how we are all collectively united in this protection bringing the voice of a group to Parliament.So then what is my role then as the last speaker? As the chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians in the Pacific region I know there is a call from Tonga from their women to change the laws of Tonga. I encourage Tonga to look at what's happening here in New Zealand because there is still more do to but I know that they will look at Aotearoa New Zealand for leadership in what we've done. There is still more to do.So then I would like to fondly call this piece of legislation the five eyes of love. Why? Well (1) the journey to the Family Court to get a licence is about love; (2) the judge provides legal representation; (3) the judge asks for cultural advice; (4) parents' and guardians' contributions are also asked for and sought by the judge; and finally the last eyes of love lie with the judge. I can't remember—I'm not on the Justice Committee—whether the judges had put in a submission in terms of their responsibility in this.So if we believe that de facto relationships and marriages are kick-started by love last year in 2017 just over 20000 New Zealanders declared their love through marriage. Just over 8000 ended their love through divorce. Thirty of our children ended their child status through marriage. A child is still a child until that final flick of the pen that they're married—16 17 whether it be your parents whether it be the judge at the end of the day they are still a child until they sign that form. This is the importance of what today is all about. We've heard our Prime Minister—maybe I'll leave that till last. Gender equality talks about equality between men and women. In my summation of today there were no voices of men. There were no voices of men in our House to contribute to this legislation that protects our children. I don't know why that is. I don't know why that is. But in this final reading—there were 11 men on the select committee subbing in and out and there were four women. But I think it would be advantageous and show leadership to have a man to hear their voice—hear their voice.Hon Dr Nick Smith: I'm coming. I'm next.ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI: Oh you're next? I'm not the last. My bad man. Hon Member: Not that man.ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI: Not that man. Anyway when we speak of marriage of relationships the three are: (1) a man marries a woman; (2) a man marries a man; (3) a woman marries a woman—those are the three relationships in New Zealand whether it's de facto or marriage and in two out of three a man is involved. So please the next time we talk about this have your voice heard because you make it a union. OK? So that's my challenge to you.So to conclude I have to say something about our Prime Minister. She speaks about her aspiration for New Zealand to be the best country—not just in the Pacific but in the world—to be a child. This piece of legislation is evidence of our care and love for our children not just our new migrants that come into New Zealand but all of our children. There is still more to do but today tonight this evening we want to celebrate this step that we've taken forward. I want to end my kōrero by congratulating the co-chairs of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians New Zealand branch Joanne Hayes and Louisa Wall the work of Dr Jackie Blue and of course Jo Hayes as well. I want to end with this whakataukī: aroha mai aroha atu [let mutual love and respect prevail].I commend the Marriage (Court Consent to Marriage of Minors) Amendment Bill to this House. Faka'apa'apa atu malo.[Respectfully thank you.]