Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker and to Ngāi Tahu tēnā koutou katoa. You will know that Te Wai Pounamu is not my home. It's always a lovely place to visit and experience. For me in the context of Cook Islands Language Week—as we know my home on one part of my family is back in the Cook Islands the island of Aitutaki. Kia orana. But I hope to bring to this debate this afternoon my experience in local government for 10 years prior to coming to this Parliament. But before I do I do want to place on record an apology to our visitors in the gallery this afternoon for listening to some of the comments that have been made by parliamentary colleagues on the other side of the House that in my view are out of line and unnecessary. Mr Court has made some comments—and it's no surprises there; it continues with the ACT Party's approach of being on a one-track mind in terms of where they are heading. The suggestion that these changes will introduce disproportionate representation I cannot fathom because this leads to increased improved and advancement on representation within a local community context.The suggestion that Ngāi Tahu directors will fill up to two seats around the council table—that is a matter for Ngāi Tahu. That is a matter for them to consider who the best individuals will be to represent their communities around a local decision-making table that represents communities of interest. The suggestion from the ACT Party and from Mr Court that Māori can't manage conflicts of interest I find absolutely abhorrent. I find those comments and that view absolutely abhorrent. What an insult not only to our visitors but to others around the motu who can manage conflicts of interest around many many council tables many board tables around our community. He in his own suggestion indicates that Ngāi Tahu from a business perspective is a successful organisation so one would think that any successful organisation is able to manage conflicts of interest. However this bill will empower Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to appoint up to two members to the council following local elections. This is a local bill and I want to acknowledge my colleague Rino Tirikatene for doing what actually is his job. He is the local member. This is a local bill. There is a defined process that's actually outlined in the in the Standing Orders of this Parliament and he has approached that as any good local member should would and has done so I want to acknowledge his work in this space. It's interesting because there are suggestions around that what's going to happen today this afternoon this evening is somehow representative of a Government agenda to implement Māori representatives across all of regional governments nationally by way of a local bill. Well that's not something that can be achieved by way of a local bill. A local bill—and I know because I have a local bill on the Order Paper today the Palmerston North Reserves Empowering Amendment Bill—is something that's defined in terms of dealing with a local issue. Actually I have to say that I reflected on some comments with my own local bill and there was a fellow parliamentarian who on the Hansard says what's known as a local bill—[it's] relatively rare in the processes of our Parliament but [is] quite an important tool for local government to sometimes address issue that are significant in terms of their inability to move things forward."—an important tool for local government to address issues that are significant in terms of an inability to move things forward. That was a comment on the Hansard just this year from Hon Scott Simpson the member opposite who clearly has an understanding of what a local bill is. So I again congratulate my colleague Rino Tirikatene for bringing this to the House.This was also an arrangement that was first put in place by the National Government back in 2010. I want to acknowledge Hon Eugenie Sage for reminding the House that an ACT Minister at the time Rodney Hide also had a hand to play in this. So isn't it interesting that we get to the third reading this afternoon and the National Party and the ACT Party have made it very clear to everyone in the Parliament that they are not supportive of what this local bill is seeking to achieve? It's good enough for them at a particular time and place but it's not good enough for them here and now. I think that is an absolute disgrace on the part of the National Party and the ACT Party as well because since 2010 everything points to a significant level of achievement given the involvement of that mana whenua voice when it comes to environmental issues and environmental matters of concern. One of the interesting things that I've had a look at as part of the select committee process—and I want to acknowledge colleagues on the Māori Affairs Committee that progressed this bill—is the bill in its current form comes with a number of amendments in terms of remuneration and the suggestion that we would be or anyone in this particular space would be taking money out of an existing pool to fund two additional members. Those that are involved in local government including yourself formerly Mr Speaker will know that that can be a very divisive process a group of councillors working out how much money each individual is going to be paid based on the responsibilities that they have. The appointment of these additional two members is quite separate and so I note that the select committee did identify that as a particular change in the bill moving forward.When it comes to local government there are three types generally of councils: a regional council a local territorial authority and a unitary council. Now I'm familiar with the local territorial council because that's where I've come from—things like playgrounds roads all of those sorts of things; very important things. Whereas the regional context is generally about the environment some talk about public transport and the like. So what I think about is: how appropriate or not is it to have mana whenua involved in a decision-making process for a local community that has a huge impact on the local environment? I think actually the answer on this side of the House is really clear and that's that it's extremely significant it's extremely important and it is the right thing to do particularly given the fact that Ngāi Tahu holds the rangatiratanga or the tribal authority for over 80 percent of Te Wai Pounamu or as we know the South Island—a significant role. Is it too much to ask to have two members—up to two members—who would be guaranteed seats around that table—Matt Doocey: Already there.TANGI UTIKERE: —to participate in discussions to take on their responsibilities? The members opposite say "Yes it is." Well again that is an outright shame that that's the view that some members of this House have.Hon Dr Megan Woods: A Cantabrian as well.TANGI UTIKERE: We are—and a Cantabrian as well. Well doesn't that hit to the heart. I mean—Hon Dr Megan Woods: Shameful.TANGI UTIKERE: It is shameful. So on this side of the House we are about empowering local communities and acknowledging that actually local communities need to decide for themselves in many respects matters that are important to them. So I congratulate again the local member for doing his job and bringing this bill to the House.Outlined in the legislation which is the Local Government Act which overrides all of these considerations in terms of the scope and the context—it kind of outlines what the responsibilities and roles and duties will be. What's really disappointing is that up until this point in time Ngāi Tahu have I don't know sat at the table sat alongside the table maybe filled the seat but for the last couple or two or three years they haven't actually been fully part of the decision-making table. This local bill will change that. It will give them the opportunity to sit where they deserve to be to participate in a local decision-making process over many environmental points of interests that are important to them and their rohe.There are many aspects that other members have canvassed as part of their contributions today and I just want to also note the contribution that Eugenie Sage has made because she has been a member of this local authority and so she comes from a perspective where she clearly sees what difference this will make from where that particular entity has come from and the future the bright future that will now be in place because this is a bill that will pass through the Parliament today. That means it is a day to rejoice and celebrate because local democracy is being returned to the people of Canterbury but more specifically to the people who Ngāi Tahu represent. Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou kia orana koutou katoa."