O'Connor Damien; Dean JacquiCROWN PASTORAL LAND REFORM BILLSecond ReadingHon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Land Information): I present a legislative statement on the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill.SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I move That the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill be now read a second time.Reform of the regulatory regime applying to Crown pastoral land is indeed timely. In recent years there has been increasing public concern about the management of Crown pastoral land by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand particularly in relation to the loss of biodiversity and landscapes values on current and former Crown pastoral land over time. A review carried out by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) in 2018 attributed much of this concern to unclear system outcomes a lack of transparency and accountability and limited understanding about the cumulative impacts of the commissioner's decision making over time. There have also been concerns about the process of tenure review which has resulted in much former Crown pastoral land being free-holded and some of it then being subject to more intensive farming—so concerns from a number of perspectives.The Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill ends the tenure review process and sets clear outcomes for the Crown pastoral land regulatory system for the future. The bill requires decision makers to seek to maintain or enhance inherent values across the Crown pastoral estate for present and future generations—inherent values that are the ecological landscape cultural heritage and scientific values of the land—while providing for ongoing pastoral farming. The bill sets out how LINZ's administration of Crown pastoral land will seek to achieve these outcomes by firstly providing direction to LINZ and the Commissioner of Crown Lands on their roles and responsibilities as lessor and administrator of Crown pastoral land; secondly explicitly recognising the relationship between the Crown and its Treaty partner and providing for this relationship; and thirdly introducing measures to increase transparency clarify accountability and provide more public involvement.The bill underpins the Government's review that ongoing sustainable and responsible pastoral farming is the best way for this land to be managed. I recognise the passion with which leaseholders conduct their stewardship of these iconic properties. I also understand how valued the high country is to iwi and to all New Zealanders and this is reflected in the Government's decision to end tenure review and maintain the land as Crown pastoral leases for future generations.The process of tenure review has run its course. Since the process commenced in 1998 many leaseholders who have wanted to have gone through the process. For those parties to whom a substantive proposal has been put the process will continue. The remaining leaseholders will continue to operate their properties with perpetual right of renewal. The bill is intended to enshrine best practice and streamline some day-to-day farming activities. It amends the existing regulatory system under which leaseholders are already required to obtain landowner consent for many activities by classifying activities as permitted discretionary or prohibited. Certain low-impact farming activities will not require consents. Higher-impact activities will require consent from the Commissioner of Crown Lands under an improved process. Some activities however that have major impacts on the values of the high country will not be allowed.Under the bill LINZ will have a wider range of powers to address situations where leaseholders do not comply with their lease obligations. In particular there are more proportionate enforcement tools that don't require LINZ to take the more extreme step of court action which is the only enforcement option available at present. These powers will not impact anyone doing the right thing but they will ensure bottom lines are maintained and that there are appropriate mechanisms to address poor practice. For most leaseholders the bill will not change the way they farm because they already follow best practice to minimise the impact on the environment and manage pests and weeds and in many cases that's been an intergenerational effort. Leaseholders may at times still require consent from both LINZ and their local council under the Resource Management Act (RMA) just as they do now. It's an important distinction to make because the RMA applies to all land and is about environmental management whereas the Crown Pastoral Land Act is about a leaseholder-landowner relationship.The high level of interest in the future of this iconic land was evident in the 3200 submissions received on the February 2019 discussion document leading up to this bill and the 161 submissions received by the select committee. The Environment Committee considered the bill and heard submissions over the last few months. I have to thank them. The range of changes to the bill had been agreed by the majority of the committee taking into account the feedback from leaseholders from iwi from interest groups and the wider public. These changes include providing more appropriate recognition of the Crown's obligations to its Treaty partner and mana whenua interests and improving the clarity of the decision making and other processes set out in the bill. The changes also add some important safeguards for high country leaseholders including providing for firstly greater use of farm plans for high country stations; secondly more explicit provision for mitigation activities to be carried out in an emergency situation; and broader provision for commercial recreation permits.Another change will enable the Commissioner of Crown Lands to consider the economic benefits associated with a proposed farming activity in cases where the viability of the lease is at risk. A further change was agreed to which was intended to require public access to be considered when a lease is transferred. My primary concern is to ensure that leaseholders don't unreasonably deny a reasonable request for access across a lease from time to time. I have had some feedback that the current clause as proposed has gone a little too far and I am asking officials to prepare an amendment that will be tabled as a Supplementary Order Paper ahead of the committee of the whole House. The committee also agreed to provide for a smoother transition in the implementation of the bill by providing more time to properly implement the legislation. This will mean that the repeal of tenure provisions will come into force the day after Royal assent while the remainder of the provisions in the bill which relate to amendments to the regulatory regime will come into force six months after that.LINZ will remain responsible for administering the 1.2 million hectares of Crown pastoral land. LINZ has recently taken a more hands-on approach encouraged by the Minister I have to say including significantly increasing visits to pastoral leases to maintain a strong and effective connection with leaseholders. We need to know what is going on and the leaseholders need to know that we care. I expect LINZ will continue to work hard to build close and constructive working relationships with leaseholders with iwi and with other stakeholders. This will be an important part of implementing the proposed changes in the bill. These spectacular South Island properties are special places for all New Zealanders. This bill recognises the place of pastoral farming as a legitimate use of the land while protecting the importance of the unique values of our high country to New Zealand and New Zealanders.I appreciate the time and effort put in by everyone who gave feedback on the discussion document and the bill. I want to specifically acknowledge all those who have made public submissions on this bill and the work of the Environment Committee in considering these submissions and making recommendations on amendments to the bill. Thank you for your efforts and your commitment. I know that the Environment Committee made on-ground visits to high country lease properties. They took on board the wisdom and the guidance and the views of many people of all those stakeholders and I think the advice that came back through and amendments to the bill and advice to myself directly as the Minister have made this legislation a far better piece of legislation that will be enduring and considers the interests of all stakeholders now and into the future. Thank you Madam Speaker. I commend the bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The question is that the motion be agreed to.