Horan Brendan: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Horan Brendan: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 08 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:2064. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
BRENDAN HORAN (NZ First) 
: 
 I am proud to rise on behalf of New Zealand First to speak to the first reading of this Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill. New Zealand First supports it going to through select committee process but in my first reading speech I intend to cover some of the broad themes that ripple through this bill. I believe that it is essential to the harmony of our country that we ensure that both Maori and European heritage are brought into the modern world.  
To know where we are going we have to know where we have been. This is a phrase that is often heard but how many of us actually listen and absorb? Indeed this current Government would do well to take heed and if it did then perhaps we would not see its reborn rehashed back-to-the-future asset-selling failed economic policies of the 1980s. Indeed perhaps there is a way that we could reclaim the Taranaki oilfields through heritage status. We need to strike a balance where the importance of heritage meets the appetite of progress and by progress I mean the development of infrastructure and the provision of recreational and essential services.  
As parliamentarians we need to realise that heritage includes sites icons and buildings and other features that have taken root and have defined us as New Zealanders since the onset of colonisation. I give as examples sites such as Arrowtown and the Wesleyan mission house in the beautiful Hokianga. One of the pitfalls of modern society—and some would say a by-product of the austerity regime that this Government has orchestrated—is that as a whole we fail to truly celebrate our shared heritage. To justify that statement I say that it is very difficult to celebrate when you have to work 70 hours a week to make ends meet in a forced low-wage economy.  
Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member’s comments are fascinating but I notice that he is reading this speech. It would be great to see him raise his skill levels by ripping the notes up and speaking from the heart—or just using his notes. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: When a member makes a point of order it should not include some imputations and I think the member has crossed a line in actually doing that. But in saying that the Standing Orders Committee did make it quite clear that members were not to speak from full text. 
Metiria Turei 
: Point of order. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Look we have had a point of order and I have ruled on it. Is this a separate point of order— 
Metiria Turei 
: Yes. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: —because I have already ruled on that point of order. 
Metiria Turei 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Standing Orders do not—and the Standing Orders Committee did not—say that members must not speak from their notes. What it said was— 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I have already—[ 
Interruption 
] Please sit; I am standing. I have already ruled on this. I have just said that the member must not speak from full text. 
Metiria Turei 
: Point of order. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I am on my feet. The member can speak he can use full notes but he is not to read full notes. 
Metiria Turei 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Thank you for that clarification on your ruling. I also would seek your clarification that under Standing Orders it is not the role of members of the House to complain to you about whether or not members are considered to be reading from their notes but it is in fact your role as Speaker to identify that where you see there is a problem. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Similarly I could say it is not your role to tell the Speaker what they should do. 
Metiria Turei 
: Speaking to the point of order. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: No I have ruled on it. Please sit down. 
Metiria Turei 
: Point of order. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Is this a separate point of order? 
Metiria Turei 
: It is a separate point of order. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will hear it. 
Metiria Turei 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Can you just clarify the ruling then as to when a member is to be identified and by whom when they are not supposed to be speaking from their notes. What are the provisions as to who is allowed to identify that and make a ruling? 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Any member can raise a point of order in the House. It is up to the discretion of the Speaker how they actually interpret that and the member who jumped to her feet immediately would see that I did not deal harshly with the member at all. 
BRENDAN HORAN 
: Thank you. I am just referring to my notes casually. I would like to thank that member over there. You know we all on this side of the House hope that one day that member will use his head for something other than his mouth but that day is not here yet.  
As I was saying to know where we are going we have to know where we have been. Perhaps an example of this is our two main traditions of a heritage nature meeting each other as personified in the famous—[ 
Interruption 
] I am sorry Mr Deputy Speaker I cannot hear myself. As I was saying this is personified in the famous Otaki Ngati Raukawa Anglican Church known as Rangiatea. Tragically this building this taonga was razed by an arsonist. I am happy to report however that this sacred sacrilege was forcefully met by a secular response. It has since been rebuilt and there was a blend of missionary interest and Maori tradition.  
I wonder how many New Zealanders know that Hoturoa the captain of the  
Tainui 
 canoe brought the institution the kaupapa of Rangiatea to New Zealand in the form of soil from Hawaiki and deposited it at the base of the altar of the church. New Zealand First’s view is that sites such as these are taonga they are sacred they should be cherished they should be preserved but most of all they should be celebrated.  
I would now draw your attention to clause 13 which gives authority to Heritage New Zealand to enter on to land for the purposes of protecting heritage. This is an awesome power and I would hate to see it ever used indiscriminately.  
Moving on I have had the pleasure of visiting the Bay of Islands a site of great heritage importance. We all know that this Government is enamoured with Skycity and it may daily boast of its pokies but a greater den of vice existed in Russell otherwise known as Kororareka—the sweet penguin. I share the story only to remind us that European heritage deserves the same protection as that afforded to Maori. How many New Zealanders know or celebrate the colourful history of Russell?  
I remind us how aggrieved Maori were about Russell in the 1840s. It was ransacked and burnt. Now we have such incendiary thoughts rekindled by the current mess presided over by the current Government involving Skycity and I lament that perhaps one day Skycity will be viewed as a heritage site. But that day is not today. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: It already is. 
BRENDAN HORAN 
: There is obviously an interesting debate to come as to what constitutes or comprises a heritage site and what comprises taonga. I would like to reiterate that the first casino in Auckland and its pokies are definitely not taonga. New Zealand First supports this bill going to the select committee.