Mapp Wayne: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — Second Reading 
Mapp Wayne: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:667;Page:14581] 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP (Minister of Defence) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister for the Rugby World Cup 
: I move  
That the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill be now read a second time 
. I begin by thanking members of the Government Administration Committee and its chair the Hon David Parker for dealing with this bill so swiftly and efficiently. They have undertaken a very thorough examination of this bill and have given careful consideration to the matters raised by submitters. I approve of the amendments proposed in the select committee’s report and am confident that the bill will help to ensure that New Zealand is able to deliver an exceptional Rugby World Cup tournament next year. 
The bill is temporary legislation intended to enable the consent and regulatory approvals necessary for the smooth running of activities related to the Rugby World Cup and the facilities that will support the event. It will help to ensure that New Zealand can meet its hospitality and hosting requirements and can take full advantage of the opportunities that hosting this event will provide. The bill establishes a Rugby World Cup Authority to consider and determine applications for temporary approvals for activities and facilities related to the Rugby World Cup as well as declarations of permitted activities. It will be supported by territorial authorities throughout New Zealand which will act as the administrative secretariat to the Rugby World Cup Authority. 
The bill includes provisions to enable the Minister for the Rugby World Cup after receiving advice from the authority and after consulting relevant Ministers to grant approvals in circumstances of unforeseen urgency. It enables declarations of permitted activities to be made urgently by Order in Council. Finally the bill establishes a Rugby World Cup liquor licensing regime that will ensure that the extraordinary hospitality requirements in relation to the Rugby World Cup are able to be met. 
The select committee has obviously given thorough consideration to the issues that have been raised by submitters and has recommended some practical amendments to the bill. In response to concern from the territorial authorities the select committee has recommended the clarification of the roles and functions of territorial authorities that will be responsible for supporting the Rugby World Cup Authority to be established under the bill. The revised bill also provides greater clarity on the authority’s processes particularly where the application is for a temporary activity or facility and an accompanying Rugby World Cup liquor licence. The bill now requires the involvement of the New Zealand Fire Service in considerations of applications to the authority. This will ensure that fire safety is properly taken into account in any approvals granted. As was noted by Mrs Jacqui Dean that is part and parcel of the safety considerations dealt with by the select committee. 
The committee also recommended other additions to the bill that will enhance New Zealand’s ability to deliver a successful tournament. For instance the bill provides an exemption from the usual change of use provisions in the Building Act to enable apartment buildings to be used for temporary Rugby World Cup accommodation. That will help address pressure on the availability of accommodation especially in Auckland during the final and semi-final stages of the tournament. It also provides that the Rugby World Cup activities and events that occur near the water will be able to be declared major maritime events under the Maritime Transport Act 1994. That will enable the police to create an exclusion zone in designated areas where venues or fan zones are located near water such as Queen’s Wharf. 
The liquor licensing provisions in Part 5 of the bill were a particular focus of the submissions made to the select committee. The committee weighed up all the submissions and has recommended some useful amendments to liquor licensing provisions. They include allowing holders of current owner licences to apply to have their licensing hours extended to coincide with live screenings of Rugby World Cup matches and to allow cruise ships the holders of pub licences under the Sale of Liquor Act and chartered clubs to apply for Rugby World Cup liquor licences. I note that I imagine however they may rarely be used as the matches will be held largely in normal hours—but what needs to be done will be done. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: People need to be able to drink afterwards as well. 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: That is a fair point made by Mr Mallard. On the other hand the committee has been very clear in its recommendation that Rugby World Cup liquor licences granted under the bill should not extend the hours during which liquor licensees can operate gambling machines. 
Jacqui Dean 
: That’s right. 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: I thank the member. The bill also requires that the provision of food and free drinking-water is mandatory for all Rugby World Cup liquor licences. These are additional requirements not provided for under current liquor laws. The bill also gives police greater enforcement powers to control the consumption of liquor during the tournament. Where licensees have breached conditions of their licences or disorderly behaviour occurs on the premises the authority can suspend or cancel the licence without giving notice to the licensee. 
I thank the select committee the officials the Parliamentary Counsel Office all submitters and those people who have had a part in crafting the bill to date. The Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill will give the mechanism to ensure that all necessary approvals for Rugby World Cup activities and facilities are considered and determined expeditiously. I note at this point that I was exceptionally impressed by how quickly Eden Park was prepared a whole year in front of the event. I think that is a great testament to and an indication of the success of the tournament next year. 
The bill provides that unforeseen emergencies that might affect New Zealand’s ability to host the tournament next year can be dealt with. It is further evidence that the Government—and I believe it is supported by Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition—continues to deliver its commitment to maximise the benefits and the opportunities that our country’s staging of the Rugby World Cup will present to our country. I commend this bill to the House.