Roy Eric: Southland District Council (Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy) Empowering Bill — First Reading 
Roy Eric: Southland District Council (Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy) Empowering Bill — First Reading 
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ERIC ROY (National—Invercargill) 
: 
 In reply I firstly thank members for their generous comments and also for the points they have raised and for their indication of support of the Southland District Council (Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy) Empowering Bill. I have to say that the points raised that asked questions are important and we need to consider them as we go forward. 
I will respond just to the issue of the lack of a regulatory impact statement and what it might mean. I accept all of those points and yes a select committee should discuss them. But if we were to rule out this bill on that basis it brings on to the table a much wider debate in terms of how we do a lot of things. Members might need to consider next time they pay a departure tax at an airport what such a debate might actually mean in the wider context. It has become intrinsically part of cause and effect and how we fund things in New Zealand. I say not just in New Zealand because it is also very much a part of how international tourism works. Just for members’ interest I say that the United States has a provision that allows states and tourist operators federally to charge. In the United Kingdom Ireland France Germany and Switzerland and—closer to home—Norfolk Island and Rottnest Island out of Perth this is a way in which the international community has also dealt with the issue. That does not mean to say that I am against our having a look at a regulatory impact statement to just assess any nuances or the way in which the legislation actually works. So I certainly welcome some consideration of that although I say that if we are going to apply it only to this legislation then we are falling short of what the wider debate on that matter might be. 
In that respect Kelvin Davis raised the point of whether there is a disincentive when levies are charged. That I guess is a discipline in itself. Those who set the levies will not want to have any impacts that discourage people from participating in Stewart Island. David Parker raised the issue of the Queenstowns and the Milford Sounds. I have to say that I am familiar with both places particularly with Milford Sound. If one needs a reason to apply a levy one needs to go to Milford Sound where there is a voluntary levy applied by all of the boats operating tourists out of Milford Sound. It is a voluntary levy that everyone has bought into by necessity. If one looks at the facilities that have been developed in terms of car parks the visitor terminal and the wharves which are very much a feature of Milford Sound one will see that it is a stunning example of where a reasonable but regular small levy has achieved such a significant outcome. That is particularly important. 
To Rahui Katene who talked of Te Ao Marama I say that we certainly canvassed this issue with Michael Skerrett and we have his support for that. So I acknowledge the point that the member has made. It is also a very valid point. Mr Speaker members I again commend this bill to the House and I thank members for their support. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Keep going. Keep going. 
ERIC ROY 
: I am looking at the clock I say to Mr Hipkins realising that this is significant legislation that should conclude so that another significant event the dinner hour can commence without members being concerned about this legislation. 
Bill read a first time.  
Bill referred to the Local Government and Environment Committee.