Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Tēnā koe Madam Chair. It's a privilege to stand and speak on the Minors (Court Consent to Relationships) Legislation Bill. First of all I just want congratulate all New Zealanders who currently enjoy being in a relationship whether it is de facto or marriage—and you've lasted the distance on your first go. I want to acknowledge you and say thank you on that. As a person who's had to have a couple of goes at it I really admire your longevity. I want to acknowledge the member Jo Hayes for her due diligence in this very important bill about our children but not only that—her leadership in the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians that she co-chairs with the member Louisa Wall. It has been an honour for me to attend the select committee hearing to support tautoko the voices of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians at the select committee. I also want to acknowledge the due diligence of the Justice Committee: the chair Raymond Huo and all the members for their due diligence in providing us with this report that we now refer to.I want to refer to the amendments to the Marriage Act 1955. That Act is 63 years old now—it's two years before it gets the super—so it is about time that we relook at it. I want to acknowledge that the whole of Parliament supports this and that we can as a group come together because this is all about our children. This is all about our children and protecting them—making sure that they are provided with the support to make the right decision. So in my next sentence I might jest or make fun or laugh about it but I think it's important to know that in a relationship there are the tough times and there are the happy times. I refer to replacement section 20 in clause 8 where the judge may obtain a cultural report. I refer to it as the many eyes of the test of love. When a minor under 18—aged 16 or 17—decides they are going to make this commitment there are many eyes. One is they apply to the registrar for a licence. The registrar then looks at it and goes I'm going to put this before the judge." The judge then looks at it and says "OK I'm going to make sure that I am provided with all the relevant information because this is an important decision for this young person." Note that when the person is then married they are no longer considered a young person. They're considered an adult then. Physically we still call other 16-year-olds young people but they take on the adult status. Not just that the judge then wants to consider any cultural implications and for the cultural implications the judge may seek to obtain a cultural report. In that cultural report the judge may also require the minor the young person to have legal advice and have legal representation. So that's where I refer to the many eyes of love. But I just want to ask the honourable member my question in this debate. In my experience in the Family Court system as a clerk it does take a long time to get things through. So I just want to ask the question: how long is this process? Perhaps I missed it in the reading of the bill but how long is this process going to take? Definitely as a mother of five children and a grandmother of six children I would like this robust care to be provided to my 16- and 17-year-olds to ensure that they've made the right decision. But I also want the decision to be made within the 18 years—so if you could answer that: how long is the process going to take and at the end how we will add value to the life of these young people?I want to end my contribution in commending this country and echoing our Prime Minister that this is definitely the best place to bring up children."