Yates Dianne: Broadcasting Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Yates Dianne: Broadcasting Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:645;Page:14789] 
DIANNE YATES (Labour) 
: 
 I rise to speak on the third reading of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill. I have not been involved in this legislation at all and I was not on the select committee but I am surprised at the very short report that has come through from the Commerce Committee. I note that there were only two submissions on this bill and that there was unanimity at the select committee. I found the speech from Dr Richard Worth on this matter to be rather strange—he said that it was a pity that there were not more amendments—because the committee obviously had every opportunity to make amendments if it had considered them to be necessary. One or two little changes looked more like typo changes and changes in numbering but apart from that the content of the bill has stayed as it was through the select committee deliberations and through the Committee stage until now. 
I note that the aim of the bill is to amend the Broadcasting Act 1989 and that the bill will allow Government funding for a wider range of digital programming in a variety of formats. I think that is something to be praised because it means that technology will come on board. This will enable the agencies to fund a variety of services and it is about Government funding keeping pace with that technology. In itself it is basically a technical bill in that it enables broadcasting as we have it now to keep up to date and to enable that funding to be directed into those areas. 
As has been mentioned the bill also amends the Act to allow Te Mangai Paho to archive funded Maori language and culture programmes. I think that is extremely valuable not only to preserve the language but also for the speaking of older people—perhaps we should call it “classical Maori” as opposed to “modern Maori”—to be archived. 
I have had the privilege of attending some of the concerts and works that have been presented during the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts. Those works that have been New Zealand - orientated have paid tribute to Maori language and to Maori music in many ways. Some of the music is taken from ancient music and ancient instruments that have been revived in New Zealand and I think it is extremely important. I know that Hineani Melbourne who worked in Hamilton for a long time and who has sadly passed on was one of the people who enabled the recording and the revival of traditional Maori instruments. I am pleased to say that this bill will enable archives to be funded to be kept alive and to be used. It is one thing to have archives and to bury them but it is another to be able to access them and to use that material for the benefit of people today and for the benefit of our culture and heritage in New Zealand. It is something that I think New Zealand can be proud of. We can generally be proud of the standard of broadcasting and the standard of New Zealand On Air. 
It is with pleasure that I speak at the third reading of this bill which is as I said a technical bill about technical changes that allow funding for us to utilise those facilities in New Zealand. As I get near to retiring I say that I think the new facilities in this House for recording what we have archiving what we have and keeping New Zealand in better contact with what goes on in this House are to be commended. I commend the Broadcasting Amendment Bill on its third reading to the House and I look forward to its implementation. 
Bill read a third time.