Whaitiri Meka: Wellington Town Belt Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWhaitiri Meka: Wellington Town Belt Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 04 May 2016. Volume:713;Page:10788. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker. E ngā mema o Te Whare nei tēnā tātou katoa. In late August 1974 as a 9-year-old I travelled with my uncle leaving the metropolis of Gisborne called Manutuke to Wellington to spend some time with my older cousin a former member of Parliament for Te Tai Tonga a former representative rugby player for Wellington one of the Māori All Blacks and a member of the All Blacks. His name was Tūtekawa Wyllie or informally known as Tū Wyllie.Ron Mark: A good New Zealand First MP.MEKA WHAITIRI: And of course a member of New Zealand First. It was on that trip that I got the opportunity to attend a lot of his rugby practices with the Wellington rep team. I have got to say that the people whom he played with—Stu Wilson Bernie Fraser Allan Hewson and Paul Quinn—were almost the All Blacks back line. I recall attending one of his practices at the old Macalister Park. When his practice was concluded—back in those days we had what were called carless days—Tū I and his partner at the time Margaret returned to their home in Brooklyn via the park behind Macalister Park.I share that story because it has a couple of significant milestones for me. First and foremost it was my first visit to Wellington. It started a passion that meant I knew I would come back and reside here. I ended up living here continuously for 7 months short of 25 years. Secondly sport. I was a proud representative netball player for Wellington for many many years along with my colleague Louisa Wall and represented this country. Thirdly it got me into the very place that is the subject of this bill which I am pleased is passing through this House which is the Wellington town belt. Not only did I go through that part of Wellington up to Brooklyn but there would be many suburbs in my 25-year association with Greater Wellington that I am proud have helped me in terms of exercising but also recreational sport. I am talking mainly about places like Boundary Road where the botanical gardens are; parts of Highbury; and of course just today—I get up when I can get up—I travelled up to the Mount Victoria walkway. It is something that I like to enjoy before I head into this place of Parliament.I am pleased and proud that finally the Wellington Town Belt Bill is getting passed to protect the very thing that many—not only Wellingtonians but all New Zealanders—have come to appreciate which is the Government’s protection and modernisation arrangements for the Wellington town belt.Those members who have spoken previously have talked about the important parts of the bill. Can I please in the time that we have available talk about the preamble. I think the preamble is an innovative way in which we tell our colonial history through legislation. To those who had the foresight to include the whakataukī and also acknowledge the mana whenua the tangata whenua can I mihi to you all. As a former Treaty negotiator I say that we have some rich history both good and bad but it is a history that is none the less our history and it needs to be told. So I want to acknowledge the people who were behind the foresight in the preamble and the whakataukī and the acknowledgment of the mana whenua.There has been a lot of acknowledgment of people’s efforts in presenting this bill. I too want to join in acknowledging those who put the bill together. There was mention of former MP Marian Hobbs. I want to acknowledge the Wellington City Council the staff of the Wellington City Council the Local Government and Environment Committee—which I am proudly a member of—and all the staff who support us and the officials.But I too want to join with our deputy leader the Hon Annette King in acknowledging the role of our colleague here Grant Robertson for persevering and finally 8 years later getting this bill across the line. The way in which he has got all members and all parties across the House to support the bill is testament to Grant’s resolve to see this bill pass. I do not have much more to add but I say congratulations to Grant and to all the city councillors on seeing this bill pass its third reading. I commend the bill to the House.