Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker. Thank you. I rise to take a call on the Autonomous Sanctions Bill. Can I firstly congratulate the member. It seems to be today that it's customary to acknowledge members who've had their bill drawn from the ballot whether you've been here for a short time or something longer—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Leave it—just give me your vote.TANGI UTIKERE: —but I'll acknowledge that it's been drawn none the less to the member Mr Brownlee. What I would say is that Minister Mahuta has outlined a good position and I intend to come back to that but fundamentally this is an issue that is at the heart of our country's foreign policy arrangements. And just in reflection on the comments and contributions from the ACT member who has just resumed her seat Brooke van Velden this is not a situation of being scared. It's about what's the right thing to do in a context that is always evolving. The context really is around whether or not it's appropriate to step outside or back from what are the current arrangements that are in place and I guess it's important then to take a look at what that current framework looks like. Fundamentally it's one that is significantly based on a United Nations one and actually it reminds me of my days as a teacher. Perhaps Mr Brownlee as a former teacher you'll indulge me just a moment. I know that Mr—Hon Stuart Nash: He was a woodwork teacher.TANGI UTIKERE: Well a teacher none the less—practical in nature I guess Mr Nash and I know that Mr Tuiono always enjoys a commentary of history from me from time to time as well. But it takes me back to where the option of choice was one of New Zealand's search for security 1945 through to 1985. A key part of that unit of work is really around the longstanding nature of New Zealand's ties with the United Nations. Members already this evening have commented on the different organs whether it is around the Security Council whether it's the International Court of Justice whether it's around other UN roles in the Human Rights Council or the like. We have historically had a really strong connection to that organ. Actually the member himself referred to us as a founding member. That indicates the strength there. And I guess it's really that strength of connection that forces us to think about what actually would permit us to step outside of that current arrangement. I guess we could but the question is undoubtedly should we and if so what for? The bill clearly has a focus on the Asia-Pacific region and that is something that is important to all New Zealanders. The focus on Asia—the focus for me particularly on the Pacific region—is significant and historically we have had arrangements—whether it be a treaty of friendship with our Pacific neighbour whether it's around you know self-governing and free association there are still options there as well. What this bill seeks to do is indicate some amendments to the United Nations Act of 1946. Now that is a significant piece of legislation in time. I'm not suggesting that we should not seek to amend legislation that is historical but what I am suggesting is that there needs to be a really good reason as to why we would seek to do that. I want to reflect on the contribution of my colleague Ibrahim Omer because he makes a good point actually: the fact that other countries that have explored this as an option or an approach have found somewhat the situation that there are some failures with it. As my colleague the Hon Nanaia Mahuta indicated it's about considering time and place and also what the current context is all about. And so I do want to reflect on her comments because it is about considerations in developing and maintaining an independent sense of a foreign policy outlook and what that looks like. This evening she talked about as a nation our focus and as a Government our focus on behalf of the people of New Zealand is on supporting that international rules-based order that gives all countries a voice—all countries including ours. And within that we have a role to play. It's around ensuring that there is stability particularly in the Asia-Pacific region but beyond as well and again we have a role to play in that. It is as she has said about the safety of New Zealanders and what that looks like in an ever-changing context currently and into the future. And of course it is about sustainability and the real pressures around climate change. So as a country New Zealand does exhaust our diplomatic tools in our tool kit and at this stage the view of members on this side of the House is that it's not one to progress the member's bill. And so on that basis I won't be supportive of it.