Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Kia ora e Te Mana Whakawā. It comes almost as a surprise to learn that we have different drinking water-standards around the country—that in Gisborne there's going to be a whole lot more work required than there might be in Auckland to bring up to standard our water; the very essence of what we need to live. So this bill is well overdue. I must say it's almost to ordinary New Zealanders—I think it comes as a surprise to know that we don't already have an oversight entity which determines how our drinking water is delivered. So this bill is a huge step forward and long overdue as events have shown.But I think what is really great about this bill is the approach that it's taken. It's not heavy-handed. It's in fact quite a light touch because absolutely you want to leave the management of water at a local body level. That's really really important. I know in Christchurch where I come from in Christchurch Central the great artesian water we have there is something that's held really dear. Certainly the idea that water might have to be treated with chlorine or otherwise is contentious—Hon David Parker: It currently is.Dr DUNCAN WEBB: —in some places Mr Parker in some places. Some parts of Christchurch are treated with chlorine and the city council there is doing a fantastic job to try and obtain security both of supply and of delivery so that chlorine can be taken out of the water. But what this bill does is it's going to set up an entity that will set the standards but not necessarily the methods. The other thing that it does—which is really important as well—is it will set up a support network a framework which can assist councils. We know that big councils are probably pretty well-equipped to deliver the infrastructure deliver the knowledge and the technology but there are a lot of small councils out there. The wider Canterbury region is a really good example of that with Hurunui a very small council. It's going to be onerous for them to obtain all of that knowledge and all of the ability to deliver. I imagine Mr Doocey will speak on this shortly but this is a great step forward to enable that to be done.So the other good thing about this bill is the way it clearly recognises the Māori interest because it's very important that we recognise the absolute importance of te wai to what goes on. If you look at clause 5 of the bill it sets out not only the principles of the Treaty—Te Tiriti—as a really important value but also tikanga Māori and that's important as well because it's not just the principles but it's also the place that water holds in Māoridom. So I'm very pleased to see that throughout the bill that is all taken into account including in the governance and the advisory board. So that's a great step forward as well. But really what this is about is making sure that the delivery of water—essentially that our water is drinkable or potable" the word that no one actually uses and that it doesn't make us sick. And the fact is that at the moment under our current framework people get sick in their thousands from drinking our water. So we as a First World wealthy country need to lift our drinking-water standards. That's a fact and this is the vehicle by which we will be able to do it. So it's great to see the Minister bringing this to the House.If you look at the purposes of the bill and the objectives of the bill and of Taumata Arowai they are to basically promote drinking-water safety—absolutely fundamental—but also to administer the system universally around the country so uniformity. It is outrageous that people in rural areas do not get the same quality as those in urban areas. So that's something we need to change. I know for some people it will be difficult because if there's any drinking-water network then that will fall under this piece of legislation. Whilst a self-supply—one dwelling supplied from rainwater or a well or whatever—falls outside of the Act as soon as it becomes a network serving two or more it will fall under the Act as it should because that is drinking-water supply and we need to make sure that anyone or any group of people supplying others meets appropriate standards.This bill is a real step forward. It's something that's long been needed—tragedies in New Zealand have shown us that it's needed—and I look forward to it getting to select committee getting a really thorough examination by that hard-working committee and coming back to the House as a better and even more effective bill to keep our drinking-water safe. I commend it to the House."