Street Maryan: Major Events Management Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeStreet Maryan: Major Events Management Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 22 August 2007. Volume:641;Page:11372. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MARYAN STREET (Labour): I rise to speak to this Major Events Management Bill in the Committee stage noting that we are talking about the purposes the interpretation the status of examples and the fact that the Act binds the Crown as set out in Part 1 of the bill. I wish to keep my comments to those matters.This bill is quite straightforward in its aims and purposes. It states quite clearly that its purposes are to obtain the maximum benefit for New Zealanders from major events held in New Zealand to prevent unauthorised commercial exploitation of major events through ambush marketing activity and to ensure the smooth running of major events. I think the comments that we heard from the previous speaker Keith Locke absolutely underscore the purpose of this bill. In respect of the example of pitch invasion yes there has been a move from using laws around disorderly behaviour to using a particular offence of pitch invasion.Notwithstanding the comments from Mr Mark in a previous reading of this bill about those of us who may have worn such activities as badges in our past it is important when a country is running and hosting a major event of the nature that is defined in this bill that the purpose of it is maintained and the running of it is orderly. This is in order that the event may proceed first of all without damage to the event itself; secondly without damage by ambush marketing to the integrity of the sponsorship that has allowed the event to be held in the first place; and thirdly without bringing our own reputation into international disrepute at events that are major international fixtures.I think the purposes of this bill are admirable. I am pleased with the way the Commerce Committee members from across the parties have supported the purposes and the interpretations of this bill. There is one further comment I make. I may be wrong in this but it seems to me that inserting examples into legislation is novel. I find it an extremely helpful practice. When we are talking about such things as ambush marketing by association or intrusion it is extremely elucidating to be able to point to an illustration or example in the text of the legislation that makes it patently obvious what is intended by those terms. Although I consider the interpretations to be adequate in themselves the fact that there are examples included within the body of this bill makes it eminently accessible. I think that is a very desirable trait particularly as this Committee moves to try to introduce legislation in plain English. I commend the drafters and the Minister for the introduction of such examples into the text because they make the bill very very accessible.This is legislation that will not only facilitate the running of events but as it says in the purpose clause facilitate the benefits for New Zealanders and in fact allow for some integrity to be maintained around commercial sponsorship and therefore increasethe attractiveness to sponsors of events such as the Rugby World Cup. Thank you Madam Chair.