Coates BarryBARRY COATES (Green): Tēnā koe Mr Assistant Speaker. I rise to talk about the wine industry and like others I acknowledge the loss that the wine industry has suffered both human and material in the earthquake. Our sympathies go out to those people in dealing with the earthquake and its aftershocks. The Green Party supports this bill. We recognise the importance of geographical indicators to support the wonderful work of our wine sector in securing and maintaining a significant price premium in international markets and like other speakers I would like to echo the fact that growing great grapes and making great wine is only half the story. You have to sell it and full recognition to the industry—and in particular the leaders in the industry—for doing that very successfully around the world. The identification of varietals like sauvignon blanc and pinot noir with New Zealand will be further supported by the ability to recognise geographical areas including Marlborough Central Otago Hawke's Bay Gisborne Martinborough Te Kauwhata Wairarapa and Waiheke Island. Our wine sector exports a total of $1.6 billion a year. It is our sixth-largest export with significant opportunities for further growth. I note that there has been huge support for this bill from 133 submitters and far beyond. It protects our producers from misuse of the New Zealand brand and geographical brands in overseas markets and it is important. However we have two additional points to make: firstly to address the question of what took so long. This is an amendment to the wine and spirits registration Act of 2006 which never came into force. Obviously the changed plans with regard to a trade agreement with the European Union were part of that but we think that this approach to value addition for our primary products is crucial for adding and defending value and together with the good work of the wine sector in certifying sustainability across the whole sector it is a really important ingredient of maintaining our strong international position. So we think the lack of progress in getting this bill passed and the Government's lack of enthusiasm on issues like sustainability may be contributors to the lack of progress in meeting the Government's targets of increasing our exports to 40 percent of gross domestic product.In fact as many people know the proportion of exports as a percentage of GDP actually declined from 31 percent in 2008 to 29 percent last year—going in the wrong direction. The related message is: if the geographical indications are so good for a wine why stop there? I echo the previous speaker Damien O'Connor in saying that our food system has to be built on the combination of high-quality products with unique characteristics built on diverse environments and production styles. We want consumers to know where our products come from and who makes them. These are the characteristics of high-value local economies.Just by explanation the European Union not only has geographical indicators it has two other designations as well: protected designation of origin which talks about the know-how embodied in processing and traditional speciality guaranteed which highlights the traditional character of the unique products from each area. These designations protect meat and meat products cheeses beer fruit and flowers. In New Zealand it has been long recognised that we need to get beyond commodity production. Here is an opportunity through building on geographical indicators for our food as well as our wines. So bring it on—Bluff oysters Morrinsville cheese Pukekohe potatoes Ōhākune carrots Waiheke olives Taupō beef and maybe even Pongakawa kiwifruit. We support this bill but we call for real action to support the development of our food sector as well to emulate the success of the viticultural sector so we can develop more sustainability and a higher value rather than a commodity-based food system. We want a community-based food system based on a consumer's right to know and country-of-origin labelling. We support this bill and we commend the great work of the leaders amongst our wine-growing industry as well as the leaders and the further potential in our food industry. Thank you.