Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Kia ora e te Mana Whakawā. It is a huge honour and a privilege to speak on the Local Government (Pecuniary Interests Register) Amendment Bill in the name of Tangi Utikere. It's an absolute honour as the chair of the Pacific caucus to speak on this member's bill which hopefully by the end of these spectacular speeches will go into law.I know the member who has just spoken Harete Hipango made an attempt to demystify the bill to us so I will make a second attempt to see if we really can get to the core of the matter. This bill amends the Local Government Act 2002 to provide for the establishment of a register of pecuniary and other specified interests for members of local authorities such as directorships business interests employment and property. It is really important that I state why I support this bill. It's important for ratepayers to understand any possible influences on these elected local council members. It's important that voters and ratepayers understand what influences these elected people come in with. Secondly the purpose of the bill is to provide transparency and to strengthen public trust and confidence in the decision making of local authorities. Thirdly it will provide greater transparency in terms of the interests of members of local authorities to improve public trust and confidence and contribute to more robust decision-making by local authorities.In this debate we have heard about Greece from Jamie Strange. We've ridden on unicorns on rainbows—that's from the ACT Party's Simon Court. But I want to give factual information today in terms of New Zealand. The Corruption Perceptions Index in 2021 which was published in January of 2022 has New Zealand tied third-equal with Denmark and Finland for being the least corrupt country in the world. So I believe that this bill adds to and contributes to our international reputation as one of the least corrupt countries in the world.I want to quote the member Tangi Utikere from when he released a press release to explain the reasons why he's promoting the bill. I want to quote Tangi Utikere on this because it's been challenged by some members on the other side in terms of why this bill is in the House and its relevance. I quote him: Let me be clear: in promoting this bill I am not suggesting that there has been any wrongdoing but I am suggesting that there is currently an anomaly with the level of disclosure and transparency expected of members of Parliament and the level of disclosure and transparency expected in local government. And I don't believe there should be a difference." I think that's really important because there was some suggestion that there was little relevance for this bill in the House.What does this bill do? It enforces one law for all. Currently what councils do if there is a conflict of interest for a local elected council official is they use a conflict of interest register where they register the conflict of interest. What this bill means is that there will be an annual published register of pecuniary interests of elected officials so that the ratepayers know the influences they have in decision making about rates about public money.In my haste I forgot to acknowledge the chair of the Governance and Administration Committee Ian McKelvie—thank you for your leadership in the select committee's due diligence in scrutinising and writing this bill. I take this opportunity again to congratulate the member Tangi Utikere for this bill the Local Government (Pecuniary Interests Register) Amendment Bill and I commend this bill to the House."