Whaitiri MekaHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Otirā e ngā mema o Te Whare nei tēnā tātou katoa. I'd like to just pick up on the contribution of David Bennett the speaker who has just resumed his seat and to acknowledge the New Zealand racing industry. We are world class—we are world class—from across the three codes: harness and gallops and greyhounds. We are world class in terms of the breeding programme that we have we're world class in terms of the jockeys that we produce and of course we're world class in terms of the facilities that we make available and I guess the gains that we bring in every small town big town and little town throughout the country. So I'm pleased to take a call on the Racing Reform Bill in its third and final reading. I wanted to acknowledge the many men and women across New Zealand in the racing fraternity and of course our jockeys—we cannot forget our jockeys—who are internationally acclaimed; no longer do they have to do just the domestic circuit in New Zealand but now they've got the choice to go overseas and race in Kentucky Derbies and in Japan in Ireland and in Australia. They are succeeding because we have an industry here that we should be very proud of.So the Rt Hon Winston Peters has listened to the industry and has been informed by the Messara report which over 1700 people have submitted to; they've called for an upgrade they've called for some reform and he has responded. He has responded by the introduction of this first bill which is about setting up the RITA—the Racing Industry Transition Agency—which will oversee the further structural reform that's required in the industry. He's also introduced the online betting particularly because many people do bet in New Zealand but we don't get any return—we don't get any return—and this bill is addressing that particular gap in terms of making the racing industry more financially viable. So I want to acknowledge the racing industry too and I want to acknowledge the Rt Hon Winston Peters in terms of listening to the industry and in acting by introducing this bill in the House today. There were concerns as a member of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee from those sporting codes that presented. Of course members across the House have talked about guaranteeing income for the sporting codes. There are two parts of this bill that absolutely acknowledge the importance of our sporting codes in terms of no risk to their income. They're in both clause 11 and clause 17A(1)(b) of this bill where we don't only acknowledge the role of the Minister for Racing and the Minister of sport when it comes to distributions but also acknowledge that the membership of RITA must be informed by having a national sporting code rep on that board. So that should give some comfort to all members in the House but particularly our sporting codes that their I guess aspiration for financial viability and sustainability has been heard throughout this bill. It reminds me—and I was thinking here listening to the speakers—of when online sport betting first came to New Zealand. Some of the younger members may not know this but I recall—Mr Speaker you might remember this—when we hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1987 between New Zealand and Australia. I recall that the very first All Blacks game here in Wellington was between the All Blacks and the Australian team and this new thing about sport betting was around at that time. So I put a bit of a punt on; I put $10 on my favourite All Black. My favourite All Black in 1987 was the one that wore the number seven jersey: Sir Michael Jones. Who scored the first try at the old Athletic Park in the 1987 World Cup game between the All Blacks and the Australian team? It was Sir Michael Jones. So those are the memories I have of the very first sport betting—Hon Jacqui Dean: How much did you win?Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: —opportunity. How much did I win? I can't remember. I just remember I put $10 on it and he scored in more ways than one. SPEAKER: I think the member might have had it on Centrebet actually given the timing.Hon MEKA WHAITIRI: I remember it was—it was timing—was exciting and I think bringing sport betting indicates that sporting codes do have something that punters want to bet on and it's not just about appeasing punters but it's also an avenue for which sporting codes can gain some income. So this bill enables and recognises that sporting codes in this country absolutely have a role. We guarantee that sporting codes do actually receive benefit from that ability to punt on their success or not. The third point I just want to touch on is the one around gambling harm because it is a concern. Yes we've got an industry that's a very proud industry in this country; but we also have to address the downsides of racing and sport betting and all of that—and that is the gambling harm that happens to many of our communities. Again the levies that would normally be taken are now going to go not only back into the industry but they'll actually go towards eliminating and addressing gambling harm. I think that's a good thing for those submitters particularly that raised it at the select committee whether we can ring-fence some of the income from betting. That would go not only towards gambling harm but also introduces the kind of programmes that we could be utilising to ensure those that are suffering from gambling harm are supported.So all up this bill like all people have said in this House is something we all support. It does lift our racing industry to another level to stay world class to keep the international reputation that we have and also to make room for sporting codes in this country to benefit from the racing industry and also for those international and national punters that want to have a flutter on both our racing and our sporting industry. It's a good compromise between the two codes. It's a guarantee that we have heard not just the submitters but everybody involved with the racing and sporting industry. It's a well-crafted bill. I commend it to the House.Bill read a third time.