Logie Jan: Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLogie Jan: Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 22 October 2015. Volume:709;Page:7530. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JAN LOGIE (Green): There is a sense of honour I guess and responsibility in taking a call for the Green Party on this bill the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill. I would like to add my voice to others in the House this evening acknowledging those who died in the earthquake those who were harmed the families who have been left behind and all the people of Christchurch who are continuing that process of healing and recovery today. It was an event the consequences of which those of us who do not live in Christchurch cannot truly understand but I have family in Christchurch and I know the impact on them so I have some insight but do not pretend to have a total understanding of it.The Green Party is supporting this legislation to the select committee. The bill repeals the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act and establishes a new legal framework for post-quake recovery in Christchurch from the period of July 2016 until 2021 and it repeals some earthquake-related Orders in Council while retaining others. I think the Minister talked about remnants of that original legislation but it does seem to be rather more than remnants. There are some very significant provisions of control from Wellington that are still present in this proposed piece of legislation. It will give a range of power to Ministers and the new entity Regenerate Christchurch and it will also establish a Crown company to deliver the anchor projects.I know that in Christchurch there is quite a lot of interest in the new entity Regenerate Christchurch and there is a degree of support that we have heard so far for this. That body will have oversight of the progress of the central city the red-zoned residential areas and New Brighton. It is very pleasing to see New Brighton specifically in that organisation’s planning oversight because New Brighton has felt left behind. The state of some of the basic amenities out in New Brighton—it really is visibly left behind. It is incredibly important that that is not continued any longer and that there is an absolute step change and focus on ensuring their ability to recover and regenerate.For us what we in the Green Party want from this bill is a shift towards democracy and an assurance that the aspirations of the people in Christchurch are able to be realised. That is what I hope everyone in this House is going to work towards. Our focus in the select committee process will be on listening to the people of Christchurch—what do you want for your future—building on that amazing consultative process that happened around Share an Idea after the quake and whether this will help to realise those visions. If not can it be amended to do thatbetter? We will certainly be listening with great attentiveness to the ideas of people from Christchurch. I must say that we are disappointed at the shortened process. I hope that it will not affect at all the ability of people from Christchurch to participate and share their views with this House. Here in this place we cannot understand. We cannot know what is best for Christchurch. It must be that this legislation is focused and is delivering on the aspirations of the people of Christchurch. We will be supporting Megan Woods’ amendment to extend that report-back time.I would like to mention just a couple of things that the Christchurch City Council pointed out to me as to the concerns it has about how things have been operating. The Minister in the sense of Wellington has come in and blocked the aspirations of the Christchurch people. They are mostly around environmental factors around the protection of groundwater. If you know anyone from Christchurch believe me you will know that they are proud of the quality of their groundwater—that is so true. My mother will not drink the water from my place. The Government is not protecting that from quarrying and there is a real concern—