Jones Shane: Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill — In Committee 
Jones Shane: Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:675;Page:14448] 
Hon SHANE JONES (Minister for Building and Construction) 
: 
 E te whare tena koutou katoa. To all of Aotearoa who during the speech made by Mr Bennett may have fitted into a telephone box I point out that that was the advertisement for Brylcreem. The man was talking about the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill. He did not refer at any time to Part 2 of this fantastic legislation. 
I have been pondering on the meaning of the term “Waitakere”. As members know “wai” means water and “takere” is the base of something either a waka or a vessel. The term of course refers to the fact that unless the catchment area the mountains the valleys the streams the trees—the entire environment—are adequately cared for the environment will not be protected in the future. That is why this legislation is completely and utterly embraced except for a few malcontents who have been led astray by Paula Bennett and a variety of other members who realise they cannot compete intellectually work-wise or in terms of industriousness with the great stewards of the environment here. 
It behoves me to mention Dr Pita Sharples. He supports this bill. Of course it is a shame that he has not seen the light and supported me with my whanaunga Hone Harawira away in Waikiki and Australia but let me come back to Waitakere. This bill will not divide the people of west Auckland. This bill will draw them closer to the ethic of stewardship. This bill will cause people to realise that when pressures are visited upon the environment occasionally the legislature—the highest court in the land—has to stand debate and then through democracy vote to protect the fragile areas of the environment. That is the purpose of the legislature. That is why we have democratic opportunities to make a contribution vote and then move on. Of course Mr Dail Jones is well entitled to make his contributions. If however his contributions reflect what we saw on the television then despite his short appearance he may too be moving on. 
In relation to the perspective of the Rodney District Council I say that Rodney District Council is but a bit player in this bill. The main driving forces of the bill are the citizens of Waitakere and their very thoughtful council. 
What elements will be protected? I have a strong connection with this because quite apart from protecting pleasantness—and I can relate to that—and cultural integrity the bill protects in particular the remains of nga keringa kapia the gum digging the flax mills and the timber extraction. Those are remains of rather sad but still interesting chapters of our history and they will be protected in this legislation when it passes so that the environment is not just botany and biology but all those extractive industries that our people have worked in over the years. 
Why on earth would a person come to Parliament and not show forward-thinking and vision like our member here Lynne Pillay? Not even the ear-chipped dogs that run around west Auckland can stop this woman from being industrious and going out and extolling the virtues of this bill which is soon to be an Act. She has joined forces with Dr Pita Sharples. He knows. He recalls that when the marae was developed it was like a barren wasteland. 
A bill like this reminds the citizens and the property owners that our rights in the end are fettered by the imperatives of overall society. Overall society places its trust in people who are prepared to reflect long-term thinking not short-term profit taking. 
I think it is very disappointing that Paula Bennett this evening gave us the indication she is worried about the villages as if she is the defender of some quaint historic accident called a village. No she did not stand this evening and reflect back to the people of Waitakere that this bill is well before its time. That is why—long after this debate has come and gone—the children the mokopuna will think back very very admirably to Lynne Pillay her supporters and Mr Cunliffe a man of great vision into the future. The people of Waitakere know it. Kapai me whakamana e tatou tenei piri.