Ngaro Alfred: Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Empowering Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Empowering Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 16 March 2016. Volume:712;Page:9813. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALFRED NGARO (National): I rise to take a call on the Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Empowering Bill. I stand here on behalf of the Minister the Hon Nick Smith who is not able to be here unfortunately. He sends his apologies. He is actually at a conference on fresh water working with different iwi in consultation. I stand on his behalf in the chair during this Committee stage just to bring the remarks in.This bill has gone through the select committee deliberations. The Government Administration Committee was unanimous in its support. We can see that it is a bill that really just makes some minor technical changes and in particular I suppose in a sense there is the responsibility of perpetuity for Christian Churches New Zealand which is a body of 30 different congregations throughout New Zealand that has been in existence since 1929. Its role in particular for this bill is the investiture of assets from the association into the new trust board which in effect will still allow it to fulfil its role of stewardship in this regard. Although each of the congregations is autonomous they do have conferences that allow them to come together to discuss things in common things of interest that are important to them and especially their roles of responsibility in this regard.When we think about the roles in clause 3 where it talks about the “new board” the bill will allow the Christian Churches New Zealand Property Trust Board Inc. to take on this role from the “old board” which means the Associated Churches of Christ Church Extension and Property Trust Board. These properties are important. They are important because it does allow for these autonomous Churches to be able to meet some of the needs both spiritual and practical.I have previously been a pastor of a Church a small local Church that operated in that way. It was important to have a facility that could allow for the congregation to meet to exercise its principled values of faith on a Sunday. But then also on the other days Monday through to Friday and even on a Saturday Churches like this will have things such as budgeting services held on their properties. They will have kindergartens held on their properties. This is all to do with the properties at hand and the use of those properties which enable them to be able to exercise their roles of responsibility.Hon Ruth Dyson: It’s the weakest filibuster I’ve ever heard.ALFRED NGARO: Although the member over there may be talking about the weakness of this exercise having actually been a pastor of a Church I know the importance of having such a facility and the roles of that facility that allow it to be able to do that.The bill is simple in its intent. However it is important in its roles of responsibility. So we believe that this bill is important. It will allow the boards to be able to have those roles of responsibility in meeting those needs. I know that—Hon Ruth Dyson: Sit down now. You’ve proved you’ve never read the bill.ALFRED NGARO: —there have been times in which there may have been common and small things—maybe to the member who is interjecting over there they may not mean much but I have to say to the members of those congregations it means a lot. It means a lot because they can exercise some of those responsibilities. There may be small knitting groups. I know that there were groups that used to knit for young mothers whether it be little booties or little jackets and so forth. So those things are really important because the property provided a facility for them to be able to exercise this role of responsibility. So I think it is important that we acknowledge the role that the board is playing which again will still allow for the stewardship of these Churches and their congregations in the exercise of this for their properties as well.There is also a sense in the bill in Part 1 where it talks about the purpose—and the purpose is the transfer of all the existing property interests powers and obligations of the old board into the new board. That technically becomes important. I know that there are times when there are conflicts.Hon Ruth Dyson: You’re scared of members’ bills.ALFRED NGARO: People talk about politics in the House like the politicking that is happening at the moment but politics even happens in Churches where there is a disagreement about the property the roles of the property or who should be in charge. So opportunities like this become important—Hon Ruth Dyson: Mr Chairman we’re in Committee.ALFRED NGARO: Oh thank you to the member for correcting us. That was probably the most positive statement that the member has made during the speech and I appreciate that from that member. So I believe it is important that this bill takes its role of responsibility.