Sage Eugenie: Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSage Eugenie: Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 06 May 2015. Volume:705;Page:3271. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]EUGENIE SAGE (Green):Like others I am very pleased to take a call on the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Bill and I am pleased that it is progressing so quickly through the House. It was introduced in June last year. I also congratulate the local member the Hon Nicky Wagner on the work she has done on sponsoring the bill. It is always a pleasure to be involved in bills where there is agreement in the House where peace and harmony break out.The bill attracted four submissions. They were generally supportive and sought only small changes. I think that shows there was very good consultation on developing the bill. In previous speeches I have talked about the significance of the Arts Centre as a cultural centre and its iconic heritage buildings and I have talked about its importance to Christchurch. I will not repeat that. I have also acknowledged the work that the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Board has done and particularly the contribution of Jen Crawford and the chief executive officer André Lovatt.I would also like to acknowledge tonight the Hon Margaret Austin because she represents the Christchurch Civic Trust on the Arts Centre board. She has played a significant role in the development of the bill. She certainly briefed me and I am sure other MPs on the bill’s purpose before it was introduced. That was very helpful in understanding the changes to the trust board’s governance which were needed to provide a solid base for the future and to enable the trust board to continue with as Scott Simpson mentioned the quite extensive earthquake restoration and renovations.I would just like to comment briefly that the civic trust did want an amendment to the bill on the way in which it dealt with the many different land titles particularly in the eastern part of the Arts Centre site where there are five separate titles. It was quite controversial when the University of Canterbury wanted to establish a national conservatorium for music on the Hereford Street car-park site. I think the civic trust was concerned that having these separate titles would mean that there was the potential—the door was left open—in the future for the trust to dispose of one of the titles to accommodate another controversial development. But I was reassured as a member of the select committee by the advice that the officials provided which was that if the trust board was to seek to dispose of part of the site then it would be acting contrary to the objects of the bill which of course are to promote conserve and maintain the heritage integrity of the land and buildings of the Arts Centre.Although we have the utmost respect for the civic trust and its advocacy work on protecting the heritage of Christchurch the select committee did not proceed with the change that the trust was seeking. But we did make a couple of changes that as Scott Simpson has suggested have also improved the bill enabling the trust board to amend its constitution through the normal processes in the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. This means that rather than the quite cumbersome process of going through an Order in Council and substituting the wind-up provisions in clause 8—this would have allowed the trust to transfer any debts to the Crown—it can instead refer to the wind-up provisions in the Charitable Trusts Act.Of course everybody hopes that those provisions will never be needed. The foresight of former members of the trust board present members and former chief executive officers has ensured that the trust had adequate insurance for the Arts Centre which has been so important in funding the restoration work. Given the flair the competence and the dedication with which the trust board is undertaking the very ambitious and inspiring $290 million restoration project I think we can say that the Arts Centre is in very good hands and that there is no foreseeable need for those wind-up provisions to be used.Also why I say that is that when you look at the Arts Centre website it states that this bill is about protecting heritage and improving governance arrangements but the trust board is also looking very much forward. It wants to “create a hub of creative entrepreneurs in the heart of Christchurch that is undeniably 21st Century:”. That is what the website says. In terms of the repair and restoration it is bringing in the very latest heating technology in terms of the heat exchange systems and is using water in the aquifers to be very energy efficient. It is looking at the use of the spaces that use good technology are creative and respect and honour the past but it is also looking to the future in terms of some of the new creative techniques in the digital sphere for example. It is marrying the past the present and the future. I pay great tribute to the trust board and the work that it is doing to restore and repair the buildings and create a wonderful Arts Centre and centre for Christchurch. Thank you.