Smith Nick: Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Smith Nick: Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 17 October 2012. Volume:684;Page:5930. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
: 
 We should firstly acknowledge the vision of 98 years ago when Parliament initially passed the law for the protection of the Riccarton Bush area and the original Deans home in Christchurch. The area that is covered by the Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill is of both natural and historical heritage value. In fact as we reflect on all of the challenges of Christchurch the magnificent stand of kahikatea trees is a reminder of what Canterbury was prior to substantive settlement both Maori and European. The original Deans family home is an iconic piece of heritage from that both internationally and “New Zealandly” significant period of colonisation that occurred in the mid 19th century. It is entirely appropriate and I join with other members in congratulating Gerry Brownlee on bringing this bill which modernises those arrangements that were put together nearly a century ago. 
I want to make just two points. Firstly I do find it extraordinary that both the Green member Eugenie Sage and Labour have argued that without the four well-beings in the Local Government Act—social economic cultural and environmental well-being—you could not have a Riccarton Bush. Well that is a bit interesting because for 90 of the 98 years of Riccarton Bush we did not have those four wishy-washy terms in our local government law. Most of us would say that Riccarton Bush was wonderfully protected between the period of 1914 and 2002 when the previous Government with The Alliance gave a blank cheque for local government to do everything. We on this side of the House think that local government should not be doing everything. But one of the things on which we are very clear is that a core purpose of local government is to provide for those reserves those public spaces all over New Zealand that make our country special. What we would argue is that our councils are more effective for concentrating on these sorts of things rather than being all things to all people replicating that which is the responsibility of central government and the private sector. That is a far more logical place for us to be. 
It is my view that at some stage we should consolidate the legislation around Riccarton Bush. If we are serious about having an efficient economy and not having legislation on the books for the sake of it it does not make sense for us to now have four Acts of Parliament to manage and govern the area of Riccarton Bush. That does not make sense. I do not accept the argument that somehow you expunge the history by consolidating the legislation. I would challenge the Riccarton Bush Trustees as well as the Christchurch City Council that at some time in future we consolidate it down so that we need have only a single Act of Parliament for the management of the Riccarton Bush area. That is something as the Green member noted that the Local Government and Environment Committee explored but was not able to do within the scope of this bill and I hope we can do that at some time in the future. 
The very last point I want to make is that protecting both the natural and historic heritage of Christchurch today is actually probably more significant than it has been for a number of years. The huge challenges that that city has with the devastating earthquakes in both 2010 and 2011 have put huge pressure on a number of heritage properties. Thankfully the Deans buildings dating back to the 1850s are able to be protected and are able to be managed for the future and I think every member of Parliament would welcome the fact that at least that part of Christchurch heritage is going to be able to be maintained in the future. 
This is a good bill and we should get on and pass it. We need to let the trustees continue with their excellent work of maintaining this very precious part of Canterbury of Christchurch and of New Zealand’s history.