Omer IbrahimIBRAHIM OMER (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. It's a pleasure to rise to take a call on the Palmerston North Reserves Empowering Amendment Bill. Now it looks like Palmerston North has a good history of sending fine people to this House—including yourself Madam Speaker and my good friend Tangi Utikere. I know that a lot of people have claimed to have something to do with Palmerston North but the only thing I can claim is that I have visited Palmerston North quite a few times and the last time being at the invitation of my good friend here Tangi Utikere. The day that I spent was quite a significant day and one of the things that we did was visit the bridge that is near to this reserve place called He Ara Kotahi which is a beautiful bridge that the Government spent millions of dollars on. I thank my friend and the member for Palmerston North for his generous hospitality.Now the heart of this bill is the land that has been sitting there and not being able to do anything with because it's been reserved until the Act of 1922. So under this Act this land cannot be sold cannot be developed—it's just sitting there—and what a waste. So the council has stepped up and is being innovative and trying to do something about it that is of course supported from the local community. There are views on both sides but those views will be neutralised when the bill goes through the select committee process.My good friend Rachel Boyack mentioned how if this bill passes up to 80 apartments can be built on this land and what a significant difference that's going to make in the Palmerston North community. There is no denying that we have got a housing crisis throughout the country and Palmerston North might look better than some places but it still has its own issues and this is going to make a huge difference. The reserve was originally given to the city in 1876 by the Wellington provisional Government as a public park and recreation grounds. It's no secret that New Zealand has like I said before a serious housing crisis and now despite residential building consents increasing to levels seen only in 1970 the council plan has been limited by this Act and the development of opportunities are being denied as a result. Evidence shows that removing overly restrictive planning rules leads to more affordable homes being built and this is much needed.I'm going to put my ethnic lens in and talk about the diversity and multiculturalism of Palmerston North. The times that I visited I visited a lot of communities. It's a vibrant city it's every day increasing—people coming from different parts of the world as refugees migrants skilled migrants—and families want to move to Palmerston North because it's alive it's beautiful. So the council needs to be equipped with legislative powers to keep enriching the city and commit to diverse population growths. The potential development that would be able to go ahead with this minor amendment would make a dramatic and positive impact on Palmerston North. Whether it's to build houses or community centres or recreational places this will be in the hands of the local decision makers and the city will be able to grow and meet its special needs.So now I commend like many others did the Palmerston North City Council for being very innovative and very creative by I think going against all odds I think because sometimes the land issue can be complex—it can be difficult at times—but the Palmerston North City Council is going above and beyond to resolve this issue. So finally I commend Tangi Utikere for again bringing yet another simple and small piece of legislation but yet very significant and important which is going to make a difference in his city that we all love to visit. I look forward to more invitations and maybe even some dinners as a bribe so I can keep coming! I commend this bill to the House.