Goudie Sandra: National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill — Second Reading 
Goudie Sandra: National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill — Second Reading 
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SANDRA GOUDIE (National—Coromandel) 
: 
 I in turn will speak to the National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill. I applaud the Maori Party and Rahui Katene for their support for the rural sector. I think we need more voices speaking out in support of the rural sector. The National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill does a number of things. I will reiterate some of those things. 
The bill will enable rapid and accurate tracking of animals from birth to death or live export. I think that is vitally important because we do need traceability and markets are demanding more traceability. We do not want to put any of our markets at risk so the bill is very important in regard to that. The National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) system will provide information on the location and movement history of animals. I think that is also important. It will also improve biosecurity management help manage risks to human health improve animal productivity allow market assurances as I have already mentioned and support compliance with trading requirements. All of those things are very very important. 
We cannot in any way risk our overseas markets. Our overseas markets are vital to our exports and thus to our national economy. We must not forget that the agricultural sector is one of the stalwarts of the New Zealand economy. I hate to think where our economy would be without the agricultural sector. I wonder how many New Zealanders fully appreciate and understand that and understand the importance of agriculture to New Zealand’s economy. Probably not enough in my view. 
I would love to see the education system change in such a way that our children understood the importance of the agricultural sector right from primary school. If we can do it for conservation I think we should be able to do it for agriculture. I think the agricultural sector sometimes becomes the whipping boy for a lot of situations and causes where it is blatantly unfair to do so. 
The Primary Production Committee is chaired by Shane Ardern an excellent chair. His knowledge of agriculture is among the best in this Parliament. Some recommendations were made through the select committee. There was an amendment to clause 2. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I am sorry; I am having difficulty hearing the speaker. 
SANDRA GOUDIE 
: There was an amendment to clause 2. This is a bill of great importance so everybody should be listening attentively and hanging on every word of course. 
Amy Adams 
: We are Sandra. 
SANDRA GOUDIE 
: Ha ha! The commencement date for mandatory identification of cattle with a NAIT device will be in July 2012. There are dates for other obligations as well. 
There were Government amendments to reflect practical arrangements such as allowing the dissolution of NAIT Ltd before the new permanent NAIT organisation is appointed and requiring consultation with people who are likely to be substantially affected. We all know that those people who will be substantially affected need some considerable consultation. There is quite an exercise in making people aware of their responsibilities because communications for the rural sector are not as robust as they might be for the urban sector. 
The Minister was given more flexibility to remove some or all functions and powers from the NAIT organisation where this was needed to address a wider range of circumstances subject to consultation yet again with affected parties. That goes without saying. We also deleted the clause requiring a person in charge of animals who consigns a NAIT animal to another location to provide a NAIT declaration. There was an amendment to clause 46 to make data access criteria and application processes fairer. A large portion of Part 5 relating to search and surveillance provisions is moved to a schedule retaining the appointment processes for a NAIT officer and a NAIT authorised person who can then exercise powers and perform functions under the bill. 
The select committee identified the concern expressed by some submitters on the use of low-frequency identification devices rather than high-frequency devices. This concern was motivated by the fact that we understand that there are rapid advances in technological change. It is certainly an exercise. If the technological requirements for NAIT change at a rapid pace there is a difficulty with the uptake of those changes by the users of the NAIT system the farmers themselves. 
So there needs to be some care and concern to make sure the technology is robust and substantial in the first instance so there is no need for too much further change in technology as time goes on. All of those changes come at a cost and we do not want to add any further cost to those in the agricultural sector. They are certainly burned enough by local government and other regulations currently. Those off-farm costs are a big imposition on the incomes of our agricultural sector. 
I fully support our agricultural sector. Let us do what we can to make sure that things run pretty smoothly for it. I applaud this bill and the maintenance of the agricultural sector’s markets.