Parata Hekia: Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill — First Reading 
Parata Hekia: Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:661;Page:9711] 
HEKIA PARATA (National) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Deputy Speaker. Tena ano tatou huri noa i to tatou Whare. I am pleased to take a short call on the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill. The importance of the relationship between Australia and New Zealand has been long recognised on this side of the Tasman as well as on the other side of the Tasman. The relationship between our two countries canvasses a number of dimensions and the bill before the House tonight gives us the opportunity to cement further a strong foundation to support that relationship. Tourism occurs between our two countries a range of business occurs between our two countries and as previous speakers have already mentioned we have a number of family connections across the Tasman between our two countries. 
My colleague Hone Harawira mentioned the report  
Maori in Australia: Nga Maori i Te Ao Moemoea 
 which was published in 2006. It gave a comprehensive report on the nature extent and degree of Maori travel to and settlement in Australia. I am delighted to say that in my former incarnation as the deputy secretary of Te Puni Kokiri I had the foresight to commission that report because I was concerned to ensure that we did have a fuller understanding of the nature of the Maori population settled in Australia. Of course even though Maori live in other countries whether it be in Australia or in any other part of the world their relationship and their status as tangata whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand is not compromised and those ongoing relationships remain important to us. 
This bill provides as I said another dimension of the framework of the relationship between Australia and New Zealand by proposing to cement in place a civil justice relationship. The bill reflects the commitment of both Governments to enhance the operation of a single economic market between our two countries. Our Prime Minister John Key emphasised the importance of the single economic market when he outlined the Government’s programme for the year in the statement he made to the House in February. He said that the Government intended to push hard for progress on the single economic market. Australia is often the first stop for New Zealand businesses looking to expand into overseas markets but getting to grips with the different Federal and state regulations can sometimes be a significant challenge. The single economic market is about aligning the regulatory environments in New Zealand and in Australia so that a New Zealand company operating in Kawakawa or Kaitaia can as easily do so in Canberra or indeed so that a New Zealand company operating in Ruatoria can as easily do so in Sydney. We want to give the single economic market a new impetus this year and that is something our Prime Minister will be discussing with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. 
This bill is an important step towards closer integration of the Australian and New Zealand civil justice systems which will underpin those aspirations for greater stronger and more positive relationships between our two countries. I commend the bill to the House.