Shanks Katrina: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Shanks Katrina: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:637;Page:7861] 
KATRINA SHANKS (National) 
: 
 I rise to speak in support of the Statutes Amendment Bill noting the exceptions that Richard Worth highlighted previously. I want to say a good afternoon to members in the Chamber; the National Party regional chair Patricia Morrison who is sitting in the gallery; other visitors and also those listening to the radio waves. 
Today I am speaking to the Statues Amendment Bill which makes minor amendments spanning 50 Acts. Many of these changes are minor—for example changing cross-references. I look on the majority of this bill as a housekeeping chore—something that has to be done regularly but if one is not careful a small change can have ongoing consequences. Many listeners of the radio waves today would have no idea of the Acts that the Statutes Amendment Bill covers so I will give some examples of the topics and the changes being made to those. 
The amendment to the Real Estate Agents Act will basically make all persons employed by a real estate agent a salesperson. Clause 139 amends section 70(1)(m) of the principal Act to reflect that salespersons and branch managers who are engaged as well as those who are employed by members of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Inc. are subject to its code of ethics regarding their professional conduct. This is certainly an intriguing change. 
The amendment to the Racing Act is also interesting. It relates to the nomination advisory panel that advises the Minister for Racing on the appointment of certain members to the New Zealand Racing Board. Clause 131 amends section 12 by inserting a new subsection (5A) which provides that if a panel member is unable to participate in a meeting of the panel the panel member may designate a suitably qualified person to participate in the meeting in the panel member’s place. A layperson would wonder what this change is driving at. 
The Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act is amended to authorise the maintenance of a register of information provided voluntarily by persons who made donations before 22 August 2005. Section 63(2) is amended by clause 92 to include in the voluntary information the donor’s reasons for donating. One wonders whether the changes made by this bill will mean there is a rush by recipients of these donations to receive information. 
The Fencing of Swimming Pools Act is amended by clause 66 to substitute a new section 13C. Currently section 13C allows the Governor-General to amend or replace the schedule of the Act by making an Order in Council on the advice of the Minister of Internal Affairs. The administration of the principal Act has been transferred to the Department of Building and Housing. Accordingly the reference to the Minister of Internal Affairs is no longer appropriate and new section 13C omits a reference to the Minister and restates the Governor-General’s powers. 
The amendment by clause 78 to section 43G(2) of the Gas Act in the repeal and substitution of paragraph (c) is another example. It ensures that regulations can be made to enable consumers to switch gas suppliers. Currently this section enables regulations to be made only in respect of gas retailers. However other parties including gas-meter owners and distributors are required to participate in a gas customer switching regime. 
Clause 143 amends section 253 of the Resource Management Act to provide for the Attorney-General and not the Minister of Justice to appoint environment commissioners or deputy environment commissioners. The Resource Management Amendment Act 2004 made the change from Minister of Justice to Attorney-General for all other judicial appointments under the Resource Management Act 1991. 
The Charitable Trusts Act has already been talked about by my colleague sitting beside me Nicky Wagner. Basically it removes the need for a body corporate subscriber to add its seal to the application. This amendment loosens up the more formal procedures of the Charitable Trusts Act. 
I finish with the amendment by clause 165 to section 39 of the Trade in Endangered Species Act which authorises an endangered species officer to seize a specimen of an endangered threatened or exploited species from a ship aircraft port or aerodrome if the specimen is being traded in contravention of the principal Act or if it is not listed on the inward or outward report for the ship or aircraft. The specimen is automatically forfeited to the Crown under this provision. The amendment extends the scope of the sites from which an endangered species officer may seize a specimen to include approved transitional facilities and customs-controlled areas. Although an endangered species officer is empowered elsewhere in the principal Act to seize specimens from these sites the automatic forfeiture of a specimen is not a consequence of these seizure powers. The amendment is a response to the increasing practice of unaccompanied baggage and goods being inspected and cleared by Customs Service and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officers at these sites. 
Obviously many more amendments can be highlighted but I hope members have had an insight into some of the changes being made by the bill. Thank you.