Utikere Tangi; Rurawhe AdrianTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Thank you Madam Speaker. Can I thank members from right across the House for their unwavering support it seems for this local bill. And Madam Speaker can I acknowledge you because I know that you have a connection to Palmerston North and you'll be pleased to know that I will be visiting your old high school Freyberg High School on Friday. Each time I do your photo hangs on the wall in the reception area as one that they particularly like to reflect upon so I acknowledge you and your connection to my fine city.I want to just reflect on the contributions from around the House this afternoon and to thank members. My colleague Rachel Boyack obviously a local advocate for her former city Palmerston North and the connection with Palmerston North Girls' High which is obviously extremely close to the piece of land that we are referring to and also reflecting on her comments that the caucus committee around Government and local government were able to visit Palmerston North earlier in the year and were able to see the partnership opportunity that the Palmerston North City Council has in terms of a housing development at Papaioea Place. So that's a very strong connection.Can I respond to the comments expressed by the Hon Eugenie Sage in that she is right: partnerships are very important and what the select committee process does allow for is for the community and the council to demonstrate a level of support but also acknowledging that from a process perspective this is about changing or lifting the designation of a piece of land so that the council will be in a flexible position to be able to do something differently if it so chooses to go down that particular path.Can I also thank colleagues for their comments—their reflections I guess—in that this piece of land is in close proximity to a number of amenities a number of recreational spaces. The member for Rangitīkei referring to the rose garden the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Garden which yes did as he suggests celebrate the Pride of Palmy which was actually a specific rose that was released recently in recognition of the city's 150th—sesquicentennial—anniversary. I have to say I've got two of them growing in my garden and they're doing very very well at the moment as well. But this is about an opportunity to support a council that is wishing to be progressive wishing to be innovative that is vibrant. Those are three words that I've heard around the Parliament this afternoon. When we step back and have a look at what is proposed we do need to appreciate that this will be subject to the select committee process.Just on that point I know that Mr McKelvie was questioning why this may not be going to the Governance and Administration Committee. I have to say that to be fair it probably could go to that or it could go to Environment. I reflected back into 2007 when this bill was last before the Parliament on where it went. Unfortunately it's not helpful that it went to the Local Government and Environment Committee. So it did mean that there has to be a separation here but I do think that the Environment Committee is the appropriate place given that it's dealing with a reserve status of land. I do in advance though apologise to the hard-working members of the Environment Committee for yet another piece of important work that they will undertake but I'll be with you as part of that.What I do want to indicate in closing is that this process will be subject to a public process. If this bill does make it through select committee second reading committee of the whole House and then through to third reading the council will still be required to make a decision at a future date if they choose to in a public forum. So this is not effectively indicating that it's a done deal; it's indicating that this is something that the council have approached me as the local member that they wish to pursue this that the local bill avenue is the way in which local councils and territorial authorities seek to pursue that and that there is a process that will form part and parcel of all of that.I repeat that I'm satisfied that many of the hurdles that we have identified in the earlier contribution around you know engagement with Rangitāne but also the level of notification the level of community engagement and also the proximity to reserves within the area have satisfied me that those are issues that won't hold this up from a procedure or a process point of view. I'm delighted to if the Parliament is of a mind effectively approve the first reading see this through the select committee process. Again I commend this to the House.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is That the Palmerston North Reserves Empowering Amendment Bill be considered by the Environment Committee.Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Environment Committee.