van de Molen TimTIM VAN DE MOLEN (National—Waikato): Thank you Madam Speaker. Great to take a call on this bill the Maritime Powers Bill in its first reading here tonight.Now as has been identified by most previous speakers we are seeing an increasing number of challenges in our international waters particularly around drug trafficking. That's something that I'm I guess partially impressed with—the innovation the complexity the varieties of manner in which these people who are acting illegally choose to try and get their products into our country. So we need to ensure that we are adapting and evolving with that and providing our enforcement officers with the most appropriate tools possible to minimise the likelihood of those particular products accessing our shores eventually. Aside from that though and as spokesperson for oceans and fisheries I have a very strong interest in the marine protection space as well. And I'd just like to expand a little on some of the comments that the Hon Scott Simpson made in his fine contribution to this debate as well. Marine protection is an area that we are seeing increasing pressure on as well as international operators in some instances acting unlawfully seek particular types of marine species for significant profit in the market so they can move those into. So protection of that is absolutely critical for us. One of the ways that we have traditionally protected our marine areas is through marine reserves for example and the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary in particular is one opportunity that so far has not been captured by this Government. As Mr Simpson mentioned it is sitting there on the Order Paper; it's ready to go. So whilst this legislation is good in that it brings in some additional powers and helps with some of those protections actually some of the more simple things that we could do some of the lower-hanging fruit for this Government would actually be to enact the likes of the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary. Interestingly the nearly four years under this Government is the longest period since 1990 in which no new marine reserves have been established in New Zealand.Hon Scott Simpson: Really!TIM VAN DE MOLEN: None whatsoever since—Hon Scott Simpson: Not a single one!TIM VAN DE MOLEN: That's the longest period. And I think that's pretty disappointing for most New Zealanders. So this is a good step absolutely and we do support it. The Kermadecs though would have been a massive opportunity for the Government to show that they do actually care about our environment but sadly they have let New Zealand down in that regard. So this particular bill as I mentioned we do support through to select committee at least. It is good to see this bill going to select committee because there are many recently that have not as the Government has chosen to simply ram them through under urgency with a Government knows best" approach. Already actually we've heard on this bill they are truncating the committee process. So I guess at least we're lucky to be having one. But one day perhaps they'll give us the full select committee process and enable the public of New Zealand to actually consult or be consulted or have their say on a piece of legislation in its entirety. Having said that we will be very much looking forward to that discussion as it progresses through because we do have some concerns around the reach of these powers particularly in relation to the endangered species officers and the Department of Conservation rangers. I have absolute admiration for the work both those groups do but providing powers of arrest for example is a significant expansion of what they would normally do in their daily operations. So there are real concerns around their competence in terms of those particular aspects of what this legislation would enable and that is quite different to the competence you would expect to see from our police force or our New Zealand Defence Force or Customs who are all trained more in those particular areas so we would have much more confidence that they can act appropriately in that manner. But I look forward to hearing the select committee discussions on this to consider whether or not that extension of powers is appropriate because we have seen actually again from this Government over the last few years a willingness to extend powers well beyond what is probably necessary. This happened in terms of the NAIT legislation the National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme where warrantless powers were given to officers to just enter farms and houses farm properties to consider whether compliance was happening. That was really a gross overreach. Also through the COVID lockdown—again warrantless powers to enter premises if there is suspicion of too many people gathering for a family birthday party for example. Really the Government needs to be very careful about granting these sorts of powers and analysing it thoroughly at select committee is absolutely crucial. So it is disappointing that they are truncating another select committee process. But we are at this stage supportive of the bill to first reading and will be scrutinising it closely through select committee. Thank you."