SpeechHARETE HIPANGO (National): Thank you Madam Chair. Following on from my colleague Chris Penk—in relation to the Statutes Amendment Bill I had the opportunity to take a call at the second reading. Minister Aupito William Sio having addressed the House on Part 25A of the Statutes Amendment Bill about amendments to the Ngāti Manuhiri Claims Settlement Act 2012 following on from that is Part 26 which is Amendments to Oaths and Declarations Act 1957". Minister I am drawing your attention to this because clause 80 of the Statutes Amendment Bill is a part that seeks to amend the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 with clause 81 to amend section 9 of the Oaths and Declarations Act which is about as it says in the bill "Declarations made in New Zealand".It's interesting Minister to note that under the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 it specifies those who have the legislative authority to take declarations and this Statutes Amendment Bill importantly has identified that "a Registrar (including the Chief Registrar) or Deputy Registrar of the Māori Land Court" has not until this Statute's Amendment Bill is passed into law had the authority to take declarations of those persons who attend the Māori Land Court and often in the facilities and the domain of a Māori Land Court there is not access to immediately a registrar or a deputy registrar of a District Court of a High Court or of the Supreme Court to be able to just sign off on a declaration for any matter that may be before the Māori Land Court.So Minister this is important. Other than it being deemed to be sexy I'm going to be pragmatic about this—the importance of this. I spoke and addressed the House just previously to this bill on the Māori Purposes Bill and the importance of being able to make consistent to clarify and to standardise but importantly to identify members of the New Zealand public to have access to justice.So clause 81 as insignificant as it may seem to many for those of our community for those in the Māori community who have matters before the Māori Land Court who require declarations or oaths to be taken—they are no longer going to be inconvenienced by the fact that up to the date that this bill passes into law the Chief Registrar or a registrar or a Deputy Registrar of the Māori Land Court did not have the same recognition and did not have the same authority as their peers within the District Court domain within the High Court domain and the Supreme Court domain. So Minister this is very very important. I highlight that because it was something that was overlooked by me at the second reading but to date has previously been overlooked in the legislation. So Minister I invite you to make comment in relation to that or not before I do take leave from this House.I mentioned the commemorative service for Sir Wira Gardiner and he was one of those persons who frequented the Māori Land Court for many many an occasion in support of those he gave service to—in his own community but also in the wider community and as a public servant.So Minister I invite any comment as you may see fit. Clause 81 is really very significant and very important. It duly recognises the place and role and service of our Māori Land Court and that our registrars including chief and deputy to date have been overlooked in that dual authority—simply to be able to take oaths and declarations. Kia ora."