Urgent Debate Eats Into Members Day

Parliament made no progress on members’ bills after an Urgent Debate ate into the time available on Wednesday

Deputy Speaker Eric Roy granted a debate on the recent upheaval at the top of ACC after Question Time. This was followed by the General Debate.

After the dinner break the Waitaki District Council Reserves and Other Land Empowering Bill completed its first reading on a voice vote. The bill revokes the reservation of 2 pieces of land within the Waitaki District and clarifies the status of a third piece of land.

The Mount Maunganui Borough Reclamation and Empowering Act Repeal Bill was also passed its first reading on a voice votes.

The bill repeals a law that authorised the transfer and reclamation of 73.5 hectares of seabed to the old Mount Manganui Borough Council The Council reclaimed approximately 23.5 hectares of the harbour which is now vested in the Tauranga City Council. The authority to undertake reclamation of the balance of the seabed has since been repealed. However, Nga Potiki expressed historical and contemporary grievances regarding the scope of the reclamation authority and the siting of a wastewater treatment plant on the reclaimed land. The Tauranga City Council and Nga Potiki agree the repeal of the principal Act is appropriate in the context of these historical grievances.

The Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill was also given its first reading on a voice vote. It updates the governance arrangements for the Board known as the Riccarton Bush Trustees.

All three bills were referred to the Local Government and Environment Committee for consideration.

The third reading debate on the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill was interrupted when the House rose at 10pm.

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