War Memorial Park Bill Passes

Empowering legislation to set up a war memorial park in central Wellington passed into law today.

Debate began on the bill following an urgent debate on the report into GCSB handling of the Kim Dotcom case.

After Question Time there is likely to be a request for an urgent debate on Prime Minister John Key stating the GCSB had acted unlawfully in the surveillance of Kim Dotcom and his associates.

Arts Ministers Chris Finalyson put the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill through a shortened select committee process as he said it had to be dealt with quickly so work could be completed on the war memorial park for the centennial commemoration of the Anzac Day landings in 2015.

The bill will ensure the memorial was completed in a proper setting and deal with the issue of State Highway One running so close to it, he said.

All parties supported the bill with the exception of the Greens and Mana. The Greens said while they supported the park, they could not support the process.

The bill passed its third reading by 104 to 15.

MPs began the third reading debate of the Commerce Commission (International Co-operation and Fees) Bill) split into four bills.

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