
GEORGINA BEYER (Labour-Wairarapa): The speech from the member who just resumed his seat compelled me to propel myself forward to take the call, because it had a profound effect on how I now feel about this bill. However, it was not quite as profound as the speeches I have heard from Mr Peters and Mr Baldock. They were more on the correct side of the debate and have had a greater effect on me, as did the Minister in her third reading speech, which I thought was fine and dandy. The Opposition would have it that we should have mucked around for years and years, while they procrastinated about whether it was worth doing something about this matter. But here is the Labour-led Government, with some support, thankfully, from the likes of United Future and New Zealand First. Those parties have seen the error of the Opposition’s ways. We are getting on with the job. We are providing a facility whereby the issues of water allocation and planning, etc., for the Waitaki catchment area are to be addressed. I support this bill.