GEORGINA BEYER (NZ Labour--Wairarapa): I will probably talk only briefly to this excellent bill. I begin by joining those in the House this evening who have praised my colleague Jill Pettis for nurturing this bill through to this stage over the last not insignificant wee while. I also acknowledge those members of the Local Government and Environment Committee, of which I am a member, who did work very cooperatively, as was mentioned by the chairperson of the committee, Jeanette Fitzsimons. It was most enlightening and very helpful. I thank the officials, those people who assisted us in our consideration and deliberation, and also those who made submissions.

It is always important to acknowledge submitters because they are an integral part of the select committee process.

I am somewhat astounded at some of the comments made by the member who just resumed his seat. A new definition of conservation has just emerged, to my understanding. Did I hear it right when he said it was more or less a matter of "let's farm them to shoot them"? That was outrageous. He is an ACT member. It is most unfortunate that while seemingly the majority of this House is supportive of the bill, there is at least one party, the ACT party, that obviously will not be supporting it.

Peter Brown: An endangered species.

GEORGINA BEYER: ACT members are an endangered species, and that is worthy of note. The bill does seek to update the Wildlife Act of 1953 to provide the same kind of protection for wildlife as was given to protected marine wildlife in 1996 when fisheries legislation was updated. The maximum fine for killing endangered native birds has been $1,500, as other speakers have mentioned. That is not enough and it has not prevented a further deterioration in New Zealand's biodiversity.

The Wildlife Amendment Act of 1983 sets out the law protecting and controlling animals and birds, the regulation of game shooting, and the powers of acclimatization societies. The Act also covers animals held in captivity that are prohibited from being released---for example, ferrets.

This bill updates the penalties for offences under the Act, which have not been reviewed since 1983. It has also been mentioned and it is worth repeating that the scale of penalties has been compared with more recent Acts---such as, the Resource Management Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.

The Department of Conservation obviously has done a lot for conservation. I would like to mention an organisation that I am very proud to say happens to be in my electorate. It is the Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre. That centre recently released some kākāpō, and it has won numerous major awards for its breeding programmes. This is positive. The wildlife centre will be very pleased that greater penalties will be meted out to those unscrupulous people---the only description we can give them---who are involved in the export of our taonga, often our endangered species, to somewhere overseas for profit.

Because I am using terms that could be considered Māori, it is important to point out to those who may be interested that the Department of Conservation is proposing to include in the Conservation Law Reform (Powers, Offences, Penalties and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill an amendment to the Wildlife Act to provide tangata whenua with lawful ownership of crafted taonga, comprising the feathers and other materials of native birds and animals. This is important to Māori and tangata whenua in Aotearoa, so they need not fear that what is occurring in this bill will have any effect for them in that respect.

I will conclude now, knowing there is a further speaker who wishes to be heard. I congratulate Jill Pettis once again on bringing this bill forward, and I commend almost the majority of members of this House for their universal support of this bill.