GEORGINA BEYER (Labour): I will take just a very brief call on the Gisborne District Council (Alfred Cox Park) Validation Bill. I acknowledge Anne Tolley for her caretaking of the bill as the local member and, of course, I acknowledge the previous member, Janet Mackey, for her efforts in bringing the bill before the House.

This is one of those bills whereby local communities want to make a local decision, and this local community has done so. Wide support was presented to us from the Gisborne community, as has been outlined by Anne Tolley and my colleague Moana Mackey. On those grounds, the committee took the view of being permissive rather than restrictive in what it wanted to achieve for the Gisborne District Council, and I believe that the bill as it stands at its second reading certainly achieves that.

I have to endorse the disappointment being expressed about the delay in putting this bill through all its stages on this particular members’ day. That is most unfortunate, because it is the kind of thing that makes delays costly in some respects to local people, in more ways than one, and more time-wasting than necessary for something where a local decision has been made. There was a requirement for Parliament also to have a say, which can be irksome in itself but which can also expedite things very quickly. I believe this bill has indicated to the local people that we would really like them to proceed in the way they wish to, regarding Alfred Cox Park and its uses, and some of the amenities the community has become quite attached to.

In conclusion, I wish that this legislation may be speeded further, on the next members’ day, so that it can be expedited very quickly. I support the bill.