COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Bill

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. Just as we approach voting on Schedule 2 of the bill, I just draw the Chair’s attention to Standing Orders 307(4) and (5) and ask for your consideration and views about the appropriateness of grouping together and testing some of the amendments that have been put forward in this schedule, given the similarity of many of the amendments. It’s my view that the committee is unlikely to support them, and that testing might be helpful in terms of the committee understanding whether they do have the support of the committee.

Look, I thank the member for drawing that Standing Order to our attention. I can say that I have given that some consideration. The difficulty that we have is that some of the amendments—well, the amendments in themselves cover quite different areas of the country and projects and types of projects, and we might find that there is a difference around the committee of support for different projects. The difficulty of trying to group any of those projects in a meaningful way might obviate some of that support. So I am ruling that I will not be grouping them.

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. Well, the Minister in the chair, the Hon David Parker, said earlier during the debate that the Labour Party would not be supporting any of the Supplementary Order Papers (SOPs) that contained additional projects to be inserted into the primary legislation. And given the numbers in the committee, that would suggest that all of those SOPs are going to fail. So I would propose, actually, that what Mr Woodhouse is—

There is no Standing Order that would support the Chair taking such a position. Actually, Parliament makes the decision. That’s the difficulty. OK, let’s get on with it.

💬 Michael Wood: Speaking to the point of order, if I may—

CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): There is no point of order. You raised a point of order; I’ve ruled. That was not a point of order, because there is no Standing Order that would cover that.

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. It is a fresh point of order, in that case, and I accept the previous ruling, and the point that you made in that previous ruling was a valid one, which is that many of the projects are in different parts of the country, so this may attract different support across the Chamber. That being the case, one way through which is consistent with Standing Order 307(4) would be for the amendments to be taken by member, noting that the amendments that have been put by members do tend to be concentrated in a particular area. So they’re taken member by member; that would deal with that point, and I ask for your consideration.

Again, I understand that and I have given that some thought. For some members, it’s easier than others, but, again, there is a variety of types. You know, normally the Standing Order refers to where you can literally group something together that is similar, so we’ve talked across horticulture whether it’s stone fruit, walnuts, you know; you can get a logical grouping. It seems a bit unfair and not quite covered in the Standing Orders to then take it by member, even though there might well be a geographical correlation. I think we’re better to get on with it and see how we go.

The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 533 in the name of the Hon David Parker to Schedule 2 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

The question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 514 in the name of Jami-Lee Ross to Schedule 2 be agreed to.

The amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 532 in the name of Simeon Brown to Schedule 2 is out of order as being the same in substance as previous amendments on Supplementary Order Papers 514 and 523.

The question was put that the following amendment in the name of Matt King to Schedule 2 be agreed to:

in LP16 replace “Northland Regional Council” with “Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust”.

Stuart Smith’s tabled amendment to Schedule 2 regarding King Salmon’s Blue Endeavour project is out of order as being outside the objects and principles of the bill.

The question was put that the following amendment in the name of the Hon Jacqui Dean to Schedule 2 be agreed to:

in Schedule 2, after item LP17, insert:

LP18

MacKenzie Basin pull over areas

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Construction of new pull over areas, erection of new signage, and safety improvements along SH 8, SH 79 and SH 80 in the Mackenzie basin

Along and adjacent to SH 8, SH 79 and SH 80 in the Mackenzie basin

Can I just remind the Hon Nathan Guy that votes are to be taken in silence. So not even your indoor voice—none at all.

The question was put that the following amendment in the name of the Hon Michael Woodhouse to Schedule 2 be agreed to:

in Schedule 2, after item LP17, insert:

LP18

New Beaumont Bridge

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

This project involves replacing the current single lane bridge across the Clutha River on SH 8 at Beaumont with a modern two-lane structure

Just downstream of the existing Beaumont bridge allowing the highway to stay in front of the local Hotel, South Otago

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. I’ve just exchanged a note with the person in the chair for the National Party. I seek leave for the balance of the Supplementary Order Papers to be put as one question.

Tim van de Molen: We’re in the middle of a vote. You can’t take a point of order.

Oh, sorry, I thought we had just finished that vote.

CHAIRPERSON (Hon Ruth Dyson): We had.

I apologise.

Tim van de Molen: I’m calling for a party vote on that.

I’m sorry—I apologise.

Tim van de Molen: Madam Chair, you were interrupted by the point of order—

Sorry, I apologise if I did, but I thought that I’d just finished that one. We haven’t taken that one? Quite correct—my apologies for that. That’s my error. So we’re taking the vote on the Hon Nicky Wagner’s tabled amendment to Schedule 2 regarding Marshland Road, Lower Styx Road, and Hawkins Road bridge and intersection improvements.

The question was put that the following amendment in the name of the Hon Nicky Wagner to Schedule 2 be agreed to:

in Schedule 2, after item LP17, insert:

LP18

Marshland Road, Lower Styx Road and Hawkins Road bridge and intersection improvements

Christchurch City Council

Construction of traffic signals at the intersection of Marshland Road, Lower Styx Road and Hawkins Road, and the widening of the adjacent Marshland Bridge over the Styx river

At the intersection of Marshland Road, Lower Styx Road and Hawkins Road, and adjacent to the Marshland Bridge over the Styx river, Christchurch