Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill

I move, That the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill be reported to the House by 5 April 2023 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during any evening on a day in which there has been a sitting of the House, and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House and outside the Wellington area, despite Standing Orders 193, 195, and 196.

The rationale for this is very clear. This bill needs to be passed as quick as possible in order to be able to assist in the recovery in those areas that have been affected by the severe weather in the North Island. We’ve seen from the debate on the first reading that the majority of parties in this House support this bill, and we are encouraged by that and thank them for that. We saw from the first bill that there was, on the whole, collaboration across the House in recognition of the need to do this as quickly as possible.

However, the Government also recognises that there does need to be, as much as possible, time at select committee for experts to submit on this and try and improve the bill where possible. Providing that scrutiny is vitally important. Sending it to the Governance and Administration Committee, with the experience that they have in scrutinising the first bill, is also a welcome move, in my view. Chaired by a member of the Opposition—Ian McKelvie—it demonstrates, I think, that the Government is wanting to do this as well as it possibly can to ensure that we get as much support as possible.

This bill will make a significant difference in those areas that have been affected by the severe weather. We’ve heard of many examples of things that people want to be able to do to assist with the recovery, but the current rules and regulations prevent them from doing it. If we were to pursue things through the normal parliamentary procedure, it would take too long for that to be effective. This—what is proposed here—echoes the approach that was taken during the Christchurch earthquakes and the Hurunui-Kaikōura earthquakes, but it learns the lessons from those approaches and includes further safeguards as well. I am confident that this is the appropriate thing to do, and, also, ensuring that we have a slightly more extended period at select committee will also give that committee and those that are submitting as much time as is practical to be able to look to provide recommendations and potentially improve what’s being proposed.

I thank those parties for acting collaboratively and supporting this approach, and I look forward to seeing what recommendations come from the select committee process.

Motion agreed to.