Speeches

I must say I am very pleased to see the Hon Nikki Kaye back in the Chamber, with all of the energy that she has had before the time she had away to deal with some very serious health challenges. So, welcome back.

METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green): The Green Party will oppose this legislation. There are some positive aspects to the bill that we do support, such as extending the youth justice age, albeit with the restrictions that are in it, and we would like to see those restrictions moved; and extending the age of care, assuming that the care is safe. We can understand the provisions for that. We support early intervention for families and whānau, where children are unsafe and need to be protected. We do not support the permanent removal of children from their families.

I am very pleased to stand on behalf of the Green Party and support the final reading of this legislation. I feel sad that we were not able to do it at the time when everybody had come down from Palmy for the second and what was supposed to be the third reading, but we are here now and that is really good.