This Supplementary Order Paper inserts a new Part 1A in the Statutes Amendment Bill. New Part 1A amends section 9(1)(ff) of the Airport Authorities Act 1966.

Section 9(1)(ff) currently requires that any sale of lost property conducted by or on behalf of airport authorities be advertised “in a newspaper circulating in the district where the airport is situated”. The proposed amendment permits authorities to publicise sales in any manner that the authority considers “fair and reasonable”. This amendment updates the law to take account of developments in communications since enactment and in the future.

The amendment is that proposed in the Airport Authorities (Publicising Lost Property Sales) Amendment Bill, a member’s Bill in the name of Nuk Korako. It is the view of the Labour Party that addressing such a trivial issue by means of a member’s Bill is a waste of the House’s time, which could be better spent on serious issues that matter to all New Zealanders. Making the amendment through the Statutes Amendment Bill currently before the House will not occupy hours of House and select committee time, provided that Mr Korako withdraws his Bill.