Alongside amendments improving the Māori electoral option introduced to the House last month, this bill forms part of a broader reform programme to update New Zealand's electoral legislation. In October last year, the former Minister of Justice, Hon Kris Faafoi, announced an independent review of electoral law to ensure the rules remain fit for purpose and meet the needs of the next generation of voters. We have established a bipartisan independent panel of experts to undertake this review. As part of this work, the panel will consider our electoral finance framework more broadly, along with whether there should be permanent changes to overseas voting eligibility. I'm looking forward to the active engagement of all members across the House with the independent review panel on these and other matters of importance to our democracy. 