VANUSHI WALTERS (Labour—Upper Harbour): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to take a call to speak to the Policing (Killing a Police Dog) Amendment Bill, a bill that is really about the maximum sentencing for this offence, which would increase the maximum prison sentence from two to five years. I also do want to acknowledge the intent that's given rise to the bill, which I do believe has come from a really good place and is about recognising the significant and tragic loss of those dogs who have been killed. It is about acknowledging what they meant to those handlers and to the families who have cared for them as well. When I learnt that I was speaking to this bill, I also reflected on the stories of police dogs who had passed not in tragic circumstances but who have been honoured in New Zealand media in some ways, such as the dog Ike who passed over after a long career of service last year, so we, as a New Zealand community, are a community who hugely respect the important role that police dogs play in our police force. 