STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3581

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 161

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 161 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SISTER STATE RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW ZEALAND TO ADVANCE BIOSECURITY, CONSERVATION, PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND OTHER ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the establishment of a sister-state relationship with New Zealand to advance biosecurity, conservation, protection of endangered species, and other issues of mutual concern.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that New Zealand and the State, in addition to a shared cultural heritage, share a similar threat to biodiversity from invasive species. New Zealand has become a recognized leader in conservation, employing a comprehensive system that has allowed native populations of flora and fauna to rebound and thrive, and your Committee believes the State's related efforts would benefit from the expertise of New Zealand counterparts. This measure would, therefore, make significant strides toward increasing biosecurity and biodiversity in the State and further cement the bond between the State and a cultural partner.

Your Committee acknowledges the recommendation provided in testimony by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism that, since New Zealand is a country and its subnational governments are not equivalent to states or provinces, a partnership between the State and New Zealand would be more appropriate than a sister-state relationship. Amendments to this measure are therefore necessary to adopt this recommendation.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the purpose of this measure is to encourage the State to establish a partnership with Aotearoa New Zealand to advance biosecurity, conservation, protection of endangered species, and other issues of mutual concern;

(2) Replacing the term "New Zealand" with the term "Aotearoa New Zealand" throughout the measure;

(3) Amending its title accordingly; and

(4) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 161, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 161, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair