Andersen GinnyGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour): Thank you very much Mr Speaker. How good it is to stand up and be part of a Government that's here for the long haul—looking 30 years ahead not just three years ahead—and a Government that does a bit more than window dressing. What we see a lot over this side of the House is an Opposition that talks big that takes a photo and does nothing. I see that every day—I see that every day.When I look in my own backyard in terms of Hutt Valley I see the huge investment in schools that will change New Zealanders' lives for the future. I'm proud to see that. Let's just talk about a couple of those: Arakura School in desperate need of repair $113000; Eastern Hutt School $400000; Hutt Intermediate $400000; Hutt Valley High School $400000—been leaking for a while that one—Maungaraki School $247000; Wainuiomata High School $400000 on top of a complete rebuild; Wainuiomata Intermediate School $208000. I could go on but I have more to say in other areas.This is a Government that is investing in the future of our children and putting money into classrooms so children have warm dry fun learning environments to go to every day. Those teachers and those parents and those children know that that is happening. So it's all very well being a local member of Parliament and turning up for a cup of tea and a bickie but that's no good if the classrooms are leaking and the kids aren't there to learn and enjoy themselves. So that was schools.I'd like to move on to housing. We've had some chronic issues in terms of a housing crisis particularly in the Hutt Valley. While there has been absolutely no action under the previous Government we have brand new State houses opening in the Whites Line East road in the Hutt Valley. We have a significant development of 160 units going into Ēpuni with State houses and affordable homes. Just recently we have a new announcement for transitional housing to get families out of motels.What I have been really astounded to see is that the local member of Parliament Chris Bishop is objecting to getting people out of motels. The local member is actually taking a stance. I'd like to quote that local member in a recent post back in August when he took a strong stance against the housing crisis. He said that Housing in the Hutt is a disaster and [it's] getting worse but it doesn't have to be this way … I've tried to outline some solutions. Some will be led by government a lot by Council. Some require political courage and community buy-in." Well I ask: where is that political courage? He goes on to say that "if we carry on the way we are then housing will continue to become more unaffordable more people will be locked out of home ownership and homelessness will become entrenched in [the] community." We must fix this problem. Well I ask: where is the political motivation and strength to have courage in this area and try and get families out of motels families out of cars families out of garages and provide warm dry homes and warm dry schools for them to be educated in every day?This goes to the point that the Opposition is a Government that is focused on taking a photo making it look pretty in the paper making it look good on Facebook but in reality where is the money where is the commitment and where is that gut feeling of being able to come forward and represent the needs of your community? I tell you: it is non-existent. It's all very well to front up and take a photo with a baby and say you're the champion of maternity health but where was that spirit in 10 years of under-investment in our maternity services where our midwives were run into the ground and people weren't paid enough? They work long hard hours. Where was that member when a public meeting was called on the state of maternity services in the Hutt Valley? Non-existent—at a Christmas fair.I say that it's about time the people of Hutt Valley were represented by someone who actually cared someone who actually represented the interests of people someone who actually tried hard to give them a house a school and a hospital that's funded enough to service women children and families. Until that day comes I feel that the people of the Hutt Valley are not well served.It is about time that this Government took full advantage of the fact that we are investing in the future of our children. We are investing in the future and we are not taking cheap photos and making it look pretty when in reality this is a Government that's committed to tackling the big issues. That is exactly what we are doing by giving families more money in their pockets each day by giving children good schools by giving our families homes. I am proud to be part of a Government that puts that forward. Thank you Mr Speaker."