Pillay Lynne: General Debate 
Pillay Lynne: General Debate 
[Volume:635;Page:6308] 
LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) 
: 
 I do not want to be critical because that is just not the sort of thing that we do in the Labour Government. But to hear the member Nicky Wagner who is opposite me talking about cynicism just makes me laugh—talking about National’s blue-green policy about its commitment to addressing climate change when its leader has not even accepted that there is a problem. I think this is another example of the National Party’s leader being out of tune with what the members of his caucus are up to. My goodness what are those members up to as we speak? When I look over there at those members sitting on those benches I see there seems to be quite a bit of plotting and scheming going on. We would just love to know what is going on. But to hear that member talk about blue-green policies! 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: An oxymoron. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: What an oxymoron! I tell Mr Cunliffe that that is no way to talk about those people. But what about National’s blue-green policies? If we mix blue and green together what colour do we get? We get puce. We get a yucky horrible puce colour. I think that pretty well sums up what those blue-green policies are going to be. 
But I do not want to wallow in negativity; it is just not our style. I want to say that it is great to be back in New Zealand. What a privilege I had recently in attending an international conference in Geneva with two very affable travelling companions John Carter and Nandor Tanczos. What a team we were. We all felt a sense of pride when representatives from other countries came to us and said that we are so lucky to have the Government and the leader that we have. 
Jill Pettis 
: And Mr Carter was very proud. 
LYNNE PILLAY 
: Oh I think he was; I think he was bursting with pride. Helen Clark is a leader who is resolute about the appropriate handling of Iraq who is genuinely committed—not like the blue-green puce approach—to addressing climate change and who is unashamedly as leader of the Government promoting an inclusive society. 
 Myself and my great westie colleagues David Cunliffe who spoke so well earlier Darien Fenton whom I know we are going to hear from and also dear old Chris Carter who is a great friend and colleague had a great meeting in Waitakere only last Sunday. There was standing room only which is something Opposition members would not know about given the sad little groups they get at their meetings. We packed a hall full in that beautiful leafy green area of Titirangi. We had the wonderful children from Te Atatu Intermediate who did a wonderful welcome for us. Who did we have singing to us? We had Indira runner-up in  
NZ Idol 
. I can tell members of the pride we felt when she stood there and started her performance in front of those 400 to 500 people and said: “I am proud to be part of a Labour family.” That is us. We are hip we are groovy we are happening. That is our westie pride and it is our country’s pride. 
What else received applause? It was the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill. Members can imagine how I seethe with rage when I hear Opposition members banging on about blue-green policies when they absolutely opposed that bill. It is absolutely shocking stuff. I will tell members what else attracted similar applause at that meeting attended by 400 to 500 people. All of the Government’s good policies did such as our early childhood education policy our interest-free student loans our apprenticeships our industry training and New Zealand’s absolutely thriving economy. New Zealand probably has the lowest rate of unemployment that even someone of Dr Brash’s age can remember. These are all great attributes. They are great things that we can celebrate in Government. 
It is good to stand in this House and say that Labour members are proud of what we have achieved. We have done much but there is much to be done. We are really pleased that we are in the third term of a Labour-led Government and we are already working hard towards a fourth term so that we can keep acting on these great initiatives.