Lorck AnnaANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki): I rise as the final member of the Finance and Expenditure Committee (FEC) to speak on the Budget Policy Statement (BPS). I do so knowing not only from reflecting on the speakers who have gone before me but from my life time this BPS reflects to me a Budget Policy Statement that is going to touch on all New Zealanders—where the Government in the face of COVID-19 had our backs. In a time where we needed a Government to invest in us we had one.I reflect now on the speakers that have gone before me. Duncan Webb chairman of the FEC—he spoke of a world-leading wellbeing approach where the world is looking at us as we measure making lives better. He also talked about Government agencies and how they're moving away from being in silos to a collaborative and cooperating approach to working together. Then we heard from finance Minister Grant Robertson when he referenced the IMF Bloomberg and the Lowy Institute ranking New Zealand's response to COVID-19 among the best in the world. This is due to our public health approach at the same time as providing cash flow and confidence to New Zealand workers and businesses. We've succeeded in keeping unemployment under 5 percent compared to the OECD average 6.4 percent. Austerity isn't our goal; recovery and rebuilding is. Now we must make sure that the balance we've struck continues over the years. It is the strategy of a balanced approach which our Minister of Finance spoke of this evening that invests in our infrastructure; that supports the core Public Service like health and education; that has a plan for making sure we address climate change; and that gives our young people a future—an ambitious plan for New Zealand.My colleague Barbara Edmonds deputy chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee spoke of a focus on wellbeing objectives to lift Māori and Pacific incomes skills and opportunities. She spoke of going forward and investing in our people because we must keep moving.My colleague Helen White spoke of innovation vision supporting workers and decent wages leadership and having the right values because Labour is for all working people and for giving people a fair go. She spoke of our investment and a housing plan to get more families into affordable homes.Greg—Greg my other colleague—spoke not of doom and gloom as from—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member needs to use the full name of other members.ANNA LORCK: Yes Mr Speaker. Greg O'Connor spoke not of the doom and gloom from the other side of the House but of the fortunate things we are doing and of Business New Zealand talking just at the dinner break about the success stories that we're hearing where we're growing and thriving. We've heard from business leaders applauding the wellbeing approach and moving from the public sector into the private sector and we've even heard from a developer in the room who spoke about the fast-tracking of land for building and the success of those things. These are the things that we've heard about in the dinner break.I now turn to what my colleague Helen White spoke about here in the House about housing. Housing is where I will talk on the home front. Our district is leading on the housing front. Hastings suffered under the National Government. I know that for years publicly owned State houses were left to rot and ruin in Hastings. Today under the Labour Government—land that was going to be sold off and sold down—we now have 44 public homes built for warm affordable homes for families. Hastings is an example where this Government is working with the regions. It is an example where together with local council iwi local industry and trades—I'd like to report—534 building consents were issued in 2020. That is the highest level of homes built in the history of Hastings—the previous high: back in 2007. This includes Government investment in public housing with 180 public houses being built over 2021 with purchasing intentions for a further 288 homes. Hastings has also been enabled to fast track much needed housing on council land in Flaxmere where thanks to the Government the council received in the face of a critical housing shortage $11.5 million to go towards building the water and roading infrastructure to support affordable quality housing.I now turn to the Future of Work" as part of the Budget Policy Statement and I talk about the investment that is being made in enabling all New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses to benefit from new technology and lift productivity and wages through innovation and support into employment for those most affected by COVID-19 including women and young people. I'd like to talk now about the investment that is being made into the human capital—our people; our skills. This is where we are making a real difference in growing the trade skills we need to grow business and build houses in our region. I would like to also highlight that on the weekend I had the privilege—an absolute privilege—of meeting four talented building apprentices from local companies at Hawke's Bay Homes to understand this. I heard from Martin E who told me that before he was building as an apprentice he was making sushi and now thanks to Hawke's Bay Homes and the Government's free vocational training and apprenticeship scheme he's becoming a builder with a great career ahead. Over 100000 Kiwis have now signed up for this scheme and across New Zealand—since we introduced it in July last year as part of our response to COVID-19—this newly skilled workforce will play a crucial role as we invest in infrastructure projects continue our economic recovery and build New Zealand back better. I'd like to wish good luck to Trent one of the four young building apprentices I met in the weekend who are now off to represent Hawke's Bay at the nationals in Wellington.On top of this at our local Eastern Institute of Technology we have over 1250 learners enrolled in this trades training and apprenticeships scheme eligible for programmes. Therefore they are having their fees paid and this is the equivalent of approximately $3 million invested in the young people of Hawke's Bay thanks to this Government. This demand is an increase from previous years and it really shows how we are working with people on the ground in the regions. We are a Government that invests in people. We invest in jobs. We're supporting and backing business right here and growing the economy. We will keep going and we will never stop. This is the type of thing that you are seeing from this Government and it's with this type of investment unlike what we have heard is nothing but negative naysaying from the other side of the House. I have never ever heard so much disappointment. Who is really speaking to business? Who is absolutely doing this country proud? Who is making a difference? Who has touched the lives of New Zealanders this year in the face of COVID-19? It's—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member's time has expired. The question is that the motion be agreed to. Those of that opinion will say Aye; to the contrary No. The Ayes have it.Hon Members: Party vote.DEPUTY SPEAKER: A party vote has been called for. The Clerk will conduct a party vote."