Lotu-Iiga Sam: Budget DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLotu-Iiga Sam: Budget Debate[Sitting date: 22 May 2014. Volume:699;Page:18276. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Minister of Pacific Island Affairs): It is a pleasure to rise to speak to this Budget debate and along with my colleague who has just resumed his seat the Hon Maurice Williamson congratulate the Minister of Finance Bill English and our Prime Minister on another effective Budget for New Zealanders. It is a Budget that has family and children at its centre. It is a Budget that leads to a surplus in 2015. And it is a Budget that at its core focuses on the issues that really matter to all New Zealanders and they are health education jobs housing economic growth and above all living within our means.There is $173 million on paid parental leave. That is for supporting children when they are at their most vulnerable and families during what may be difficult times andwe are there to support them. There is the $90 million on free doctors visits and prescriptions for kids under 13. Over 400000 kids will benefit and 45000 of these will be Pacific. Again we are there to support them.The feedback I have been getting in Maungakiekie and from Pacific communities is that this Budget is good for our families and can help with tight family budgets. It shows that National cares about the vulnerable it cares about those who are in need and it cares about those families who are struggling. We know that healthy kids are better able to learn grow and develop. That is also why we are investing a further $150 million into early childhood education. You see our children deserve the best start to life and this Government is delivering on that promise. For Pasifika that means the number of early childhood education centres has increased by 9 percent to 96 early childhood education centres across this country. The number of children enrolled has increased 12 percent in the last 5 years and now there are over 3100 children participating in early childhood education. The number of teachers for Pacific children has gone up 30 percent under this National administration and there are now over 1900 early childhood teachers across this country.This Budget is about more jobs. We expect another 172000 jobs by 2018. In only this last year we have had 84000 jobs added and created in our country and again 7900 of these are for Pacific people. What that shows is that a job promotes self-reliance it promotes independence and it promotes the ability of all New Zealanders to feed clothe and develop and nurture their families. Average wages have gone up $3000 in the past 2 years and they are forecast to increase by another $7600 by 2018. For Pacific people the average weekly earnings have gone up 14 percent or $94 in the last 5 years. There have been low increases in the cost of living. We know that wages will have grown by 13.9 percent by 2018 and inflation will grow by only 9.8 percent. This Budget is about families and our children. This Budget is about New Zealand getting to surplus and it is about the issues that matter to all New Zealanders.On 20 September New Zealanders will have a decision to make. Will they vote in a Government that has a record of success and a vision for a great New Zealand or will they vote in a rabid Opposition that is divided and devoid of good ideas? I say they will vote in the National Government again. They trust this National Government to look after all New Zealanders: those who are vulnerable those who are in need and those who require help. Thank you.