Wedd CatherineCATHERINE WEDD (National—Tukituki): As I rise today I would like to acknowledge New Zealand Sign Language Week. This is always a week that I personally reflect on my childhood. My older brother Jeremy he's intellectually disabled and he's never been able to talk. But as children my mother was so determined for him to be able to communicate that she taught us certain signs. I can't confess that I remember the signs very well now but it enabled us to communicate with our brother in those early years when he was still trying to understand oral language.Sign language was not an official language in New Zealand at that time but it is now and I stand here today to celebrate New Zealand Sign Language as an official language in New Zealand. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our Deaf community and reaffirm our Government's commitment to creating a more inclusive environment for everyone.Speaking of communication and education and the power it has to create equality I recently had the privilege of visiting some of our Tukituki schools in my electorate to see structured literacy in action in the classroom. At Havelock North Primary School they have been leading the way in Hawke's Bay in structured literacy across the school from year 0 to year 6. Teachers and parents I spoke to there say it makes a real difference. I could see in the classroom the children's faces light up as they sounded out the words and repeated the sounds of the words. Rather than just memorising the words they were learning the basic sounds—and it works.Structured literacy is about getting the foundations right so children can read and write by using sounds and phonics to read out and understand words. It provides the essential building blocks of literacy. Seeing it in action with my six-year-old and nine-year-old I'm a massive advocate for structured literacy and I'm pleased to see our Government rolling it out across all schools. I believe it empowers children to become confident readers setting them on a pathway to positive success. Our National-led Government is laser-focused on education and lifting performance in our classrooms.The other area that our Government is laser-focused on is reducing red tape through changes like the fast-track bill which is a key part of our plan to rebuild the economy—because we are focused on building things and that includes building roads. I'm so pleased that Hawke's Bay's four-lane expressway is on the roads of national significance and is a priority for our Government. This will drive productivity and efficiency.Water storage is another area which drives productivity and is especially relevant in Hawke's Bay. I've been receiving a lot of concerning feedback to my electorate as our Hawke's Bay Regional Council moves to halve water allocations across the Heretaunga Plains. Water is the lifeblood of our economy our agriculture sector our industries and our livelihoods. Our Government's commitment to water storage—not only large-scale but small-scale dams on farms—is vital for the future growth of our country.Our Hawke's Bay farmers had been villainised for the past six years with red tape and regulation. When I was a kid growing up on the farm Dad would get the digger out and build a pond store water in the summer and use it in the winter because this makes total sense. But on that side of the House they've got bureaucracy far too involved in farming with clipboards paperwork and officials—which has stagnated growth. We need to get the wheels moving again.But as I conclude today I'd like to pay a special tribute to all the incredible women who have shaped our lives. This week I was proud to receive this white camellia brooch as the symbol of women's suffrage in New Zealand—and officially the 194th female member of our New Zealand Parliament. I wear this brooch with pride as we have come a long way in New Zealand to having stronger female representation in this House. I'm proud that my daughters are growing up in a country where it is normal to see their mums in public office. As Mother's Day approaches this Sunday I'd like to wish all the mums out there a happy Mother's Day. As one mother to another: let us honour the immeasurable contributions not just today but every day.