Twyford PhilHon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure to stand and speak in the debate on the Prime Minister's statement. There isn't a country in the world that hasn't been tested by the pandemic and we've faced very difficult decisions on a daily basis with no playbook but as a country we have done well and that is a fact: the lowest mortality rates in the OECD year on year since the pandemic started. The Australian thinktank the Lowy Institute recently rated New Zealand as No. 1 for its COVID response. How often do the Australians throw us a bone eh? Unemployment at 3.2 percent and impressive wage growth. The Prime Minister has delivered a masterclass in leadership: compassionate clear putting people first and always with science and good policy front and centre.Now we haven't got every decision right and of course there will always be things that could be done better. But to get the big calls right in responding to a global pandemic an event that the world hasn't seen for a century is surely an impressive effort. And I reckon that the proof lies in the collective wisdom of the public who we've been able to take along with us as each tough decision is made and whose effort and sacrifice has been absolutely essential in keeping us all safe. I want to acknowledge in particular the efforts in my own electorate in West Auckland: the Waitematā DHB has 95 percent fully vaccinated including 93 percent of our Pasifika population and 88 percent of Māori—it's a brilliant effort. I want to give a shout-out to two outstanding organisations who work on the ground in West Auckland getting vaccinations up working with their people—it's been nothing short of outstanding—and I'm talking about Te Whānau o Waipareira and The Fono. They've really done the hard yards they've been tireless and innovative and they've got results.In the middle of COVID Labour has been getting on with nation building: a massive reform agenda that includes the redesign of the planning system; building the low-carbon economy; futureproofing the public health system—thank you Andrew Little; a massive reform agenda in housing; the immigration rebalance; three waters; rapid transit in Auckland; the revamp of vocational training; fair-pay agreements to tackle the scourge of low pay; and now Grant Robertson's social unemployment insurance scheme. This is what the public elect Labour Governments to do. We are the party that New Zealand looks to in times of change and challenge. It's not always popular and sometimes it will be decades before the full benefits are felt but there are too many times in this country when we lament the inaction of previous Governments where short-term political expediency has taken precedence over what's right for our country. And that makes it all the more amazing that National is still happy to be known as the party of the status quo interested only in the exercise of power.The Prime Minister mentioned in her contribution in this debate the free-trade agreement with the United Kingdom—and Damien O'Connor has worked tirelessly to nail this down—and I'm sure we'll see more progress in this area as the Prime Minister leads trade delegations overseas this year. I'm looking forward to contributing in the trade area in my responsibilities in relation to PACER Plus—the trade and development agreement that brings together 10 of our Pacific partners—and we are looking forward to a big year of progress on that. Labour embraces change and challenge. We always look for opportunity and progress for New Zealand. In contrast the National Party has in record time set the bar so low for itself that another leadership change has given rise to the mistaken idea of some kind of renaissance on the Opposition benches. It is the party of false dawns; we've seen it five times in the last four years and I'm sure we will see it again. It epitomises National a party that never saw an opportunity that they didn't want to pass up. They couldn't be a Government for this country at this time if they tried but thankfully Labour is.