Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker. Look it's always a pleasure to take a call in the general debate particularly after Mr Seymour has resumed his seat. Mr Seymour keep trying—that's what I say. My message to you is keep trying. It's getting pretty tired actually Mr Seymour. It's just more absolute unnecessary chat from members on that side of the House yet again. Actually let's remind ourselves and remind everyone else in Aotearoa New Zealand what Mr Seymour and his party is seeking to cosy up next to in arrangement with the National Party and what the alternative is.Let's just briefly have a look at that because Mr Luxon has been the Leader of the Opposition for six months now and he says that he has some new ideas. Let's remind us all about what those new ideas are: minimum wage increase which this Government has consistently delivered on gone; Labour Day public holiday gone; fair pay agreements gone; public transport subsidies gone; and CEO tax bills gone as well. Not to mention the happiness of increased incomes in that member's back pocket as a result of what is proposed. So let's just remind ourselves and remind the hard-working Kiwis in this country what the alternative is under Mr Seymour and his buddies. On this side of the House we're not going to stand for that.But I'm not going to dwell on the negativity because I want to share some news with the House. I want to share some news with the House about colleagues who have recently visited the mighty Manawatū. We've had Minister Faafoi visiting the mighty Manawatū and acknowledge the immigration announcements that have been made by the Government this afternoon. We've had the Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall meeting with our public health workers—doing a fantastic job. Consistently I've made a point in my general debate contributions of acknowledging the hard work that those people are doing in that particular part of daily life and today is no different for that. She met with seniors in Palmerston North who were delighted to hear of as Mr Bennett has said the continuation of the winter energy payment and the increase to superannuation rates from 1 April—making a huge difference providing a welcome boost to households.In terms of a boost I'm delighted that last week I was able to visit Norwood's—a strong local business operating in my community of Palmerston North—who were saying to me how important the Apprenticeship Boost opportunity has been. I was there to actually look at their national training centre—I met with some of the apprentices who had travelled from all around the country from different franchises and opportunities to be trained in Palmerston North—and to hear about the good work that Norwood's a strong local business is doing in my rohe. So it's a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the extension of the boost initiative making sure that that increase of 55 percent within the apprenticeship opportunities over the last two years has solidified and will continue as well.Yesterday I travelled to Parliament on my local train service the Capital Connection. I want to thank Minister Wood and others for including that local train service in the 50 percent fare reduction. That makes a huge difference to my constituents—and I know my colleague the member for Ōtaki will agree with that because it makes a huge difference. It is a longstanding service that connects the capital to Palmerston North and all of the places—Rachel Boyack: What a great place.TANGI UTIKERE: —in between. A fantastic place it is. Thank you Ms Boyack. And it's also convenient. So I'm proud to be part of a Government that is continuing to invest in rail infrastructure but also meeting the demand and the needs of local communities when it comes to the accessibility of public transport.In racing parlance I guess you could say that this week is something of a quaddie—there are four things going on this week. It is New Zealand Sign Language Week and we acknowledge our signers and our interpreters all around Aotearoa New Zealand. It is Road Safety Week and I want to particularly give a shout-out to our road patrollers in schools. I stopped by on Monday one of my local schools—Central Normal School—to see the teachers but also the students doing that diligently in the morning and again in the afternoon. It is Youth Week and the Minister the Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan has touched on the importance of that. Finally it is Rotuman Language Week. While that is a small community is an important one. I think actually it might be the only Island nation that is at the apex of Macaronesia Micronesia and Polynesia. So that's important to acknowledge that as a special identifier there.Finally in terms of accolades can I acknowledge New Zealand's top scholars who have been acknowledged here at the Parliament today. In particular can I acknowledge Palmerston North Girls' High School's Myrna Brown for being the top scholar in painting. It was fantastic to see national achievement in our young people and I congratulate them all. Thank you Madam Speaker.