Lee Melissa: Annual Review Debate — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLee Melissa: Annual Review Debate — In Committee[Sitting date: 13 April 2016. Volume:713;Page:10495. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MELISSA LEE (Chairperson of the Commerce Committee): It is a great pleasure as the Commerce Committee chair to lead off this debate. What a great year of annual reviews the Committee has had and received from the select committees. It has been great to listen to the excellent accomplishments through the Government’s work to support economic development around our country.The Commerce Committee was privileged to hear about a wide array of great initiatives our Government is offering to New Zealand. I was particularly interested in the Commerce Commission and I would like to commend the work—the great work—by the Commerce Commission to help New Zealanders become more financially literate thus supporting better saving and budgeting in Kiwi households. It is clear that financial capability is a priority for the Government and that further work in this area will help support New Zealanders to shape their lives for the better.I think that everyone in this Chamber is in fact aware of the website called Sorted.org.nz released by the Commerce Commission. This website which helps New Zealand families work out their financial situation has undergone a revitalisation to better fit the needs of those who use its services. All New Zealanders go through times when they need a little bit of help—whether it is budgeting for a new “want” item or trying to work out the interest rates and repayments of mortgages that they are trying to negotiate with a new bank for example. They can make their plans via the website because it does actually provide that assistance and I think it is great work that it is doing.Another thing that I am particularly fond of from the Commerce Commission is the animation on tv.comcom.govt.nz. It is called It’s All Good. It has been a fantastic way for New Zealand households to check out information on common issue areas and the first item that it put up had 140000 views in the first week alone. It should be commended by this Parliament and members in the Committee. I think it is absolutely fantastic work. The animation gives examples like when characters are trying to get a loan and it shows what they should be aware of and some of the pitfalls they could actually fall into. I think it is incredible that our people should actually use that website to get some guidance when they are making financial decisions.During the annual review the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise presentation to the Commerce Committee about the New Zealand Story Group was also of particular note. This is a plan that focuses on promoting New Zealand’s international brand under the Business Growth Agenda and it will aim to lift exports to 40 percent of GDP by 2025. New Zealand’s focus to get our brand to the rest of the world is an essential one if we are to be a part of a growing global economy.New Zealand is in good shape and we are working towards building a stronger more prosperous country where hard-working New Zealanders can have a brighter future. The review of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment was another great presentation. It was commendable to hear how the Government’s National Science Challenges are working as another great success for New Zealand. The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment told the committee about the levels of funding access available to New Zealand scientists to support further research and development within our country and how it was supporting the needs of New Zealand research.Eight National Science Challenges were under way by the end of 2015 with a total of $650 million in funding committed for their 10-year lives. It is part of New Zealand’s plan to get the best of New Zealand’s scientists working together on a given issue supporting collaboration and partnership over direct competition. More money in research and development will be the key need for New Zealand’s future and this is being accomplished. It was noted in the Business Operations Survey that total research and development investment growth was up almost $200 million on 2014 to $1.4 billion. As the Prime Minister said earlier today the Business Growth Agenda is the master list of the Government’s initiatives and is a great example of our plan to lift job growth support better business—