Tremain Chris: General Debate 
Tremain Chris: General Debate 
[Volume:676;Page:21513] 
CHRIS TREMAIN (National—Napier) 
: 
 I will begin by expressing my personal condolences and those of the Napier and Wairoa communities to the family of the SAS soldier who was killed in Afghanistan in the last day. I say that our thoughts are with the family at this point in time. 
I am very proud of what is currently happening across this country. Last night I watched my home town of Napier host yet another stunning Rugby World Cup game which was between Canada and Japan at McLean Park—unfortunately it was a draw—yet another addition to the games that are proliferating around the country and adding a range of excitement. My province has embraced the cup and all up and down the country it is absolutely fantastic to see. 
Although I do not often like to put accolades on to the Auckland community I have to say that at this point in time they are taking the cake in terms of their support for the tournament. I was fortunate to be up there last weekend to walk along some of the fan walk down through Bond Street and over to the All Black game against the French and to see the way that that community is being inspired by the tournament. Down Bond Street there were parties in every second house with rear-projection cinema and people sitting on the street watching the pre-game roll-out—absolutely fantastic! And I give particular congratulations to the Pacific Island community up there who like no other in this country have embraced the tournament with multiple flags on the tops of their cars and who are doing an absolutely wonderful job I have to say. 
The Rugby World Cup is highlighting all the wonderful parts of this country. It is doing an absolutely stunning job. At the same time that we are celebrating the Rugby World Cup we have heard today from the Minister of Finance about the numerous other nations around the globe that are facing serious difficulties. I do not want to make light of New Zealand’s situation by any means; undoubtedly we still face pretty tough times. But by comparison with just about any other nation on the globe this country is doing pretty damn well and I am proud to hear that. 
I will just briefly repeat some of those statistics of what we inherited as a Government: mortgage rates at 10.5 percent in 2008—just think about that: mortgage rates at 10.5 percent! The average family that has a mortgage is facing interest costs of under $200 a week less now than it was facing 3 years ago. That is absolutely fantastic. We inherited an economy that had had negative growth for four quarters in a row and we were already in recession on coming into Government. One of the most frightening statistics which has not been rolled out today is that there had been no net new jobs in the productive sector since 2004—none. New jobs had all happened in the Government sector and the services sector and that regardless of the spin is no way to grow an economy. 
Now as we head into the election the fact is that the economy has grown—it has grown slowly but it has grown—at 1 percent in the first two quarters of this year. In eight quarters out of nine since we have been in Government we have seen growth. Interest rates as I have said are at a 45-year low and the unemployment rate is falling. Albeit we would like to see it falling faster but as the Prime Minister said today in 2011 the total jobs in this country are more than the total jobs that were in this country in 2008. That is a fact. The economy is growing and this Government at the tiller is making a difference. But it is not the Government obviously that makes the overall difference. It is the employers out there who have put their shoulders to the grindstone through these difficult periods and who have delivered security and jobs and wages to our people. I want to thank them all. 
All of us would like to see these statistics being painted in an even rosier light but those are the facts. Relative to other countries our future looks exceptionally bright. Although the Government has played a steady hand at the tiller the position we find ourselves in is as I say due to the hard work of employers around this country. 
Meanwhile instead of focusing on the issues that matter Labour across the House with its ever-decreasing circle of supporters continues unfortunately to grovel in the sewer. I will take up Mr Coleman’s point because I was gobsmacked this week when Darien Fenton commented about one of this country’s greatest New Zealanders—a large employer and someone who has supported people who have been in difficult situations. I thought that was appalling.