Parata HekiaGENERAL DEBATEHon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): I move That the House take note of miscellaneous business. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the teachers the principals and the kids and their families who have contributed to the highest National Certificate of Educational Achievement results we have ever had. Up and down the country we have hard-working Kiwi families who have contributed to the increasing strength in our economy. That in turn has allowed this Government with a very strong investment focus to put the money that we have prudently husbanded into places where it will make the most difference both in short-term investments but also in the medium to long term. Everybody in this House knows that a good education gives more choices. Those choices properly executed will mean that we will see greater strength in our economy and the ability to grow well and to invest in the options that people want that characterise their quality of life and by that I mean to be able to travel to be able to purchase the houses they wish to purchase and to be able to have their children educated in the way they wish to have them educated. Under this Government we have seen growth under very difficult times. This Government has not resiled from that. We have seen more jobs created we have seen the average income go up we have seen unemployment go down and we are seeing skills and qualifications growing through the very targeted investment we are making in education. For the first time Vote Education is over $11 billion—$11 billion. That is a shipload of money that this Government considers—[Interruption] Oh a shipload—please. Please it is a little pun—do not get all upset about it. That is going into education and we are seeing the results of that. We are seeing more young people participating in early childhood education. We are seeing more do better with national standards. We know how well kids are doing each year. We do not have to wait as the previous administration did till they get to year 12 to find that kids are not literate or numerate. Every year under national standards—in fact every week or every month—teachers are able to see how well kids are doing and to make the next learning step or investment. This Government using its social investment approach for the first time in Budget 2016 has said that rather than have a universal operations grant across the education sector it will target those kids whom it knows from data are most at risk of not achieving. That means that although the overwhelming majority of schools will get some investment they will get different levels according to the intensity of risk that is in their schools. This approach reflects our Government's approach to using data and investing taxpayers' money where it will make the most difference. It reflects our respect for taxpayers who are the ones who grow the economy which this Government understands. It is not the Government; we are just the middle people.Hon Member: You're saying taxpayers"?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I said "taxpayers"—that is right. We respect those people. We want to make sure that the investments we put into education or science—this Budget also provided for a $761 million investment into the space of technology science and engineering because we know that that is part of a 21st century modern economy. Last week I was out in "Technology Valley" otherwise known to some people as the Hutt Valley. Chris Bishop the energetic list MP based in the Hutt ensured that I attended the Technology Valley Awards. There was a celebration from the youngest learners there to the entrepreneurs and the innovators in recognition that knowledge and new knowledge is important for New Zealand's place in the world. New Zealand understands its role as an international player.Hon Trevor Mallard: The same day you fired 14 scientists in the Hutt.Hon HEKIA PARATA: Not only are we concerned to ensure that New Zealand citizens get the best education possible but we are also prepared to give that opportunity as part of our international role to those who cannot get it elsewhere. That member can shout away over there—Hon Annette King: You're shouting. Shh!Hon HEKIA PARATA: —but the people in the Hutt know he does nothing but shout. I am matching the shouting from your colleague Mrs King. I am excited about "Technology Valley". I am excited about the investments made there by the Hutt City Council. I am excited by the energetic Chris Bishop who is the first time they have seen energy in the Hutt Valley. It is the investing in education—yes Mr Speaker—that will make the difference for more young New Zealanders. Thank you."