SpeechDAN ROSEWARNE (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. What a privilege it is to take a call in this debate on the Prime Minister's statement. The statement that was presented during a difficult time for our country. Many New Zealanders are doing it tough as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods and in his statement the Prime Minister acknowledged the many areas that are still in emergency response mode for food water fuel and supplies having to be distributed. There has been widespread damage to farms processing and packhorse facilities and infrastructure as well as losses across the horticulture vegetable forestry stock and feed industries. The Government has moved quickly to respond. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) with more than 950 personnel directly involved in other elements preparing for rotation into affected areas. They have thrown absolutely everything at this. As of late yesterday Air Force NH90 helicopters had moved more than 42.5 tonnes of essential supplies throughout the Hawke's Bay region. They've flown more than 120 flying hours transported more than 260 personnel both civilian and military. They've transported 17 dogs five cats and underslung more than 13 tonnes of equipment.NH90s have flown generators and electricians into Te Hāroto and Tarawera and essential supplies to the Mōhaka Marae. They continue to deliver critical supplies to isolated communities and earlier this week transported a health clinic team to check on isolated residents. An Air Force C130 Hercules aircraft transported crucial supplies to Tai Rāwhiti communities including water StarLink equipment oxygen sanitary items and formula. Multiple NZDF teams remain on the ground in affected areas carrying out community checks delivering essential supplies and providing support to numerous Government agencies—reconnaissance teams checking road access around Wairoa in the wider region. I want to particularly acknowledge the Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles who deployed with New Zealand light armoured vehicles to find alternate routes into Wairoa and beyond. The 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment deployed personnel to liaise with local authorities to determine where support was required. The 2nd Combat Service Support Battalion along with 2 Engineer Regiment formed a task organised team to provide catering fuel delivery transport and water purification. HMNZS Canterbury has been unloading stores in Napier and is preparing to host members of the National Emergency Management Agency's incident management team and accommodate emergency responders who have been deployed to the region. HMNZS Manawanui continues to provide support to East Coast communities with crew delivering supplies and checking on the welfare of isolated residents and they'll return to communities in the vicinity of Tolaga Bay today. Having only recently retired from the Defence Force I feel a huge sense of pride seeing the various images and social media posts showing NZDF in our communities and just like the NZDF contribution to COVID-19 they've been there when New Zealand needs them. And I'd like to take this opportunity on behalf of this House to thank the NZDF for their huge contribution. It's times like this where people really do get to see that the NZDF is a force for New Zealand. As a Government we will say more about our plan to rebuild but for now we'll do what it takes. We will stand by New Zealanders as we recover. And just like our response to Cyclone Gabrielle we are also focusing on the response to the cost of living pressures our families are facing. We have extended the fuel excise restrictions and half-price public transport as well as increasing the minimum wage. More is on the way because that is what this Government is all about. The recovery will cost billions but we're in a strong financial position with some of the lowest debt in the world on a per capita basis and we are also in a strong position to focus on the bread and butter issues in front of New Zealanders right now: the cost of living and recovering and rebuilding from the cyclone. So once again I want to thank our NZDF staff and then also our emergency services working across the motu to make sure that our communities are safe. So thank you Mr Speaker.