Davidson MaramaMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green): I'm proud of the budget package that was announced yesterday by this Government. I'm proud that we all work together—the Labour Party New Zealand First and the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. He waka eke noa" was often said yesterday and it is absolutely true that we are all in this together and must look out for each other. Working together as a Parliament is something that we should have always been doing long before a global political crisis approached us. So I'm proud and relieved that this Government very quickly stepped up to announce a budget package yesterday; it's the first great step in our response to the COVID-19 virus.Again looking after people with the least resources and the least support is part of the core responsibility of parliaments at all times but especially right now. It's that collective care and responsibility that is going to get us through.What I was disappointed to hear from the Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges was when we pit each other against each other—when groups and communities were set against each other. That is the opposite of the approach and the attitude that we will need to get through this. So I wanted to be clear to this House and to the country that the Leader of the Opposition needs to read the room collectively: New Zealanders want us to work together. That was an uncalled for tone and attitude that was put on this House yesterday.For far too long as a nation Governments and politicians have left people out in the cold to fend for themselves. We now know that that is the opposite of what we need to be doing in our response to this COVID-19. The impact of leaving people out in the cold has long added to more anxiety and panic for people and that is why it is in everyone's best interest to not pit groups of people against each other to make sure that those at the hard edges of our communities who will bear the brunt of whatever is about to come are featured in our discussions and debates.Also I was pleased to see of course that Māori tribal authorities are swinging into action wanting to coordinate and provide assistance and resources. I wanted to acknowledge that at the community level and at our grassroots level groups and New Zealanders are showing ourselves once again to be ready to provide and care for each other collectively. I want to acknowledge community organisations and not-for-profits who also will receive some help from yesterday but we need to also bear them in mind at the front of our responses.The Greens know that support for people in abusive relationships is also going to be essential—as they find it hard already to leave those relationships without support but especially with the added stress of COVID-19. That's why the Minister's package yesterday is supporting New Zealanders to get through with the $500 million extra to help services at the front line; making sure that people can stay at work with the wage subsidy; making sure people who have to self-isolate can continue to be paid; raising benefits by $25 a week. Something that I'm very proud of is that the Greens are a part of this Government to help push those sorts of changes through—changes that the Welfare Expert Advisory Group wanted us to urgently prioritise. So we're very pleased to see that alongside doubling the winter energy payment and waiving interest and making it easier for small and medium sized businesses to keep workers in work. We know that this extra strain when people are finding themselves out of work is something that this Government can help with and we have shown that we are ready to step up and recognise that.People are relieved and have been in contact with me personally—[Member sneezes] Sorry; I didn't have a tissue but I will—in tears of relief and happiness at the announcement of the package yesterday. So I am really proud that we can give people hope and that people know this is the first step. Again leadership is required in these very times and I am proud of the leadership that we are showing here—again that people want to see us work together that people want to see us loving people caring for our land looking after our elders and understanding that all of the groups and communities who make up our beautiful country are all worthy of being valued that there is no time or room in this political House to pit groups of people against each other. We also know that pulling everyone together will help slow the virus down. This is good for everyone. Thank you Mr Speaker."