Wagner Nicky: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWagner Nicky: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 10 February 2016. Volume:711;Page:8848. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon NICKY WAGNER (Minister of Customs): It is my pleasure to speak on the Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament for 2016. The National members are delighted to be back. We are full of energy and bright ideas and are ready to roll up our sleeves and get on with the work. We are absolutely focused on our ongoing plan—our plan to grow the economy so that we create jobs raise incomes and support New Zealand families.Our agendas are full this year. We are committed to policies to make New Zealand a better place to live in a better place to work in and a better place to enjoy. I think all New Zealanders understand the benefits of living in a confident and prosperous nation because that is where New Zealanders can get the best opportunities—opportunities for people to get ahead. I think we are making real progress. The figure that came out for the unemployment rate just last week at 5.3 percent is a great result. That is better than Australia it is better than the OECD average at 6.6 percent and it is significant because getting a good job is the best opportunity for anyone to get ahead.It is also why the Government’s four priorities are so important. The first responsibly managing the economy and the second building a more competitive and productive economy go hand in hand. And it is not about growing the economy just for growing the economy’s sake; it is for what it can do for Kiwis. It is what it can do in creating new jobs building more businesses increasing incomes; and most of all increasing our tax take which underpins the third priority of this Government which is better public services—better public services. That is about quality health care; better education and training particularly for our young people; investing in social development; investing to support families and giving them a hand up; and building the infrastructure—the roads the trains the bridges the sewers and the pipes—that all New Zealanders use.And that brings us to our fourth priority which is supporting the rebuild of Christchurch which of course is very close to my heart as the member for Christchurch Central. That rebuild has probably been the Government’s biggest challenge since 2010 and 2011. International research tells us that it takes about a decade—about 10 years—for any community to recover from a major disaster like our earthquakes. And I think almost 5 years later with the enormous amount of effort that has been put in locally and actually right across New Zealand and with $17 billion of commitment from this Government we have broken the back of it. I think we have broken the back of it because just last week the Earthquake Commission told me that it has repaired 68000 homes and it has got only a couple of thousand more to go. Sixty-eight thousand homes—that is the number of houses in Nelson and Invercargill combined. So it just gives you an idea of the scale of that work.Eighty five percent of the infrastructure in the city has been repaired and we are on the positive side now. Most of our demolition has been completed and we are beginning to build. In fact our building expansion is going gangbusters. In the middle of last year we completed the Christchurch Bus Interchange. The interchange is a particularly important facility for Christchurch because it is going to enable us to revolutionise how we use public transport in our city.Over the last year or so we have cleaned up the Avon/Ōtākaro River and we are developing attractions along the side of that river and public spaces. The most exciting public space that opened just before Christmas is the Margaret Mahy Family Playground and I just want to take a moment to celebrate that playground. I take my hat off to the people of the Share an Idea process who came up with the idea of a playground. The idea was that it would bring children and therefore their families back into the city and it has worked a treat. Christchurch people—Canterbury people actually—have taken it to the heart. It helps that it is the biggest and the best and the most glamourous playground probably in the southern hemisphere and the fact that it was designed by kids for kids. But do you know that over 100000 people have used that playground since Christmas? They are using it day and night. One of the loveliest stories is that it is not enough to have the kids during the day but the big kids and those who are young at heart are using it at night. And I think that is a really good sign because it has so much light and it is so secure with its closed-circuit television cameras that people feel they can use it in the evenings. And the best thing about that is they are using it without alcohol without drugs and without violence.It is an absolutely wonderful family facility. It has actually catalysed families coming back into our city. In fact several families have told me they had a staycation this year. They stayed at home so they could enjoy the attractions of the central city: the new art gallery that has opened the museum has had record numbers the Re:Start mall and everything that our city has to offer.Let us just have a look at some of the more serious buildings like the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct which will be completed this year. And that is important not only because it is a fabulous building but because it is a new way to deliver services in our city. The police the Department of Corrections and courts are all working together in the justice precinct and that will make it much easier to coordinate their approaches and to manage crime. In terms of emergencies the police the Fire Service the ambulance and civil defence are all working together as well. I think this hubbing of services will provide a far better service in a cost-effective way and I think it will be a new model for other cities around the country.Coming up following that are the Metro Sports Facility the East Frame residential development and the conference centre and they are all progressing. When I look at all the development and design work that is going into these buildings I am sure that they are going to be absolutely world class and that they will be beloved by the people of Christchurch just as they liked the facilities that they had pre-earthquake.So I think I can in all objective ways say that we have broken the back of the tough stuff but let me explain that there are still some people who are managing the issues of the earthquake. It is still difficult for them and so it is really important that we put in support for those people things like the All Right? campaign which is to do with well-being and supporting people through this process and through mental health issues; the In the Know Hub which provides information for people and connects them up to the services; and also the Residential Advisory Service which gives people who are still struggling with rebuilds and repairs some help.But I think it is also time that we look to the future and I think the part of our future that is coming along is the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Bill. That is sitting in the House at the moment and it ushers in a whole new wave of redevelopment and commitment to local involvement and local leadership as the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority is wound up. The Regenerate Christchurch board will be jointly appointed by the Christchurch City Council and the Government and it will bring local leaders with the skills the expertise and the passion to carry on that regeneration. They will focus on regenerating the central city and the residential red zone which will be a wonderful swathe of green through the centre of our city four times the size of Hagley Park and they will focus on the rebuild and renewal of New Brighton.It is a whole new phase for Christchurch as it looks to a vibrant future. This will drive new thinking and new ways of doing things and really regenerate so that our city can grow and flourish. I think it is really important that Regenerate Christchurch helps us make the most of every opportunity that is coming along for us to make sure that our city really fulfils its place for future generations.So to recap the National Government is energised. We are leaping into 2016. There is much for us to do but we are up for it and we are looking forward to making a real difference to New Zealand and New Zealanders. Thank you.