Lotu-Iiga Sam: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLotu-Iiga Sam: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 11 February 2014. Volume:696;Page:15792. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Minister of Pacific Island Affairs): It is a privilege to speak on this the Prime Minister’s statement to this House and to speak for the first time as the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs. I am honoured and humbled to be entrusted with that particular title as well as that of Associate Minister of Local Government. I am honoured that the Prime Minister placed his trust and his faith in me to deliver for those portfolios. I am honoured to have a Prime Minister who has led a Government that has stabilised the economy that has grown this economy and that has grown jobs in this nation of Aotearoa New Zealand. It has also provided an infrastructure educational services and health services that all New Zealanders should be proud of.Just on education last Friday I attended an opening ceremony for a unique school in my original home community of Māngere. The Rise UP Trust is a not-for-profit community organisation that provides educational services for Pasifika and Māori whānau. This was the first—but it will not be the last—partnership school with Pacific leadership with Pacific governance with teachers teaching Pacific values within the New Zealand Curriculum. Those programmes were designed by teachers who have grown up and worked in South Auckland schools for many years. This school started in a Māngere garage culminating last week in the opening of this second partnership school. I consider this school to mark a small but significant milestone for this country’s youngest and fastest-growing population in and around Māngere. It represents a promising new approach to teaching Pasifika children and I am proud that this National Government has poured resources into Pacific people into Pacific communities and into the communities of South Auckland so that they can have opportunities they can have hope and ultimately they can have financial freedom and self-reliance. ThePacific community which makes up 64 percent of Māngere has mobilised itself and is taking charge of its own children’s futures. It is going to be a bright one.In the last 5 years we have seen big results based on the commitments and the promises that the National Party electioneered on—the platform that we came in on in 2008 which we are delivering on. It is about building a faster-growing economy with more jobs raising incomes and supporting New Zealanders and their families. It is also about being fiscally prudent so that a Budget surplus is forecast for the next financial year 2014-15. Why would New Zealanders risk that with a Labour-Greens coalition which is prepared to tax and spend at exorbitant and reckless rates? Our economy has grown 3.5 percent and it has been picked up by leaders around the world as a role model for developed nations. Our wages have outpaced inflation as Mr Simpson knows.Carol Beaumont: Tell that to all the people who haven’t had a pay increase.Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: Ms Beaumont might scoff but here are the facts. We have had a 16.1 percent rise in wages since 2008 and inflation has gone up only 10.8 percent.Carol Beaumont: Forty percent didn’t get a pay increase last year.Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I suggest ma’am that you do your homework and find out—Iain Lees-Galloway: Was that the median wage Sam or is that just rich people getting richer? Sam is that the median wage or is it the rich people getting richer?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: —that wages have increased faster than inflation. This morning—and Mr Lees-Galloway knows this—66000 more people went to work in New Zealand than this time last year. There are 66000 more New Zealanders currently employed than this time last year. As the last 5 years have shown this National-led Government has delivered stable leadership and put New Zealanders back on the right track.The future success and prosperity of Pacific people will influence the outcomes for New Zealand as a whole. We know that they currently represent 8 percent of the population. It is estimated that by 2026 they will represent 10 percent of the population. They predict that by 2050 Māori and Pacific people and other ethnic groups will form approximately 50 percent of the population. So we need to have our next generation of Pacific people in prominent positions not just as doctors lawyers teachers scientists and accountants but also in trades. The most important thing which this Government has stated is that they are employed and that they have better skills to meet the demands for the 21st century—a century in which we are competing with nations in not just Asia and Europe but also the Americas. Our Government is working hard to prepare young people for the future giving them the educational foundation to succeed in life.Last year I attended the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards scholarships right here in Parliament. I was proud to see seven young people given awards for leadership creativity technological flair and educational promise. Each of them was a tertiary student and I would offer the view that each will go on to great success. A common theme was the tribute that each of these students paid to their families and the support given to them by their whānau and families in their educational endeavours. It is not just about education programmes buildings sports fields and the like; it really is about the support that whānau can give. It is about the support that their families can give outside of school. It is about the support and encouragement and love that they can give to whānau in order that they can succeed not just at school but in the workplace and in our communities. Without exception they credited education as fundamental to that success. That is why our Government is focused very much on standards in education. Itis focused very much on achievement levels. It is focused very much on our kids gaining the skills that they need to succeed in the future.In 2012 Minister Parata released the Pasifika Education Plan 2013-2017. It is an overarching plan to increase Pasifika achievement and participation in education from early childhood education right up to tertiary-level education. One of the goals is to raise National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 2 pass rates in ways that are connected with entering employment or further training. Already I can report to this House and to our country that Pacific achievement in NCEA level 2 has improved from 56.5 percent in 2009 to 64.8 percent in 2012.Last Friday I attended a breakfast for Pacific students at Rosmini College on the North Shore. These Pacific students achieved a 100 percent pass rate at NCEA levels 1 and 3 and a 91 percent pass rate at level 2. So we have got some stars out there. We have got young kids who are really performing and achieving. Although we accept that these achievement levels are going up there is still more to be done out there.We have introduced programmes like Pasifika Power UP with Minister Parata leading the charge to help Pacific students prepare and study for exams. It takes a whole-of-family approach. Pasifika Power UP is a 12-month engagement programme with an intensive 8-week challenge delivered through eight Pacific community - based study hubs predominantly in South Auckland. The young people receive support and advice around their studies. Parents are informed about the structure of NCEA and its significance. The hubs provide advice around family support for their children’s success. These Pasifika Power UP programmes help give effect to the energy and the desire in Pacific communities for young people to do better in NCEA levels 1 2 and 3. We had over 1600 Pasifika students parents and families attend these programmes right across the country—as I said predominantly in South Auckland. That is a great sign that Pacific people are passionate about education and eager to be part of the skilled workforce.Just on employment I have said that there are currently just under 2.3 million people employed across our country. Forecasts show that these trends will continue this year as the Government’s Business Growth Agenda leads to expanded export markets more innovation better infrastructure greater skills development and improved resources. Our Pacific community is sharing in the employment gains. The unemployment rate for Pasifika is down 2.3 percent from a year ago. Since 2011 Pacific Employment Support Services has assisted providers to help raise NCEA level 2 success in 25 schools throughout Auckland.I just want to sum up by saying that we are approaching a general election where New Zealanders will have a clear choice.Carol Beaumont: That’s true. That’s very true.Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: Through difficult times this Government—and Ms Beaumont knows this—has put New Zealand on a strong financial footing. The economy is growing we are creating jobs and we are having higher incomes. That is for all New Zealanders. This Government will continue to deliver those results going forward.