Mahuta Nanaia: General Debate 
Mahuta Nanaia: General Debate 
[Volume:621;Page:16553] 
NANAIA MAHUTA (Labour—Tainui) 
: 
 Having heard the previous speaker it is clear the Opposition is doing the numbers now; looking for another new leader. The Opposition got its wake-up call today when we witnessed something quite incredible on the Opposition benches. Members opposite were nervous anxious jittery; then there was silence. The Leader of the Opposition made a cameo appearance and spoke in this House. Ten minutes later in a silence so deafening that a member on the other side thought he heard an alarm clock the National Party got its wake-up call. Those members know there is no leadership in their party and no inspiration about where things are going. What they have is “flashback Brash” or “back-in-a-flash Brash”. No matter what way we say it they know they are doomed. 
The polls are looking good for this Government. We have made some changes in communities—real communities. But what is National’s track record under the leadership of Don Brash? In January this year Dr Brash said: “Over the next few months I plan to give a major speech on each of my five main priorities—race relations education welfare dependency security and the economy.” What has the public heard? Nothing. In July this year Dr Brash said: “The thing you will see increasingly is major policies being rolled out.” What has the public of New Zealand heard from the National Party? Nothing. Then in September this year Dr Brash said: “The likelihood is that we will not do any other major speeches on things like social welfare reform education health and so on until the beginning of next year.” So what we have from the other side is leadership under “flashback Brash” or “back-in-a-flash Brash” of a say nothing do nothing party. 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am reluctant to interrupt the member’s speech but as was pointed out during the snap debate earlier this afternoon it is appropriate if members are referred to by their correct title. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: I thank the member for that. I was just about to remind the speaker. 
NANAIA MAHUTA 
: All we have heard from National is: “Wait and see. We’ll tell you in time”. But what have the New Zealand public heard from the National Party? Nothing. In September Dr Brash and his advisers said they were holding fire. It certainly looks like they are holding fire because they have no bullets in their gun to shoot. It is a very sad track record. What we have seen throughout the whole of this year under Dr Brash’s leadership is backtracking and flip-flopping. They do not know where they are going. They lack inspiration and have no direction. We really do not know what they are on about. 
However this Government has made many improvements since 1999. Maori unemployment is down from 18 percent to under 9 percent. More Maori are in training and employment in our communities. We have made real changes. More Maori are pursuing development aspirations. More Maori are in better housing. More Maori are receiving better health-care. More Maori have better employment opportunities. These improvements do not relate just to Maori but to Pacific Island people and low-income people. We see that as achieving real outcomes in our communities. 
What do we hear from members opposite? We hear only criticism. They have no vision no ideas just silence. They are silent because everybody is supposed to wait until next year for the Opposition to say what a National Government would do. The Opposition cannot put forward one good idea of what it proposes and how it proposes to benefit the public of New Zealand. That is a sad track record especially so late into this term under the leadership of Dr Brash. In fact one of the most innovative changes for Maori has been the emergence of Maori Television. That is one of the most positive things that has happened but the Opposition says that a National Government would scrap it. The Opposition does not even want to see it continue. That is a sad indictment on Opposition members. They have no direction for this country.