Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: General Debate 
Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: General Debate 
[Volume:663;Page:10987] 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) 
: 
 I will not stand here and talk about the previous Labour Government because there is much to say about this National Government which is actually doing things. I must respectfully disagree with the previous speaker Su’a William Sio who said that this Government is sitting on its hands. It is not. I will outline a few things that we have accomplished over our last 18 months of Government. We inherited an economy that was in trouble. We inherited an economy that had 5 consecutive years of negative export growth. We inherited an economy where the recession had taken a great chunk out of the Kiwi psyche and confidence. On 8 November 2008 the people of New Zealand spoke; they wanted change they wanted hope and they wanted jobs. That is what this Government will do for the people of New Zealand. 
Under the previous Labour Government we had uncontrollable bureaucratic growth. Government spending doubled in the 9 years of the Labour Government yet some of the outcomes went backwards in a number of areas. The previous speaker talked about Pacific unemployment and Pacific aspiration. Under the previous Labour Government we did not improve in terms of housing in terms of income or in terms of education. I challenge the previous speaker and say that before Labour members throw the barbs they should take a hard look at their record. This Government has kept core bureaucracy as $2 billion has gone towards the front line. That means that every day there are more police more nurses and more doctors. That is what the people of New Zealand demanded and that is what this Government is delivering to them. 
Billions of dollars are going into critical infrastructure in this country. The previous Government bought a train set for just under $700 million. This Government has undertaken to invest in that train set for it to be at least profitable and at break-even level. In my own electorate of Maungakiekie I am proud that this Government is finishing off State Highway 20. It is a 10-lane highway and guess what? It is going ahead 6 months ahead of schedule—6 months ahead of schedule. I thank the Minister of Transport for putting the emphasis and the energy into getting such projects done. I stand next to the Minister of Housing who put $53 million into the Tamaki transformation project. This Minister of Housing believes in the people of Tamaki and Maungakiekie. He believes in investing in the so-called poorer people whom previous speakers referred to. We believe that we have an obligation to look after those people through their housing means. 
Last year we had a $500 million relief package to make life simpler for small businesses. As I travel through Mount Wellington Penrose Te Papa and Onehunga and meet the people running the light industrial businesses and manufacturing businesses that operate in those areas of Maungakiekie I see a glimmer of hope in their eyes. The manufacturing numbers and the primary agricultural numbers in the latest  
Financial Stability Report 
 from the Reserve Bank which was released this morning do not lie. The economy is expanding under this Government. We inherited a recession but now the economy is expanding. For the first time in 6 years we have a trade— 
Dr Cam Calder 
: A surplus we call it. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: We have a trade balance that is positive. Current account deficits have halved since this Government has been in place and that is the only way that this country will get out of the situation we inherited as a National Government. 
This Government has also reformed the Resource Management Act’s processes. When we talk to developers and builders we hear that the Resource Management Act had become an imposition on them. Tomorrow is a historic day; we will see a Budget that will make a difference on the road to recovery. Mr English will do that for this country. Thank you very much. 
The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.