van de Molen TimTIM VAN DE MOLEN (National—Waikato): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. Look it's a pleasure to rise to talk on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations. As most of us would be aware trade is of huge importance for the New Zealand economy and we have a significant number of agreements in place supporting those opportunities with our trading partners. Whilst as the previous speaker mentioned they may not be in the purest sense free-trade agreements that is certainly what we would refer to them as and so I will be doing as such as well.Despite that strong reliance on trade—or perhaps because of it—we are a very small nation and so it's so important for us to have that connection internationally to be able to trade with the significant volume of goods that we produce. Conversely if we wind that back to the Pacific scenario in particular we're actually a much larger player in that environment. So whilst we enjoy the benefits of free-trade agreements with many larger international parties which add significant benefit wealth and opportunity to our country we also need to be responsible Pacific citizens and make sure that we're extending the same opportunities with our smaller neighbours in this region. So this agreement indeed gives those countries the opportunity to grow to expand and to enhance their prospects as individual nations as well. I certainly agree that it is very important here to be focusing on encouraging their development and building that economic cooperation rather than just providing aid handouts to support them. It goes back to that classic story about giving someone a fish for the day versus teaching them to fish. This is an extension of that where we are providing a platform by which these trading partners in smaller nations will be able to develop their own systems their own prosperity and build strength within their communities off the back of that.I just think it's really important again to acknowledge the leadership role we can play in the Pacific given our scale in this area. We do need to lead these be on the front foot and take these opportunities where we can and that's something I think we saw strongly reflected through the last Government's stance with bringing this forward and I'd just like to acknowledge the Hon Todd McClay for the work he did in progressing this through to the signatory stage. Well supported within the Pacific—yes there's a few countries that aren't on board yet but they're working through that and intending to get to that position if that is possible. So look I'd certainly encourage them to be involved with that as well.It just reminds me I was fortunate enough in the Waikato just a couple of days ago to be at a business start-up event where they were looking at creating new initiatives and this is an extension of that as well. One of the themes that came out of that was better together" and I think that's really relevant in this situation as well. When we support other countries other trading partners that are doing the same as we are we can actually all be better off as a result of that combined contribution that support the initiative the extension and the programmes you develop through those cooperation agreements.So off the basis of that I think this is certainly a great agreement to be in place. It's fantastic to see it well supported around the Pacific and with a few additional signatories still to come to the table. I think this will be a fantastic agreement and I look forward to seeing it play out to the benefit of those Pacific countries and New Zealand. Thank you."