Tremain Chris: General Debate 
Tremain Chris: General Debate 
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CHRIS TREMAIN (National—Napier) 
: 
 This afternoon’s general debate has certainly been revealing in terms of the way that it has considered the different leadership aspirants in the House. I allude to the comments made by a number of National’s front-bench MPs today particularly those by Maurice Williamson and Simon Power who canvassed the leadership aspirants in the House. Of particular note were Maurice Williamson’s comments. He rose and quoted the poetic oratory of “David William Shakespeare Cunliffe” the bard of New Zealand politics. He quoted from his poem about the summer of New Zealand politics and foretold the summer that is to come and the change in the political environment particularly in the Labour Party. In addition to what Mr Williamson said it was interesting to listen to Simon Power who revealed the power brokers behind the Labour Party push for a change in leadership particularly Ross Robertson and George Hawkins from South Auckland and who revealed the things that they would do. I think the most revealing remark from Mr Power was his very last comment: “Keep an eye on the redhead.” 
I have some new revealing information to share with the House today— 
Chris Auchinvole 
: Chris Hipkins? 
CHRIS TREMAIN 
: No not Chris Hipkins. I understand it is about the Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff and Labour’s senior whip Darren Hughes. We have been able to reveal the results of the TV3 preferred Prime Minister poll that came out recently which I am holding. We have seen Mr Phil Goff falling in his leadership numbers over time and then slightly coming up. The interesting point was that Helen Clark’s numbers had also been falling since she left New Zealand but then they rose as colleagues from across the House texted her to seek information from her. The very revealing point from this new information that has come to hand is that we have seen Darren Hughes entering on to the political landscape in TV3’s preferred Prime Minister poll. The other very interesting information is on Phil Goff’s net approval ratings. We have seen Phil Goff’s net approval ratings falling unfortunately over the last 6 to 8 months. 
But it is even more revealing to see young Darren Hughes getting on to the political landscape. We see the rise of Mr Hughes’ ratings through this particular poll. But more recently as he has risen to No. 8 in the pecking order on the Opposition side of the House he has been in the news over buying his own beers and keeping his head down with regard to political expenses and he had a huge lift when we had Hug a Ginga Day here in the House—a huge lift. More recently there was obviously the crimplene suit affair which gave him a profile that none of us were expecting for him. That certainly saw him rise in the polls. But most recently he has had a huge increase in the polls from the Australasian ginga effect with Julia Gillard’s appointment as Prime Minister in Australia. That has had an effect on Darren Hughes over on the other side. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: The ginga! 
CHRIS TREMAIN 
: The ginga effect. Members can see his net approval ratings for preferred Prime Minister going through the roof. So it is absolutely— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: What about “Chippie”? 
CHRIS TREMAIN 
: No unfortunately “Chippie” has not come on to the radar yet. The polls show that it is only Mr Hughes who is leading by more than a nose at this time. So this is great news for Mr Hughes and it is great to see him appearing on that political poll especially given that he is my colleague across the House. It is absolutely fantastic. 
Grant Robertson 
: How does that member rate in those polls? 
CHRIS TREMAIN 
: I am not even on the radar and am not planning on being there at all. 
While Mr Hughes is rising in the polls and the Opposition members are debating leadership aspirants and wallowing in all the issues that they face this Government is getting on with the job. We are delivering. In terms of law and order we have driven through a great law and order policy in the last couple of weeks. Back in the seat of Napier Judith Collins came and we opened a new police station in Tamatea. Three new police officers will be operating from that station—once again we are delivering on the promises we made at the election. In the suburb of Maraenui which is in my electorate as well we have rolled out new police officers into that suburb. They are new community police officers whom Judith Collins has rolled out. It is absolutely fantastic to see those police officers in the community in the schools and helping to lift law and order and safety in that community. That is really important in the lower socio-economic part of my community. On top of that later this year we will see a new or refurbished Nuhaka police station. There will be another police officer there just down the road from Anne Tolley’s electorate on the East Coast. That is great news. All up this Government is doing extremely well. Thank you. 
The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.