Hipkins Chris; Rurawhe AdrianADJOURNMENTRt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Prime Minister): I move That the House do now adjourn. It has been an incredibly eventful three-year term. Since coming into Government in 2017 we've become familiar with a very well-known saying Expect the unexpected". A cascade of unprecedented events has defined the last six years for this Government and this Parliament: a global pandemic horrific terror attacks volcanic eruptions a global economic crisis to name just some of the major challenges that we have had to face. When I reflect on where we started this parliamentary term it is remarkable to think how far we have come in that period of time. As this Parliament was sworn in after the 2020 election our border was still closed there was no COVID-19 in New Zealand because of the successful elimination strategy that we had pursued and we had a number of interesting hurdles ahead of us. We have navigated our way through those as a Government and as a country and I have no doubt that it's been tough for many New Zealanders. The year 2023 proved very quickly on that it wasn't going to break the mould in terms of challenges. On 25 January I had the enormous privilege and honour of being sworn in as New Zealand's Prime Minister. On the evening of 27 January Kieran McAnulty ruined it for me when he rang me and said "There's been a little bit of rain in Auckland." and we then confronted the Auckland floods followed surely thereafter by Cyclone Gabrielle and the enormous damage that it wreaked right up and down the East Coast of the North Island. It has been an incredibly tough year for New Zealanders and I want to acknowledge that that comes off the back of a tough period of time through the global pandemic as well. Ours is a Government that has been forged through fire. Every challenge that has been thrown our way we have risen to that. We have responded to an enormous number of challenges whilst also being very focused on making sure that in our actions we are laying the foundations for a better future for our country. First and foremost our guiding principle has never wavered. For us it has always been about people about creating better opportunities that give people the freedom and the opportunity to create a better life for themselves and for their families. We may have faced unprecedented disruption but we have still achieved a lot over the last three years. As we head into the campaign my message for New Zealanders is pretty simple: we've achieved a lot there's a lot more to do and there is an awful lot at stake in this year's election. As our economy turns the corner as inflation trends down as economic growth returns as our health and education systems get back on their feet after the unprecedented disruption that they have experienced in the last three years as we get real momentum behind fixing the housing crisis and upgrading our infrastructure so that it delivers what the country needs and as we open up new opportunities for Kiwis now is not the time to turn back. We can continue to move forward under Labour or we can face a coalition of cuts chaos and fear: a National - ACT - New Zealand First Government that would be one of the most inexperienced and untested in our history—a Government who want to wind the clock back on all of the progress that we are making that is so important to New Zealanders. So let's talk about our record over the last six years and what's at stake at this election. Let's start with the fundamentals first and let's talk about the economy and let's talk about Grant Robertson's track record as our Minister of Finance. Despite the enormous challenges of the last three years our economy is 6 percent larger now than it was as we went into the global pandemic. We still have record low unemployment wages have been growing faster under our Government than inflation we have more Kiwis in work than ever before we've seen an increase in the number of apprentices and we have been focused unrelentingly on growing wages because that is how Kiwis get ahead. I say to the members opposite who seem to think minimum wage workers should be grateful for an extra 25c an hour that the extra $7 an hour they are getting under this Government is significantly more meaningful to them than a paltry 25c that they are being offered by a National Government—by a prospective National Government. We have record levels of research and development in our country now because of the investments that we are making as a Government and after years of neglect we are investing record amounts in our infrastructure. That's investment in roads it's investment in rail and it's investment in our classrooms in our hospitals and in the services that New Zealanders rely on. I am incredibly proud of the 1700 projects up and down New Zealand that we have invested in through the Provincial Growth Fund that are making a difference to those communities all over New Zealand. I'm proud of the work that we have done to support our exporting businesses through seven new or upgraded free-trade agreements. I am very proud of the work that we have done to grow our exports increasing exports in the food and fibre sector by over 50 percent in the time that we have been in Government. I am very proud of the work that we have done with our primary industries and I want to acknowledge the leadership of Damien O'Connor and the eradication of Mycoplasma bovis from our farms. Now is not the time to turn back. Now is not the time to stoke the inflationary fires with unfunded tax cuts as the members opposite promise and it is not a time to turn our backs on talent by introducing a talent tax that will make it harder for doctors nurses teachers builders architects and all of the other skilled workers that we are trying to attract to New Zealand to come to New Zealand. National's talent tax would be a $500 million cost on business that would slow down our economic recovery. I am proud of the work we have done to tackle the cost of living by lifting the minimum wage putting in fair pay agreements because we believe that growing wages is the way that Kiwi families get ahead providing free and healthy school lunches making sure that we are lifting children out of poverty—every measure of child poverty has improved under our Government and we've reversed Ruth Richardson's benefit cuts at long last. We have increased superannuation and veteran's pensions but we have also increased the wages unapologetically of our essential public service workers.Let's talk about that. We've boosted the pay of our nurses. In 2017 the top of the nurses' salary scale was just $66000 and today it is $106000 under our Government and that's not to mention our teachers who have had a 36 percent pay increase under this Government in under just six years compared to the mere 10 percent they got in the nine long years of the last National Government. There is more to do. Cheaper childcare is on the way for families with two-year-olds. We have scrapped prescription fees—something the other side want to bring back in. We are making public transport free or cheaper for younger New Zealanders so that they can get around and there is more to come in that space.National wants to turn the clock backwards; we want to keep moving forward. As for law and order where they talk a big game our record is pretty clear. We've been funding the police with 1800 more cops on the beat and a 50 percent increase in police resources under our Government while National wants to go backwards and let's not mention the fact that the ACT Party quietly over the weekend confirmed they want to bring back military-style semi-automatic weapons to New Zealand. I think banning those guns from New Zealand was a leap forward and now ACT wants to take it back. Our health system is moving ahead with 4800 more nurses 1800 more doctors and 700 more psychologists and an increase in funding for Pharmac of over 51 percent. I note that all of the investments that I have just mentioned are investments the National Party and the ACT Party think is a waste of money. That is what is at stake at this election. We can go backwards or we can continue to move forwards. On this side of the House we've got a positive vision for New Zealand's future and we will be campaigning vigorously. I look forward to meeting the members opposite on the campaign trail and I wave goodbye to Michael Woodhouse too because he's guaranteed not to be here after the election. SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.Debate interrupted."