Mallard Trevor: Address in Reply 
Mallard Trevor: Address in Reply 
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Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for Economic Development) 
: 
 I want mainly to focus in my speech on the issues around economic development which is the area I have recently been given responsibility for. My view is that we have to ensure that the rising tide of economic prosperity lifts all boats. For that to happen vision leadership and stable Government are required. I thank New Zealand First and United Future for the work they have done in order to ensure we have a stable Government in New Zealand when at one stage it looked a little wobbly. 
Under Labour’s leadership New Zealand is going well. We have had 6 years of delivering more jobs and of having lower unemployment sustained economic growth and steadily increasing household incomes. The average household income in New Zealand has increased by over $200 a week compared with what it was in 1997-98—$10500 a year extra has gone into households during that time. A $10-a-week tax cut rather pales into insignificance when one sees the sort of change that occurs when more and better jobs are available for people to get into. That has been the focus of this Government. It was clear from the election result that most Kiwis want to see New Zealand move forward. 
It has been great over the last few days to see the sense of optimism that has occurred as a result of the Rugby World Cup decision. We want to keep on delivering those sorts of gains. I contrast that with the approach of members opposite who want to give more of the cake to their rich mates to hock off the State assets to them and to leave average Kiwis with the crumbs as they did in the 1990s. We want to grow the cake and make sure that all New Zealanders get their fair share. 
That involves a vision of an inclusive high-wage high-value high-growth economy. We need a strong economy. We need an economy that can adapt to change. I signal to members in the House that the next few years will not be as good for growth as the years until now have been and that we will have to be adaptable. We will have to encourage and support innovation and increase productivity. We have just about reached the limits of finding more and more people to work for longer and longer. Over the next period of time we will have to switch over from working more to working smarter to having more capital investment and to lifting productivity per hour rather than just lifting the hours worked. 
We will have to work together. We will have to foster innovation and that just does not happen in isolation. It happens in collaboration between firms; it happens when firms and industries consult the workers who work in their area taking some of the very best ideas and going forward. They have to work with universities with Crown research institutes and with other players. It is important to have good links between the private sector and the Government. 
We have to be better at celebrating success. In New Zealand we do that pretty well for sport and over the last few years we have actually begun to learn to do it for artistic things. But as far as business and economic success is concerned far too many people including members opposite have a tall-poppy syndrome and attack people who do well and create jobs. Especially they seem to want to attack the people who create the best jobs. A small country like ours just cannot afford to waste its potential. At a time when competitive pressure is growing globally we need to make the best use of all available resources. 
The small size of our domestic market means that in order to have the standard of living we aspire to we need more firms to internationalise and to export. We are a small country and we cannot get the sort of growth we need from within New Zealand. We must expand our markets. In a way the strong labour market the increases in household income and a high Kiwi dollar have all led to an increase in the amount of money that has flowed overseas. We have had the cheap consumer goods the high incomes the televisions the stereos and the cheap overseas holidays. 
 Our export sector is not able to keep up in the way that many of us would like it to and while more of the money flows out of New Zealand the money flowing back has not kept up in the way that is needed. That is why growing the export sector and to a limited extent growing the import substitution sector as well is very very important. 
Gordon Copeland 
: What about the world cup? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: What about the world cup? 
Gordon Copeland 
: Think it will help? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am sure the world cup will help. I think it will help with how we perceive ourselves as a country as well as through the cash flows that will occur. I think it will bring New Zealanders recognition for being special people who can identify objectives make plans and go for them. In a way that is likely to help our export of services even more than large numbers of people coming here for the event will. 
We do lots of things well and the Rugby World Cup will certainly be one of them. I say to the member that if he wants to keep reminding the Prime Minister about the importance of having a Minister in charge I would appreciate his support. 
Gordon Copeland 
: Want some help? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Does the member want the job for himself? He would have to come into the coalition for that to occur. 
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise will have to refocus more clearly on growing our export market than it has been doing. We will continue to advocate internationally for more liberalised trade and to foster closer relationships with developing economies. The challenges ahead are huge but so too is our capacity to meet them. I am proud to be a member of a Government that is so passionate about and committed to New Zealand and the ideals we stand for. 
In conclusion I have a challenge for members opposite. It is clear to all members in this House who are honest with themselves that the National Party cannot go on until the next election with its current leader. I think it is particularly important for stability in New Zealand that the campaign to get rid of Don Brash is not an extended one and that it is over quickly. The traditional time for having coups détat in our political system is the period just before or just after Christmas. I am slightly agnostic on this but I think Bill English would be a better leader than John Key. 
John Hayes 
: Rubbish! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The member says that is rubbish. 
John Hayes 
: You’ll have to get Winston to replace Helen. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Well that is the member who drives the Japanese out of the country. The member who is interjecting is the member who does not pay his bills. 
John Hayes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would like that statement to be repeated outside the House. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: That is not a point of order. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: For it to be repeated out of the House one need only to read the newspaper or have a beer over in the Wairarapa—one will hear it all the time. 
Anne Tolley 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I refer to Standing Order 116 “Personal reflections”. The Minister knows that he cannot make an imputation of improper motives against another member. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I thank the member for bringing that to my attention. Under Standing Order 116 “Personal reflections” it is actually up to the member himself to raise the matter if he so wishes. 
John Hayes 
: Yes I do. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: No the issue must be raised at the time—immediately. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The advice to the member if he wants to make a personal statement is that he makes it at the end of my speech. I would welcome him doing that and if he does so he will probably join his mate Chris Finlayson at the Privileges Committee soon.