Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Kia ora e Te Mana Whakawā. It would be remiss of me not to respond to that speech. It reminds me of this Māori proverb or whakataukī: He mahi te ana āta noho e kī ana te wheke [There is work in remaining quiet according to the octopus]."It is the octopus who says that sitting is working. We have inherited rivers and lakes that our children cannot swim in and yet the member on the other side Erica Stanford just said something like "This Government is only investing so much." Actually we're doing something. From question time until now I've sat here in this House and I've listened to google search or whatnot from the other side. I've listened to them critique about what the Government is delivering and only partially delivering that. Well actually—note to everybody—we started with the foundation Budget. Now we're in the Wellbeing Budget and we're still going ahead next year with another Budget that's going to focus on the wellbeing of New Zealanders. It's a certain privilege to be around in Papakura and in Tāmaki where the Pacific people are saying to me—and I quote—"Anahila can you tell Grant and Jacinda thank you very much for valuing us and having the Pacific people in the Government's five priorities of this Wellbeing Budget." Many articulate speakers on this side have reminded us of what the five priorities are and I'll just remind us again. It is about taking mental health seriously improving child wellbeing supporting Māori and Pacific aspirations building a productive nation and last but not the least transforming the economy. Treasury had published a report on the Pacific economy and a couple of things I want to bring from that report. It said that 310000 New Zealanders are Pacific. It said that every week there are 27000 hours of voluntary labour provided by the Pacific community. They also said that the average income of the Pacific person in Aotearoa New Zealand is $40000. The non-Pacific person earns $13500 more than the Pacific person. Ko taku reo taku ohooho; ko taku reo taku māpihi maurea. [My language is my treasure of immense value; my language is my object of affection.]My language is my awakening; my language is the window to my soul. This whakataukī is closely associated with language revitalisation a struggle which is very important in maintaining culture. Since I arrived on these shores I have been taught English from the minute I wake up to the minute I sleep. Why? Maybe it is important in maintaining culture. We are supporting the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to establish a new language unit with a set of language priorities to support and function to ensure the survival of New Zealand Pacific languages. This year's Wellbeing Budget makes the lifting of Pacific incomes skills and opportunities a priority. In education there is $27.4 million to support a package of initiatives focused on achieving Pacific outcomes. Earlier today in question time Minister Salesa spoke about Tapasā which are cultural competencies for teachers who are teaching Pacific learners. What the Minister says is that there is currently a huge demand for Tapasā from Pacific teachers because—like us—when we feel respected when people pronounce our name correctly we will achieve better. We know that it is important to have communities-driven education and communities involved in education. Tapasā is just one initiative. There are a few initiatives like extending the Pacific early literacy project and a provision for developing Pacific languages. I have just returned from the Pacific from Melanesia and—just a note to everybody in this House—this Parliament is actually broadcast in the Pacific. It's broadcast in the Pacific and when they see us use their language they respect us as a nation. They respect New Zealand as a nation and I just want to remind people that language and culture is more than having a language week. It is important to contribute to the people who live in this land which includes Pacific New Zealanders. I am privileged to be a member of this coalition Government and to be in the leadership with the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern. Malo 'aupito."