Calder Cam: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Calder Cam: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:670;Page:16575] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takitini taku mana e. One’s strength is not purely a result of one’s own efforts but of the many people who have helped along the way. This Government is committed to helping and protecting the most vulnerable people in our society and to creating an environment where all New Zealanders can dare to dream our dreams unlock the potential that lies within us all and achieve our goals and aspirations. Despite the Government having to deal with the ongoing ripple effects of the worst global recession in seven decades we remain committed to building a brighter future for all New Zealanders and their families. 
We have insulated over 85000 homes in New Zealand. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders are living in healthier warmer and drier homes. Residents of Manurewa tell me they feel safer in our community. In the course of this year we will be extending and supporting our police in communities the length of New Zealand with the provision of more uniformed officers to protect the vulnerable in our society. Neighbourhood policing teams based in communities are helping young people to find jobs and go on training courses to divert them from involvement with gangs and a life of crime. 
The Youth Guarantee scheme is providing pathways for young people in relation to a host of skills. The innovative tertiary high school programme at the Manukau Institute of Technology is providing a template for allowing year 11 pupils who otherwise might have chosen to leave education altogether to undergo flexible education with a mix of secondary and tertiary subjects that interest and inspire them. They may be able to study National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 1 English and level 1 maths and also do a study course in boatbuilding or automotive engineering. Those skills will stand them in good stead in their future life and help them to become productive members of our society. 
Our health services are providing over 400 more elective procedures each week—more hip operations more cataract operations more gall bladder operations. More New Zealanders are receiving the health care that they need when they need it. 
There are no simple easy answers in this economic climate and we do not have a magic wand. We cannot change things overnight but John Key’s principled pragmatic Government is putting in place the many building blocks necessary in order to lift New Zealand’s economic performance and provide a better future for all New Zealanders. It is only by lifting our economic performance and growing a bigger economic cake that we can deliver the jobs the higher incomes and the better living standards that New Zealanders aspire to and deserve. 
Our 2009 Budget concentrated on cushioning New Zealanders from the worst effects of the recession. In last year’s Budget we concentrated on reforming the taxation system. This year a likely dominant theme will be savings and investment. We realise that just as a household that runs up a bill at the corner shop cannot continue to do so forever no country can run up bills forever. We have a proven track record of responsible management of our economy and we will continue to take a considered and responsible approach to building a platform for sustainable future growth. 
We have made considerable progress. Over the last 12 months we have introduced the biggest tax reform in 25 years tilting the economy in order to encourage investment and savings. We have improved public services by freeing up about $4 billion for front-line services by reducing back-office services and ineffective programmes. We have invested billions of dollars in roads and have begun the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband which is a crucial development for the future prosperity of this country. We have started New Zealand’s first public-private partnerships. We are focusing on improving education in schools with the development of national standards. We brought about the amalgamation of eight councils into one in Auckland very successfully. We have a considered logical plan to grow our economy. We are delivering world-class infrastructure to unblock the arteries of the economy and we are demanding better more efficient public services. We have introduced a number of regulatory changes to make it easier to do business and we are fostering better skills in the workforce. 
Debate interrupted.