Ngaro AlfredHon ALFRED NGARO (Minister for Pacific Peoples): I would like to take a call on this Estimates hearing and make comment especially because the last two speeches have been talking about Whānau Ora in particular. Just around the Pasifika component as the Minister for Pacific Peoples I believe that there is a lot that we can actually acknowledge and celebrate as well as also—like with anything—think about what the future may look like in regard to the work of Whānau Ora but also some of the other parts of the Estimates hearings that talk about the development for Pasifika in particular.I was honoured to attend the conference just a while ago in the lunchtime break—the Pasifika conference for the Pasifika Futures commissioning agent. The title of the conference was From Work to Wonder". It was celebrating the achievements over 3 years and what I can say to the Committee and those who are listening in is that there are 56039 individuals who have benefited over those 3 years from the work of Pasifika Futures. That is roughly around about 10400 aiga and families up and down the country that are making a difference. That is 19 percent of our Pasifika population—Pita Paraone: How much has it cost?Hon ALFRED NGARO: —in New Zealand which is just over 300000. The member has been talking about what the cost is. For that commissioning agent over those 3 years roughly around about $27 million has been invested into that. The member may ask whether that is a good investment and whether it has made a difference. As I have said those are the figures around the reach that it has in particular for the Pasifika Futures engagement as well. There are 38 partners up and down the country from the top of the country right down to the end. They are making a difference and I want to be able to highlight that in some of the results that they are achieving—Pita Paraone: What's the split between the different Island groups?Hon ALFRED NGARO: —through it as well. So when we think about the differences and while there are many different ethnic groups that are in the Pasifika groups predominantly—The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): As long as you are looking forward to the Estimates.Hon ALFRED NGARO: Sorry—in looking forward in the Estimates in the Estimates the breakdown is quite clearly that 40 percent is Samoan 31 percent is Tongan 16 percent is Cook Islands 16 percent is some of the other smaller groups and 3 percent is Fijian. I just say for the member's benefit that these are the differences that it is making as well.Kris Faafoi: What about us?Hon ALFRED NGARO: And the Tokelauans are there—sorry I do apologise. The Tokelauans are very strong in their presence as well. Actually I have to say that they are clearly making a difference through this and we celebrate with them as well.When we are talking about how we know that this work of Pasifika Futures through the Whānau Ora work is truly making a difference I want to make three little points that have come out of the report from the chairman Dr Kiki Maoate. He said: "The wonder about Whānau Ora and the work that we are planning is this: we can as Pasifika first of all understand our challenges we can design our solutions and we can create our future."When I was talking to the providers that were there today they talked about the difference that they are able to make in working with these aiga—with these families—to design what that future would look like. So here are some of the results that are coming out as well. Out of that 2480 families have prioritised health. We know non-communicable diseases are a critical issue of concern. It is the diabetes it is the cardiovascular disease and it is the issues around obesity. There is a 20 percent increase in the proportion of those families around immunisation. We know that for Pasifika as a population/ethnic group it has the highest proportion of uptake in regards to immunisation which shows that this work is making a difference. Sixty-six percent of engaged families have a family member with a long-term condition. They are now further engaged with health providers which is making a difference as well.If we take for instance economic development and the work that is happening there 1652 families have completed financial plans. We know that financial capability—budgeting and so forth—truly makes a difference to the work that we are doing. That is 1488 families who have reduced their debt. These are some of the results that are coming through that are making a difference to our Pasifika through Whānau Ora funding that has been allocated in the Budget. We are succeeding in education with lifelong learning and—I know that Mrs Martin will appreciate this—62 percent of families who were not previously enrolled are now enrolled in early childhood education. Three hundred—and as tradie I really appreciate this—now have trade qualifications that have been absolutely completed. John Kotoisuva with the work that he has been doing in Trades in Schools is making a difference.At Ōtāhuhu College the STEM programme has shown that 33 percent of students who have gone through now have university entrance. That is an increase of 65 percent of students who have gone on to NCEA level 3 in the STEM subjects.I just want to say in my closing remarks that the work of Whānau Ora through Pasifika Futures and with the championing of our Minister for Māori Development is making a difference and is delivering for our Pasifika whānau and communities as well."