Goodhew Jo: Address in Reply 
Goodhew Jo: Address in Reply 
[Volume:652;Page:1216] 
JO GOODHEW (National—Rangitata) 
: 
 I will address the members who are gathered here as the House draws to a close tonight. I stand here to make my first contribution to a debate in the forty-ninth Parliament and I am proudly a renamed woman from the one who stood here in the forty-eighth Parliament. I am now proudly the member of Parliament for the new electorate of Rangitata. I grew up within a mile of the mighty river and I am now proud to represent the many people—and there are plenty—who derive environmental recreational and economic benefit from that river. 
I want to outline what my address will not do tonight. It will not be an address of personal vindictive attack. It will not be an address that is without positivity. It will not be an address that talks about individuals and that levels unusual accusations at members opposite. 
This Address in Reply debate affords me the opportunity to congratulate you Mr Deputy Speaker on your appointment as Deputy Speaker. In addition I would like to congratulate the Hon Dr Lockwood Smith on his election to the venerable position of Speaker and also the Assistant Speakers Rick Barker and Eric Roy. 
In the beginning days of this Parliament there were a number of reasons for me to feel excited. Firstly unlike following the 2005 election I was faced with the opportunity and the privilege of delivering on the promises and policies that I had campaigned strongly on and that provided a very exciting sense of anticipation. This anticipation and excitement heightened as Prime Minister John Key moved to form an agreement with ACT United Future and the Maori Party with a sure-footed swiftness that surprised many and delighted still more though I doubt whether it delighted members opposite at all. 
My delight was heightened as I listened to the new members of the National Party class of 2008 deliver their maiden speeches. During those speeches I realised what a rich diversity and depth of talent there is within the National caucus and I celebrate that. The speed with which the executive took to the task of delivering on its promises—our promises in fact—for the first 100 days was exciting and for so many New Zealanders it was also a relief. I add my congratulations to all the new MPs who have taken their place in this House and I wish them all well as they work to serve the people of New Zealand to serve their constituents and to deliver on the lofty promises they made in their maiden speeches. 
The 2008 election presented New Zealanders with an opportunity to assess the grave importance of whether they would take a new direction which would include a response to the global financial meltdown and a new accountability for quality Government spending. New Zealanders were also given the opportunity to choose self-determination over nanny State growth over stalemate or survival over floundering in economic deep waters. The people of Rangitata sent a very clear message on election day. They voted resoundingly for change. They voted for a new vision and an effective Government one that was totally committed to a strong future for New Zealand. 
The mood of our nation before 8 November was an anxious one. The global financial situation was becoming increasingly gloomy by the day and the question on everyone’s lips was how it would affect New Zealanders. It is fair to say that prior to any general election there is a nervousness within the electorate but it was never more so than before this election. New Zealanders had woken up to the creeping control-crazy Labour Government that was meddling in their school lunch boxes; horrifyingly in their shower cabinets as well; and also in the light bulb choices they were making for their living rooms. It seemed there were never-ending stories of bureaucracy and of control-freakery. The insidious nanny State had however been outed over recent years and the people were sick and tired of being told what was good for them. 
Helen Clark was however right in one respect. The election did turn out to be about trust. Did the Government trust the people of New Zealand to know their own minds? Well no. The Labour Government did not. Did New Zealanders trust Labour to guide our country through the tough economic times? Well in fact they showed on election day that no they did not— 
Hon Member 
: I thought this was going to be a positive address. 
JO GOODHEW 
: This speech is most certainly not about negative personal attack. New Zealanders did not trust Labour to strive for excellence and growth or to be truly ambitious for New Zealand. No they saw that opportunity in a National Government not in carrying on with the same Government. Did New Zealanders trust Labour to identify and drive out the needless compliance costs and bureaucracy that clogged the main arteries of our small and medium sized enterprises? No they did not. 
Debate interrupted.