Parmar ParmjeetDr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT): Thank you Mr Speaker. In the last few weeks I have been quite concerned. I have been concerned because of the comments that I hear from that side of the House. I have been concerned because of the phrases that I hear in the speeches that are being made from that side of the House. This is because in those phrases in those comments what I see is prominence given to a particular race: the Māori race. And not just that it is about putting Māori against Pākehā. It's about Māori versus Pākehā. And in all this I want to ask a question. It's a daunting question but I want to ask this question: where do I sit? Where is my place in all this? When I say this my place" I don't mean me per se here I mean migrant communities. Where do migrant communities sit?If you look at our statistics by the end of this year—that is 2024—we will have around 880000 Asian people in New Zealand. If you look at migrants—those who have come from different countries around the world to New Zealand to make New Zealand their home—that population is quite significant. People have been here from Europe for a number of years we have people from the Middle East we have people from Africa and so many countries that there's a significant population. And if we look at the numbers in the census that are released today 29 percent of New Zealanders identify as ethnicities that are not Pākehā or Māori and this number is only going to grow. So my question is where do these migrant communities sit? As an immigrant I'm really proud of the migrant communities for the contribution they make. I'm really proud of the migrant communities for the wealth of experience they bring to New Zealand to enrich our country. In all this what I also notice is that that side—this is Labour Greens and Te Pāti Māori—when they go out to public functions they look really passionate towards those communities. But as soon as they come in the House it becomes only about Māori and Pākehā. This is New Zealand's Parliament this is the 21st century. And I have gone around and spoken to many many families and they have told me that based on what they have been seeing in this House they are reminded of what their forefathers went through when they came to New Zealand in late 1800s and early 1900s. They went through discrimination prejudice struggle hardship. They said to me that they don't want to be reminded of all that. They have said that the road to be where we are today hasn't been easy. It's because of their courage it's because of their struggles we have been able to come to this stage where New Zealand has become such a welcoming country to all migrants and that's how we want to keep it.I would say that yes I don't look like all those migrants I don't sound like all those migrants but I do understand their frustration. And I want to say to migrant communities: "Don't let anyone else choose your place in your home country." I said to migrant communities that you have the right to thrive here just like anyone else. And I said to migrant communities: "Don't let the voice of division and hate let you doubt your place in your own home country New Zealand." In New Zealand our communities have come from all parts of the world and that is what makes New Zealand.I want to also say this to migrant communities: "Stand tall stand proud this is your home country. You have sacrificed to be here and you are making the contribution to make this country a great country that New Zealand is." I want to say to migrant communities: "Be where diversity is valued. Be where unity is celebrated. Be where equality is recognised." And that is the ACT Party. I also want to say this to migrant communities that the ACT Party really recognises the new face of New Zealand the new New Zealand the multicultural New Zealand. That side wants to take New Zealand back to the 1800s but the ACT Party will not let that happen. Thank you Mr Speaker."