Woods MeganADDRESS IN REPLYDebate resumed from 15 November.Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Energy and Resources): It is indeed a privilege to rise as a member of a true MMP Government the product of negotiations where each party was true to its values. It is a Government united in its belief that our country needs transformational change. It is an inclusive and collaborative Government. This is modern MMP in practice and on the Government's side of the House we are indeed proud to be part of that Government.It is a Government that believes that New Zealand is a great place but that it can be even better. We simply will not accept in this Government that this is as good as it gets. We have an ambition for it to be even better to have a Government that is led by a Prime Minister who is doing New Zealand proud on the world stage a woman of incredible values a steely determination and yes relentless positivity—something that New Zealand finds refreshing to see. We have a positive vision for our country and also a Prime Minister who is not afraid to talk about one of the values that we do need more of in politics and that is empathy. We need politicians who understand the lives of everyday people and New Zealanders are relieved to find in Jacinda Ardern a Prime Minister who is an empathetic person and who makes it her business to understand people's lives.The Prime Minister's vision for our country is inspiring: better jobs higher wages affordable housing decent healthcare and world-class education. We are not content to see declining rates of homeownership an economy where productivity is lagging an economy where innovation does not sit at the heart of it and an economy where low wages seem to be an economic strategy. We have a vision for a better New Zealand.Madam Deputy Speaker—and may I congratulate you Madam Deputy Speaker. This is the first time I've spoken in the House since you've taken the Chair and it is nice to be able for the first time in my career in this Parliament to address Madam Deputy Speaker.We are already making progress. Paid parental leave banning foreign speculators moving forward on healthy homes and on pay equity—these are all things our previous Government thought were too hard but in three short weeks this Government has been able to get the momentum and make progress on these issues. And we have only just begun.This is a Government that puts people first. It is a Government that listens and then it acts. We are optimistic and we are hopeful. This is in stark contrast to the last nine years of drift we saw from the previous Government. As the PM has said let the Opposition feel free to talk about the past about their record but it is our job on this side of the House to fix it to fix the problems that nine years of the previous Government have left behind. And that is what we are intent on doing.I want to talk about two areas today where I am especially proud of our Prime Minister's vision. The first is transitioning New Zealand to a low-carbon economy one that is driven by innovation and science by new approaches and by new ideas. It was my pleasure to talk to the staff at EECA earlier today—the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority—and my message for them was to be bold because we are embarking on an exciting future an exciting future where we are transitioning our economy to a modern 21st century one. It is one that has to be underpinned by science and innovation and it is a future where we have the opportunity by embarking on this transition at this stage to make sure we look after people throughout this transition. We have the opportunity to make sure we have the skills training in place to transition workers and communities to the exciting opportunities that exist along this pathway.Our Prime Minister is right: climate change is our generation's nuclear-free moment and we will act. As the Minister of Energy and Resources and the Minister of Research Science and Innovation I know we will deliver a more innovative economy one that lowers carbon emissions raises wages and creates jobs. One of the ways in which we will do this—to ensure that we have further investment in R & D in this country we are going to introduce a research and development tax credit so that we can get New Zealand up with the countries who actually are doing well in the OECD. New Zealand is under-investing in its research and development and that is not something this Government will tolerate. It is something that this Government is intent on fixing.One of the honours I have is rising in this House as the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration. It is indeed a privilege to have the opportunity to serve my home town as it recovers and enters the final phases of its regeneration. We won't waste a single second on that. It has been a very long time for many people in Canterbury who are trying to get their lives back together. As our Prime Minister has said this Government will have Canterbury's back. We will bust through the road blocks and delays over the last few years and we will make things happen because it simply isn't acceptable the kinds of delays that we have seen in Canterbury. We will have an inquiry into the Earthquake Commission—Hon Simon Bridges: Oh let's have another inquiry!Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: —so we can learn the lessons from the past Mr Bridges. I know your Government refused to look at it but there are important lessons that need to be learnt. Just today I was very pleased to announce the person who will chair the restoration trust for the cathedral because we must get momentum behind that and we must get moving. I would like to acknowledge the work that Nicky Wagner placed into that project in her role as the former Minister and we as a Government are committed to getting further momentum behind that. We are also committed to ensuring that we have anchor projects in Christchurch that are achievable and are deliverable and that the people of Christchurch know what is happening in their town.One of the areas that I am most determined to put a huge amount of effort into as the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration is indeed working with my colleague Dr David Clark to ensure we have a health system that is serving our region. We have a relationship between the Canterbury District Health Board and the Ministry of Health that needs to be healed. It needs to be healed so Cantabrians can get the care they need. To see the suffering of children in our region this many years after our earthquakes is not something that this Government is prepared to accept. It is something that we will take action on and we will ensure that our children in Canterbury have the chance to flourish and reach their potential and not be saddled by the events of the last seven years.Both within Christchurch and within our country New Zealand we have amazing opportunities before us. I'm proud to be a Minister of a Government that is already seizing upon them. Excuse me. [Drinks water]Hon Simon Bridges: Oh oh oh 47 to go.Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: That's right. Thank you Mr Bridges. Why don't you build some bridges? So I am proud to be a member of a Government that is seizing upon these who has got an action plan and is putting in place a way in which we can make sure that our country can fulfil its potential.This is what modern MMP looks like. This is what a Government that is intent on working together can achieve and we are looking forward to showing the country just what can happen when you have a determination you have a will and you have a belief that we can do better. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.