Parata Hekia: General Debate 
Parata Hekia: General Debate 
[Volume:668;Page:14864] 
HEKIA PARATA (National) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. Huri noa i to tatou Whare. I am delighted to stand and speak about how the National-led Government’s aspirational programme is having effect and being embraced by the good people of the Mana electorate. I am determined to bring an even stronger voice for the Mana electorate in the John Key Government and I am absolutely determined to sound out the full story of the Mana electorate. 
We have had access to Ministers which is one of the features of being in Government. I have been able to have Dr Nick Smith for instance visit the Mana electorate and celebrate the memorandum of understanding that has been drawn up by the Porirua City Council the Greater Wellington Regional Council and 12 other agencies all of whom are committed to restoring the water quality of the Porirua Harbour and the Pauatahanui inlet. This work anticipates the report of the Land and Water Forum and Dr Smith was absolutely delighted to see the forward-thinking leadership of the people who are in local government in the Mana electorate. 
The Minister of Housing the Hon Phil Heatley has visited Mana. It was an opportunity for him to see and focus on the work and challenges that lie ahead of us because of the considerable deferred maintenance from the time of the previous Government and it shows the importance that we have placed on for instance the makeover of Hampshire Street in Porirua East and the refurbishment of Flora Street. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Has the member ever been there? 
HEKIA PARATA 
: The member has indeed been there more times than that member has had breakfast. He has seen the Flora Street refurbishment. He has announced the opening of the Gateway Housing programme in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity on Beauzami Crescent which is in Waitangirua I say for that member’s edification. 
Yesterday the Minister of Police Judith Collins visited. We took the unprecedented opportunity of thanking the volunteers in the community police bases which have flourished under this National-led Government. We visited the community police base in Titahi Bay we went to Cannons Creek and we went across to Whitby and down to Mana. It was a veritable Cook’s tour of the Mana electorate where every day volunteers commit some time to looking after their community—reflecting our Government’s focus and emphasis on community safety—and where police are part of the community. That was clearly shown to us. 
Let me tell members that the Kapiti-Mana policing area has the lowest crime rate in the Wellington region. This is contrary to the stereotypes that those more negative commentators wish to perpetuate so much so that I will just tell the House a true story. A community constable was late getting to the meeting yesterday afternoon because in the course of his duties he had been chasing an escaped criminal. Having caught the criminal and taken him down the Porirua police station he found that the criminal had a record of over 160 convictions. The constable asked him what he was doing there because he was not a usual resident of the Porirua area. His reply which was absolutely reflective of the Porirua area was: “I have moved to Porirua because it is safer.” That was from a felon with a conviction sheet of over 160 convictions. He moved to Porirua because it is safer there. 
During the course of the past few weeks I also had the opportunity to have the Prime Minister visit from Raumati in the north—for those members who are not familiar with the Mana electorate—to Linden in the south. Throughout the course of these visits he had people coming up to him saying what a wonderful economic management programme this Government has in place whether it is Lembas Café in Raumati South which won a Wellington on a Plate title or whether—[ 
Interruption 
] Members opposite may wish to deride this but I am speaking about real people rather than about the theory of invective that usually flows from the other side of the House. Whether it is Trudy at the wonderful Cafe Vella in Plimmerton or Belinda at the equally fabulous Peppermill Delicatessen in central Porirua all of these women in business— 
Iain Lees-Galloway 
: The people in Cannons Creek go to cafes all the time don’t they? 
HEKIA PARATA 
:—are backing themselves I say to Mr Lees-Galloway because they are enthused and encouraged by this Government’s programme.