Prime Willow-JeanHon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Minister of Conservation): Tēnā koe e te Māngai o te Whare. It is an absolute pleasure to speak in the House this afternoon and I want to really focus my contribution on the positive start for the Hipkins Government. I've been reflecting back on it because it feels like we have been just doing the job non-stop and it feels like a longer period of time than it has actually been. It has been only 11 weeks. I reflect on those 11 weeks as the new Prime Minister—Hon Andrew Little: Is that all? No it feels like 11 years. Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME: I know because there's been so much to do. But I think back to that first occasion that we had at Rātana Pā and what a joyous day that was to farewell one Prime Minister and to welcome in the next Prime Minister. But shortly after that of course there was the storm event in Auckland and then Cyclone Dovi and then we had Waitangi week—the biggest week of my political year. Then shortly after that we had Cyclone Gabrielle and our quick response to support those in the emergency response phase and now into the recovery phase. We've had to stand up a new committee we've got regional Ministers representing on that committee we have actioned payments to get out to support our primary industries and our growers but also too our businesses and too our Māori communities: over $15 million. All of those things were stood up in just a really short period of time.Then I think back to our first week in Parliament which sadly I missed because we were out there in the regions on the ground with those that were impacted by the cyclones. Minister Kelvin Davis and I were travelling to the four corners of Tai Tokerau to meet with our most remote communities to hear about how they were impacted by the cyclone. In that time that we were away the Prime Minister delivered his first statement in Parliament and of course that has set the scene for a laser-sharp focus on bread and butter issues.It is now just past 1 July or 1 April—July; I'm jumping ahead—where we have seen some of these changes come into effect. I want to take a moment to talk about those 1 April changes because they benefit more than 1.4 million New Zealanders. This is huge especially at a time when we have a cost of living crisis. So 880000 pensioners will get a boost to their super: more than $100 per fortnight for couples. I met kaumātua and kuia in Whangārei on the weekend on 1 April and they were saying that they knew that they were about to get that increase and what that would mean for them. The husband was a bit surprised but the wife knew. I also talked to their mokopuna who as a young māmā knows that she will be getting increases to support her during these difficult economic times when we have a cost of living crisis; where 52000 students will see a bump in their allowance or their loan living costs. As we heard approximately 223000 workers will receive a wage rise as a result of the minimum wage increasing to $22.70 per hour. Some 8000 community nurses are to receive a pay increase of up to 15 percent. With the former Minister of Health who is here in the House with me as an Associate Minister of Health this afternoon and the other Associate Minister of Health here we are so proud that we can see this coming into effect for our nurses. We have 345000 families including 646000 children better off through Working for Families tax credits 10000 more children are eligible for subsidised childcare and of course the Best Start payment is going up. Mr Speaker it has been only 11 weeks. These are really positive changes and a positive start that we are seeing from the new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins—I was almost going to refer to Chippy" but you made a ruling on that earlier. But I have also had the huge privilege of being a Minister for just 64 days and have done a lot in that time including accompanying the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and yourself for the Taranaki maunga signing of the negotiation and the agreement on Friday. It was a very special kaupapa to be a part of and so significant. There are many other highlights in my short 64 days as a Minister which I do not have time to run through this afternoon. In my final seconds I too would like to add my contribution to the acknowledgments of the wonderful leader Jacinda Ardern who is giving her valedictory speech this afternoon. It was such an honour and a privilege to serve with her for our nation and I mihi to her. I look forward to her final words in Parliament this afternoon and reflecting on those. Nō reira tēnā koe Mr Speaker."