Boyack RachelRACHEL BOYACK (Labour—Nelson): I'm proud to take a call today on the Prime Minister's statement. I want to focus my speech today on some of the tough decisions the Government has made in order to protect the lives of New Zealanders and the steps we are taking in Nelson to build back better as we recover from COVID-19. But first I want to put on record my thanks to everyone in the Nelson-Tasman region who's worked to support our vaccination roll-out. Our vaccination rates in the top of the South are high: 97 percent have had one dose and 95 percent are fully vaccinated. We have one of the highest booster rates in the country and nearly half of our 5- to 11-year-olds have had their first dose. My thanks to everyone involved in this life-saving work: our health workers vaccinators administrators the public health contact tracing team our COVID testing teams and everyone doing their part to keep our community safe from COVID19.Last week my staffer's 4-year-old boy was diagnosed with cancer. Over the next few weeks and months he will receive treatment at Christchurch and Nelson hospitals. These treatments will mean he is immunocompromised. Willy deserves all the protections he can get to avoid catching and becoming ill from COVID-19. I am grateful to all of the health workers who have chosen to be vaccinated to protect vulnerable children like Willy. Willy is too young to be vaccinated. He has no choice. He needs adults to make choices that will protect him from getting sicker than he already is. He deserves to be treated and cared for by health workers who are vaccinated. Willy's diagnosis has brought home to me the stark reality of COVID-19 and the risk it presents to our most vulnerable. I am proud of this Government's decisions to protect our most vulnerable like Willy from the worst impacts of COVID-19. The overwhelming majority of New Zealanders have made decisions and sacrifices that benefit the collective good; decisions that aren't just about themselves but are about their neighbours whānau friends and strangers because we are better off when we look after each other.The Prime Minister said in her statement how essential building new infrastructure is to continue growing our economy and lifting productivity. The previous National Government left a legacy of massive under-investment in health infrastructure including ICUs. For two whole years National didn't invest a single cent in health infrastructure despite a growing and ageing population. By contrast the Labour Government has already put $6 billion into health infrastructure. I'm pleased as the MP for Nelson to have been able to secure a commitment from this Government to upgrade Nelson Hospital. Nelson desperately needs a new hospital. In 2020 a Government stocktake of hospitals nationwide found the George Manson building to be in the worst condition of any hospital building in the country. Built in 1960 the building has fire separation issues a likelihood of asbestos and seismic restraint issues. It is critical we have fit for purpose buildings and this is the priority for me as the local MP.My electorate of Nelson has faced a growing housing crisis that has built up for decades and our Government is taking steps to address this. As the Prime Minister said in her statement investing in the infrastructure needed for good quality housing is a priority for this Government. In Nelson we are seeing a range of measures to address this including the transfer of ownership of council-owned housing from Nelson City Council to Kāinga Ora freeing up $12 million for the housing reserve fund in Nelson. Last year I successfully lobbied alongside community housing providers to release some of this fund immediately to support the development of community-owned social housing in Nelson. Nelson Tasman Housing Trust have ambitious plans to lift their housing stock from 50 houses to 100 and the Government's changes to how we structure payments of the income-related rent subsidy gives them the certainty to invest in these developments. Habitat for Humanity Nelson also have ambitious plans for housing in the region and the Government is pleased to be providing financial support for their progressive homeownership scheme locally which supports low-income families to get into their first home.COVID-19 has presented challenges for New Zealand and the world that we have not seen for a generation. I am proud to be part of a Government that is putting the health and wellbeing of all our people first as we respond to COVID and that seeks to build a stronger New Zealand for the generations to come. Kia ora.