Sosene Lemauga Lydia; O'Connor GregLEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour—Māngere): Talofa lava lau Fofoga Fetalai. Malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e mama. Mr Assistant Speaker O'Connor congratulations on your new role. It's really good to have you there today and I'd also like to congratulate the rest of the presiding officers that will look after us in this House and in the debating chamber. I'd also like to congratulate all the new members of the House the members of Parliament that are new. It's really good to see the diversity across the House and also to hear the different languages that we heard yesterday. I'd like to acknowledge two of my new members of caucus in the Labour Party Cushla Tangaere-Manuel from Ikaroa-Rāwhiti and our colleague Reuben Davidson Christchurch East. Also I'd like to acknowledge another brother from South Auckland Fa'anānā Efeso Collins and we have a history of working in previous roles. This is my first contribution to the House in the 54th Parliament and it's a real pleasure to be the final speaker tonight. We heard today from this Government the Speech from the Throne and their 100-day plan and as a member on this side of the House I actually had real trepidation about the progressive initiatives from the last Government. On this side of the House we heard the leader the Rt Hon Chris Hipkins speak about how we are going to be a strong Opposition pushing back against the changes that are coming up. It is important that we hold this Government to account on the many announcements that have been made today because New Zealand wants to move forward and not backwards. Where is the hope in vision for New Zealanders—particularly young New Zealanders—in all the repealing of many of the progressive legislation that the Labour Government has worked on since 2017? I want to acknowledge the Rt Hon Chris Hipkins for his words of wisdom that he shared today and we will continue to hold the Government to account. The Labour caucus will be building the machinery towards 2026 and we may be down but in no way are we out. We believe on this side of the House that the Government has the wrong priorities and that they are out of touch and I will tell you why. There's a couple of areas that I want to focus on specific to my community—specific to where I come from in South Auckland. I really listened intently to the speech that was shared today specifically around Pasifika because we know that in a lot of the stats across the country Pasifika feature really low in those stats whether it comes to socio-economic environments the health stats or education. I have a very strong interest in Pasifika and in the document that I read afterwards there was very little mention of Pasifika. It is important to hold the Government to account and that they understand Pasifika communities because that's the community that I represent. That is the community of Māngere in South Auckland who put me in this role and I'm very proud and feel very privileged to have this role. The Pasifika communities are diverse. They're actually the fastest-growing and youngest population of Aotearoa and it's a real shame that there is no member of the Government who is of Pasifika ethnicity because on this side of the House we have the Labour Pasifika caucus. I interpret today's announcements as being that the Government has no commitment. It just does not understand that kaupapa. We heard that on the campaign trail and if you were in Māngere and you were out there doorknocking and talking to the people of that community they're very worried because when you don't have that commitment what next?So the research and the evidence that has been provided in many of the Government agencies led by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples really tells it black and white: Pasifika are tuākana and tuāhine to Māori and if Māori are worried as we've seen very recently as of yesterday then Pasifika need to be worried as well. So how do we hold the Government to account? I will be one of the members on this side of the House asking those questions every time I get to speak. As a second-term member of Parliament I say that culture and language is our very being. That is what we represent. Our young people—Pasifika Māori ethnic—are really welcoming in terms of expressing themselves as young New Zealanders being able to speak their reo speak their language and being able to present their skills and talents in the education sector in the arts and culture sector and in the sporting sector. If you take Pasifika people out of all those sectors it will be a very dire picture. Our young people are very proud of their identity not just in metropolitan areas but also in the regions. They are growing fast.So I just want to reflect really quickly in my time left. We saw yesterday that many members of Parliament right across the House when they did their oath or when they did their affirmation either they spoke in English or they spoke in te reo and then they spoke the language of their culture and that was very special. That is a taonga. We need that reflection in the policies and legislation that we see across because New Zealand is a growing diverse population. We shouldn't be afraid of people expressing their cultural identity. That is something that we need to celebrate because when you have a member who understands where they come from where their origins come from that is something that is woven in their work and as a member of Parliament that is really important to my kaupapa.Secondly I just want to quickly acknowledge where I came from which I mentioned earlier. I am here because the people of Māngere voted me to be in here. I am a very proud member of my local community and I want to just do a shout-out to the Labour members but also to the community that voted me in with such a high percentage. I'll just share with you that I just wanted to get over the line but the percentage of voters that voted for the Labour Party and that voted for a Labour member to represent our local community is a very proud moment for me.Very quickly—the Government needs to understand that there is a lot—a ton—of research and evidence that points to all different factors be it social or be it economic about the different populations in various communities. I want to remind members that it's not just in the metropolitan areas but it's actually right across Aotearoa.The last point I want to just stress is the smoke-free legislation and there have been a lot of members on this side of the House who have really expressed why we need to have that legislation continue and for it not to be rolled back. I am sure the Government can go back to its books to see where else it can take some revenue and leave the smoke-free legislation that is impending where it is. A lot of young people were represented when we had a select committee hearing in Māngere. A lot of young people came and spoke to us as to why they want to see a progressive smoke-free environment in their local community. They are tired of seeing many members of their families and going to tangi—and just seeing them reduced with their health implications. It will be a real travesty if that legislation goes in those repeals. It is something that the Government really needs to think about in terms of the representation from our communities specific to Māori specific to Pacific and specific to other parts of our communities. I do want to remind members that our young people really want to stress that having smoke-free environments are really important especially in this day and age. We no longer want to lose many of our community many of our family members. We want a smoke-free generation because it's good for Aotearoa—it's good for New Zealand.Just as I finish up Mr Speaker I want to thank you for the opportunity but I do want to stress that a smoke-free environment for Aotearoa as we move forward is something we need. Thank you. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Greg O'Connor): This debate is interrupted and is set down for resumption next sitting day and can I congratulate members on the quality of debate tonight. It's been excellent. The House is adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow.Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 9.59 p.m.