Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Fa'afetai tele lava Madam Speaker. Well anyone would think that that member was reading from his own party's alternative Budget—so much glum and in the doldrums and what have you around that. So let's get back to reality. [Interruption] That's right. We're all about reality on this side of the House aren't we team?Earlier today Minister Parker in his contribution talked about how Kiwis were backing these changes. And I have to say that the recess week last week gave us all an opportunity to be back in our electorates and that is the message that people in the fine electorate—semi-beautiful—electorate of Palmerston North were telling me as well. Actually the resounding level of support thanks and gratitude was really because of the positiveness that was in Budget 2021.Hon David Bennett: One of the first to go.Hon Simon Bridges: Semi-beautiful"—I love that. I'm going to try that out on my wife.TANGI UTIKERE: You know what I've been hearing out in the community is that the increases to main benefit levels are going to make a real difference. Members opposite might be quite jocular about that—Hon Member: They're out of touch.TANGI UTIKERE: —but the reality is they are out of touch and they are out of touch with reality. They are out of touch with the fact that $20 which will increase benefits—that's the first take—will make a difference. It will make a difference. Now that's what I'm hearing in my community and that's what others are hearing in their communities around the country as well. [Interruption] ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Order! Order! Apologies to the member. The interjections are getting a bit above the "rare and reasonable" stage so if I could ask members just to calm the farm a little.TANGI UTIKERE: Thank you Madam Speaker. As I was reflecting it was a great week last week. I had my Palmy pop-ups which were an opportunity out in the electorate for people to come have a chat and to share the good news about Budget 2021—beautiful Palmy pop-ups I might say as well. And you know just last week we also had Minister Nash in Palmerston North and that was a fantastic opportunity because the regional development and economic development Minister took the opportunity to take a visit at what is going to connect the eastern and western corridors of the central North Island with Te Ahu a Turanga. Of course that is progress that we are really really proud of on this side of the House but also the $200 million Regional Strategic Partnership Fund which will continue to see that momentum in the regions because this is the Budget for regional New Zealand—$200 million that many many people are pleased to see as well. And yes the Minister talked about the three goals that that would provide in terms of that pūtea and I know that people in my electorate are also looking forward to that as well. Accelerate25—as we heard earlier today is a group of local government members of iwi partners of business partners who were very very positive explaining or describing this as excellent news for Palmerston North and central New Zealand as well. So this is a Budget that is delivering for regional New Zealand. And the reason why I say "Palmerston" in terms of what's beautiful—and you know I acknowledge my colleague the MP for Ōtaki from the beautiful Ōtaki—is that this Government—Hon Members: Oh!TANGI UTIKERE: —we're friendly we're neighbours we're friendly. Team positivity—that's what we're all about on this side of the House. But what I will say is that the Government's investment in Lake Horowhenua will make Ōtaki even more beautiful as a neighbour as well. I want to very briefly touch on the investment in rail—and my colleague Rachel Brooking has touched on that. You know this morning I jumped on the train the Capital Connection which brought me from my home in Palmerston North here to Parliament. Again investment by the Government to the upgrades that have already been rolled out—they have had a look at it as well and what is yet to come in terms of building on those opportunities around rail. So it will signal that investment that $1.3 billion investment around—and that's significant. That is significant along with being fantastic as well. The work that starting with the Palmerston North regional economic growth hub as well the strength around logistics is yet another example of this Budget delivering for people in my community.Finally I want to acknowledge the Pasifika aspects of this Budget: the package in terms of the Pasifika package $108 million—$108 million. Nearly $100 million of that is new operational funding and I want to acknowledge the leadership in this space of our Minister the Hon Aupito William Sio. My colleague Barbara Edmonds previously today has described the work that he's been doing as phenomenal. This will make a real difference to our communities. This will create opportunities for improvement in terms of wellbeing and that's why I'm extremely proud to stand alongside this Government in terms of supporting Budget 2021 because it is a wellbeing Budget that delivers for communities like Palmerston North and others all around the country."