Jones Dail: General Debate 
Jones Dail: General Debate 
[Volume:645;Page:14633] 
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
: 
 I want to speak generally on some of the issues that have been affecting Auckland and in which I have been involved in recent times. I want to give some views on the developments that have taken place in Auckland despite the increase in population that we have seen in Auckland in the last 20 years or so of about 700000 and how Auckland has had to cope with that situation. 
I commend those involved in the Northern Busway. I had the good fortune of using the Northern Busway when I was attending Auckland University for summer school. I would catch the bus from Brown’s Bay and work my way into Auckland on the bus to Symonds Street and catch the bus back again. It has worked very well—it costs $6.50 each way—and especially coming back along the northern motorway the busway was a great success in my view. As a university student at the time—I dare say that as a part-time student—I was a little disappointed that I did not see more fellow university students on the bus. I feel that if we are talking about the environment—and young people want to talk about the environment and suchlike—and if the bus system and the train system are ways of protecting our environment then more young people should take advantage of what is an ever-improving bus system as far as I am concerned especially going to and from university on the day. 
One of the things that concern me as a resident of the North Shore and particularly near the Albany area is the problems that I see arising with regard to the new senior high school proposed for Albany. When I became a member of Parliament again— 
Simon Power 
: Which time? 
DAIL JONES 
: —for the second time I say to Mr Power—in 2002 I wrote to the Minister of Education expressing my concern about the need for more schooling in the area and about problems at schools that were far too big. The roll of 3000 at Rangitoto College in my view is excessive and I expressed a concern about new schools. In fact I am on the record of the House in 2005 as raising concerns in a general question about schools. 
I am very very disappointed and very concerned at the situation arising on the North Shore in Albany with this senior high school that was proposed I think for 2008 now for 2009 perhaps for 2010 and maybe for 2011. I believe that a lot more has to be done by the Minister and—I say with the greatest respect—by the local member John Key to put more pressure on in order to get this senior high school situation resolved urgently. I believe that the site that has been chosen now is very unsatisfactory. It will be dangerous as far as traffic is concerned. It is not a very good site from the point of view of its topography and I am very concerned that there are currently resource consent objections regarding the site that could delay the matter even further. 
I ask on behalf of the people of the North Shore area around Albany and the like that more urgent action be taken with regard to the site. In fact I almost feel that a different site altogether should be obtained. We could get a flatter site a site more appropriate to a senior high school for years 11 12 and 13 than the present site which I believe will very soon have difficulties—if it ever goes ahead. That is an issue that I believe must be taken into account on the North Shore. 
I must also pay tribute to the Hon Brian Donnelly whose position I have taken. Brian has made a wonderful contribution to Parliament. I am told he is enjoying himself by a swimming pool at the present time— 
Simon Power 
: Hard to imagine! 
DAIL JONES 
: —ha ha!—and we are all pretty envious of that life Brian will be enjoying and we know the hard work he will be doing in his excellent role as the High Commissioner for the Cook Islands with his ample experience in that area. 
I have taken over the education spokesmanship and as a part-time university student I am very concerned about the problems surrounding the funding of university students. In particular I wish to remind people of New Zealand First’s longstanding policy of a universal student allowance. I think of the situation of people like me. When I was a student in the 1960s I had the benefit of support from the State. Now we are in positions of authority and we have created a situation where students no longer have the support of the State as we used to in those good old days. New Zealand First supports a universal student allowance and steps should be taken to ensure that students do not leave university with massive student debts. One of the reasons why people go overseas is that they are concerned about their student loans. 
The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.