Hughes GarethSocial Development and Housing SectorGARETH HUGHES (Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee): Kia ora ngā mihi nui ki a koutou kia ora. I rise to speak in the annual review debate on the Social Development and Housing Sector. As the chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee it was a privilege to work with members across three other parties and the entities reviewed to conduct the annual review hearings. We conducted hearings and tabled reports from the Ministry of Social Development the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki Housing New Zealand Corporation the Office of the Children's Commissioner the Ministry for Pacific Peoples Sport New Zealand the Artificial Limb Service the Ministry for Culture and Heritage Tāmaki Redevelopment Company the Ministry for Women and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa board. We also conducted annual reviews of Drug Free Sport New Zealand Heritage New Zealand the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa the Families Commission the New Zealand Film Commission the New Zealand Lotteries Commission the Office of Film and Literature Classification and the Social Workers Registration Board and had no matters to bring to the attention of the committee from these entities.I want to quickly run through each of these entities and give a quick highlight from what the committee heard. Looking at the Ministry of Social Development they play a critical role in our society providing social welfare benefits superannuation benefits emergency housing and care and protection of children and young people. The committee asked questions around measuring child poverty and over the next few months the committee will hear submissions on the Government's Child Poverty Reduction Bill. Housing New Zealand manages around 63000 homes housing 180000 Kiwis and we heard about their work for affordable Auckland KiwiBuild and new State houses. On a related note we heard from the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company a company with joint Crown and Auckland Council shareholding to transform Tāmaki over the next 25 years. Key issues canvassed by the committee were the speed of housing development procuring a large-scale partner and home affordability and the KiwiBuild programme. The Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki was created in April of last year and was renamed Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in January this year. The ministry works in a child-centred system with high aspirations for Māori children investing in tamariki amongst others and the committee heard there are currently 5700 children in State care. They told the committee their priority areas are for quality social work practice increasing the number of safe and loving places for children and creating stronger partnerships with iwi and NGOs to commission stronger services for children. We also heard from the Children's Commissioner on his work advocating for children and New Zealanders aged under 18. We discussed setting targets to reduce child poverty developing a national strategy to promote the well-being of children and 17-year-olds in the youth justice system. We heard from the Ministry for Women on their work for pay equity increasing women's opportunities in education and public honours. An area they've also been conducting research into is the gender pay gap. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples told us about their work on the Pacific Employment Support Services developing a language strategy connecting with Pacific regions and promoting Pasifika people in the public sector. With Sport New Zealand we discussed the declining levels of participation in sport amongst young people adults and volunteers. The committee was concerned about declining levels and noted in the Community Sport Strategy 2015-2020 the need to measure effectiveness of investing in community sport. We acknowledged the 20th anniversary of Te Papa in their review and discussed their plan to open a new museum in Manukau South Auckland; opportunities for growth; and the ability to meet demand. And lastly we heard from the New Zealand Artificial Limb Service and they told us of their work supporting the 4354 amputees in New Zealand. We discussed property issues with their limb centre arising from historic peppercorn rental leases. We heard that the buildings face significant issues involving deterioration leaks and earthquake rating needing repairs and investments. They told us these issues were close to resolution and they were in the process of negotiating new contracts with district health boards and ACC to provide more funding.As a new member on this committee this term it was a privilege to learn more about the work of these Crown entities and their dedicated public servants. I'd like to thank committee members the staff and public servants who all played a role in this important aspect of scrutinising public investment in these entities. Kia ora koutou.