Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:606;Page:3380] 
LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (NZ Labour—Mana) 
: 
 Kia ora talofa lava and warm Pacific greetings. It is my pleasure and privilege as the member of Parliament for Mana to stand and speak during this debate on our Prime Minister’s statement and our Government’s continued achievements. This Government has a pragmatism that is about real policy outcomes that address sustainable social and economic outcomes. What do we mean by sustainable social and economic outcomes and how do we ensure that every man woman and child irrespective of his or her culture gender religious and spiritual beliefs and socio-economic family and community circumstances can each share the fruits of participation opportunity security economic independence and dignity? Our short-term and long-term aims are to build and sustain solid levels of economic growth and to fund good public services and infrastructure sustainability.  
Our Prime Minister the Rt Hon Helen Clark stated in her speech that there is no reason for complacency or self-satisfaction. We continue to set ourselves tough goals in order to ensure that our aims are met. We are delivering on our commitments and we are keeping our word. We will continue to deliver as our budget permits. We all know that our Minister of Finance Dr Michael Cullen is a safe pair of hands and a successful and prudent financial manager. Our Government believes in living within its means and believes that taxpayers’ moneys should be invested wisely to ensure that sustainable and economic outcomes are achieved.  
Let us look at some examples of what we have delivered and achieved so far. In the economic area New Zealand over the past year has been one of the OECD’s star performers with annual average growth for the year to September coming in at 3.9 percent. That growth was driven by the household sector and by tourism and it continues the solid economic performance of the last four quarters. Thank you New Zealand. Moody’s Investors Service has restored New Zealand to the highest possible credit rating for foreign currency debt returning us to the rating we held in 1983. That is great news. In fact this morning at the Finance and Expenditure Committee Simon Carlaw the chief executive officer of Business New Zealand stated that the Government’s management of finances has been sound. Let me repeat that: Simon Carlaw said that the Government’s management of finances has been sound. I say thank you to him. 
 In the social and economic area our unemployment rate has fallen to 4.9 percent down from 5.4 percent for the September 2002 quarter. Employment levels have been growing for the past 10 quarters which means more paid jobs and more paid work for New Zealanders. That is great news. Looking at regional and industry development as the proud member of Parliament for Mana I note two local examples of Government funding that have been given in my electorate and in Darren Hughes’ electorate for strategic planning in the Kapiti area. In December last year $21802 was given to research opportunities for tourism and we all know that Kapiti and Mana Islands are among the most beautiful icons and heritage sites in New Zealand and are another potential major income earner from tourism. Thirty-three thousand one hundred and sixty-five dollars was also granted to conduct a scan of potential and existing cluster industries in Kapiti. Those initiatives will bring more money into the local economy and into New Zealand. They will also work to create more jobs and business opportunities for our people.  
We all know that our children are precious and in early childhood education our Government has granted $8.8 million for the development of buildings and it will create 1343 new places for children in licensed and chartered centres over the upcoming year. In Porirua in my electorate I have seen many examples of the significant increase in the number of our children participating in early childhood education. We all know education opens doors and it is a sound investment for the present and future generations.  
Finally at the end of last year I attended a function where our Government signed a memorandum of understanding with 54 mayors from around the country and committed them to a shared goal that by 2007 all of our 15 to 19 year-olds will be engaged in appropriate education training work or other options that will lead to long-term economic independence and well-being. Much progress has already been made with that agreement. It reflects a true spirit of partnership with all the stakeholders—whether they be the market the private sector business civil society and the State—working together. We are grateful to all New Zealanders who work and who are committed to the Kiwi values of hard work and of realising sustainable economic and social participation for every citizen.  
I will end on the wonderful words of our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr Cullen— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Who’s that? 
LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN 
: The Deputy Prime Minister and the most successful Minister of Finance we have had Dr Michael Cullen said: “We are not into Elastoplast or Band-Aid solutions. We are about long-term sustainable outcomes that offer real choice real participation real economic growth and independence real dignity and nationhood.”