O'Connor Simon: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeO'Connor Simon: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 18 February 2015. Volume:703;Page:1701. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SIMON O’CONNOR (National—Tāmaki): A certain Alfred Ngaro and I were debating who would go first and of course with his great passion and exploration of the truth it is a difficult one to follow but Alfred Mr Ngaro has indicated some of the really strong elements of this Government. I am very pleased to take a call in support of the PM’s speech in a rejection of what are the “distractionary” comments of the Labour Party—in particular in fact bad grammar as well; always a shocker. But I want to acknowledge Alfred. He works incredibly hard for the good people in Te Atatū in particular and provided me with great support in Tāmaki with his connections there. But drawing on the fact of his passion it is a passion shared by every member on this side of the House and a passion that is importantly unified. This is a National Party with purpose and purpose behind the Prime Minister.We know from the facts—and as Alfred has said the facts are very clear—that unemployment is coming down. We have an economy that is growing and we are seeing wages increasing. And I myself find as I move around my electorate and Tāmaki is a diverse electorate that people are feeling the benefits. They are feeling the benefits in their businesses in their homes in their schools in the health sector—wherever they are engaging they are seeing the differences that the National Party is making. And really important they again see a strong unified party that is united behind its leader.I want to draw attention to a couple of what I think are really excellent elements happening within my electorate that manifest this. Most recently there was an announcement for the Government—this was in the space of public transport around shared cycleways. Tāmaki has been very pleased to receive in effect $2 million immediately to help with a cycleway between Glen Innes and Tāmaki Drive. This is something I have been very passionate about and that I know our local board there in Ōrākei has been passionate about: joining up our communities. Joining up our communities from Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive—a $9.5 million project that this Government is committed to and the good people of Tāmaki are thrilled about. And it is symbolic too. I used those words “joining up our communities” quite deliberately earlier. That is a core work that we in our constituencies do and that we as a National Party seek and push towards.We want to unite our communities—those doing well those doing not so well those who are in ill health and those who need better educational outcomes. We are working across the board. We heard in the initial speech from Minister Tolley about the great work that she is leading in social development. I would be remiss now as chair of the Health Committee to not speak of what Jonathan Coleman is doing. We have had two Ministers in the health sector during this National Government. Obviously the record of Tony Ryall stands for itself. In fact I think all members across the House would acknowledge the amazing work that he did. But I want to acknowledge Minister Coleman as well. He has picked up the mantle and run with it incredibly strongly and it is a pleasure to work with him.We are hearing in the Health Committee at the moment really positive stories coming out of the district health boards particularly but also from other groups like the New Zealand Blood Service—incredibly strong and helpful work that is going on for all New Zealanders. So in thanking the Minister I think it is also important if I can in my role as chair to thank all those involved in the health sector from the doctors to the nurses to the cleaners to the health support workers and to the community workers. What they do makes an enormous difference.I want to touch very quickly too—we have had a lot of talk about housing; where are the houses being built what are the changes being made and where are the statistics and figures. I just invite people particularly from the Opposition to come to Tāmaki to come to Glen Innes in particular actually where the Tāmaki Transformation Project is really gaining legs. Houses are being built and lives are being changed. But I sense the bell is to ring—[Bell rung] There is some prescience for you.I just want to finish though with a fun fact for the House. Goff lasted as leader of the Labour Party for around 1100 days. David Shearer lasted for around 640 days. Mr Cunliffe lasted for over 300 days. So it seems to me that each Labour leader since 2008 has lasted about half as long as his predecessor—half as long as his predecessor—and so far Mr Little has lasted for 90 days. So according to the numbers he has got about 90 days to go. I would say that Mr Little has got about until late May before someone comes for his job. This is all about the maths people. This is the Labour Party’s own Fibonacci sequence. In fact looking across the members there could have a chance of being in the leadership by December. Thank you.MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Mr Speaker tēnā koe. E ngā mema o te Whare nei kei te mihi. Ā ko Tākuta Apirana Mahuika ko Tama Tūranga Huata e ōku rangatira kua wehe atu ki te pō he taniwha he tipua he tangata haere haere haere atu rā.[Thank you Mr Speaker. To the members of this House I acknowledge you. To Dr Apirana Mahuika and Tama Tūranga Huata my revered leaders who have departed to the void you are awesome supernatural and manly. Depart go forth journey on.]I am pleased to take a call to debate the important Prime Minister’s statement for 2015. However before I do that may I wish you and all members of the House warm salutations and I trust you have all had a very restful summer break because boy are we going to need it this year.In our Māori culture it is proper to acknowledge the recent passing of a great rangatira and in my beloved Ikaroa-Rāwhiti we have had our fair share. Dr Apirana Mahuika—scholar teacher leader husband father koro and uncle to many—was unequivocally passionate about and without deviation for the advancement of our Ngati Porou people. During his tangi he was acknowledged as the ultimate politician playing and beating many in this House at our own game. I acknowledge his contribution to our people and to our nation: e te rangatira moe mai [esteemed one rest there].Tama Tūranga Huata—arts and cultural visionary leader throughout Aotearoa throughout the Pacific. With the support of his whānau he established Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Tākitimu one of the first performing arts tertiary institutions in this country. His Kahurangi Māori Dance Theatre company performs regularly in New Zealand even here in Parliament North America and Canada. Employment and opportunities through culture—Tama established the national Waiata Māori Awards and was the first chairman of Te Matatini New Zealand’s premier hapa kaka movement. Tama was before his time committed to his culture committed to his Anglican faith committed to the descendants of the waka tipua Tākitimu. E te rangatira moe mai [esteemed one rest there].It seems anticlimactic to go from espousing the virtues of these great rangatira to now turn to the Prime Minister’s statement. It is like moving from a state of admiration and respect to a state of despair. The country deserves better. The constituents of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti whom I represent deserve better. In the contribution earlier today by Minister Anne Tolley there was reference to the comment in the Prime Minister’s speech about the economy being in good shape and getting better. I rise to bring to this House the reality that I confront as the member for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. It is not my view of what is happening. It is through the lens of the many constituents who unfortunately get turned away from some of my colleagues on that side of the House when they have issues of urgency particularly around housing. The constituents of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti are over this spin Government—a Government with no substance a Government with no policy and no plan and a Government that simply does not care.When we came together after the 2014 election I had great hope in the new class of members on the Government side when many rose to their feet and espoused the virtues of decency of fairness and of equity. I am talking particularly about Nuk Korako Shane Reti and Mr Bishop himself. I had great faith that things were going to change on that side of the House. But alas it was not to be.When I travel throughout my electorate which is 730 kilometres in distance from Pōtaka in the north to Wainuiōmata in the south the issues that continuously come up with the people whom I meet as I travel are jobs and warm and decent homes. [Interruption] No it is not my view. It is the view of the people whom I have to deal with as a member of Parliament. I have come to this House to put down what their struggles are—not mine not yours but theirs. Too much in this House is a big gap between talking about doing something and actually doing it. The results speak for themselves.Let us turn to housing throughout Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. The waiting list in December 2014 in Gisborne was 46. In Hastings there are 61 people waiting. In Napier there are 93 people waiting for homes and in Wairoa a small community there are 10 people waiting. But let us look at the vacant houses in those same areas. As at October 2014 we have 87 vacant homes in Gisborne we have 71 vacant homes in Hastings and we have 130 vacant homes in Napier. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to ask why we have got these vacant homes but there are still people on the waiting list. It is because this Government does not care. It is because this Government is not actively providing safe affordable dry homes for the people throughout Ikaroa-Rāwhiti who need them.I also want to come to the House to raise an issue that has come up in my engagement again with constituents. It is the lack of maintenance that is going on in State houses. I deal with the managers in both Hastings and Gisborne. They are great people because we all need public servants in our regions but their hands are tied. You have to go into nannies’ homes who keep immaculate houses and lawns but the paint is peeling there is mildew in the bathrooms and there are holes in the kitchen because the bathroom is leaking but these people are just grateful to have a home. No one deserves to live like that—nobody. When the concerns are raised again with the managers of Housing New Zealand they cannot do anything. Why? Because they have no budget. Is this the Government that we are proud of? Is that a “good shape … getting better” Government—which is what we heard the Prime Minister say—when people are forced to live in that level of housing? It is not. That is why I rise to bring that issue to this House.Employment—we have heard that this Labour Party is prioritising jobs. We are prioritising jobs and we are not just going to talk about it. We are going to do something about it. Again I reference the earlier contribution by the Minister Anne Tolley around unemployment. Let us just have a look throughout our electorate Minister Tolley. In Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay in December 2014 we had an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent. In December 2008 that percentage was 6.4. In Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay we are not in good shape. We are not getting better. The statistics are undeniably going the wrong way. When we have this Government talking about the glory and the benefits that are going out I for one can definitely stand and say that the impact on the people throughout Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is not being felt. When Minister Tolley is up in Gisborne I invite her to come to Elgin and to be part of the community who come in every day when I am visiting to talk about the lack of jobs the poor houses—in fact we have got a house right next door to my electoral office that burnt down and is still standing.This Government is completely out of touch with the ordinary New Zealander. Like I say on this side of the House I want to hold the Government accountable for its non-performance and non-delivery of the bare basics of a warm affordable home sustainable employment and a decent wage. This is why we are standing to hold this Government to account. That Prime Minister’s statement is just not hitting the mark. It is full of holes. Over this year I look forward to exposing the Government even more. Kia ora tātou.