Reti Shane: Debate on Prime Minister’s StatementText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeReti Shane: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement[Sitting date: 01 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9228. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei): The Prime Minister’s statement of 9 February outlines the current and future initiatives as this Government looks to continue to build a resilient and competitive economy and do a good job for New Zealanders. The underlying fiscal strategy that was enunciated is to have a tight rein on spending to pay down Government debt and then to return excess revenue to taxpayers. In return we expect results in efficiencies from our public services. This strategy is giving us projected economic growth of 2.7 percent over the next 5 years and this position does well against GDP growth in other major OECD countries like Australia the US and Japan.At a national level then the economic outlook is stable with steady hands on the tiller. Where we can policy influence key local drivers such as interest rates the Consumers Price Index and inflation we do so in the long-term interest and with the best information we have to hand. By definition then we have less influence on offshore factors and this is where a resilient and multifaceted economy provides the best solution yet at the same time recognises the not insignificant contribution by New Zealand to mitigate some of those global risks through our voice in forums such as the United Nations Security Council. At a macroeconomic level then the positive growth in a steady and stable economy is good.At a regional level this Government recognised the importance of the regions and the regional growth programme specifically focuses on five regions to identify growth opportunities: Northland the Bay of Plenty the East Coast Manawatū-Whanganui and the West Coast. This programme is a collaboration between the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and the Ministry for Primary Industries together with local businesses iwi and councils. Last year in Northland we had the regional growth strategy at the beginning of the year which identified the scope of the opportunities and this year a few weeks ago we had the regional action plan identifying 58 opportunities for Northland.Why Northland? Well you know we acknowledge the challenges. We are not afraid; we do not avoid them. We acknowledge the challenges that are currently confronting dairy and we are working hard to do what we can about that. We also acknowledge the challenges that Northland has in underperforming compared with other regions. So we are not afraid to address those issues. In fact the action plan with its 58 points identifies and prioritises what those actions might be.I would like to look at two of the significant actions in that plan for Northland. First of all there is the road of national significance. The road of national significance is absolutely critical for Northland. It is part of a nationwide investment in roading for roads of national significance at $4.5 billion. There are projections of 35000 jobs as part of that package. Northland was very pleased to hear the scoping out of the four-lane highway from Auckland to Northland the “Northland corridor”. That is real progress and even better it is an example of regional investments moving off the blackboard off the plan and becoming real and tangible.In fact Northlanders can see how real and tangible this investment is right now. As they come over the top of the Brynderwyns there is probably a kilometre of cones as the north side of the Brynderwyns is straightened out and the safety profile improved. Another 15 to 20 minutes’ drive on you will come to the Kensington roundabout which is about to commence—a significant piece of work on State Highway 1 which will also improve feeder roads into that area. Another 15 to 20 minutes on on State Highway 1 at Hikurangi there are several hundred metres of cones where the highway is being upgraded there and many other areas of roading investment as well.I would like to take one other example from the action plan: Hundertwasser Art Centre. It is another example of actually deploying an action—taking it off the blackboard and making it real. There is $4 million for the Hundertwasser and the Wairau Māori Art Centre. In 1973 Frederick Hundertwasser came to New Zealand. He was an established international artist when he did. He gained New Zealand citizenship lived in Northland where his artwork was prolific and was influenced by living in Northland by living in New Zealand and by living with Māoridom. I challenge a search for any other international artist who came to New Zealand with that reputation and has done the same. Stan Semenoff Phil Halse and others have led the Hundertwasser challenge and over many years others have contributed. It is a real example of this Government contributing to the regions actually putting its hands in its pocket—$4 million of proof and evidence right there. Thank you.