Henare PeeniHon PEENI HENARE (Minister of Defence): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker thank you very much. I want to begin my contribution by saying these words: Te hā o Hine-ahu-o [The dignity of women]. I thought the contributions made by the Hon Poto Williams Angie Warren-Clark Arena Williams and Sarah Pallett speak for themselves. And I want to endorse their words from this side of the House and say: ka nui tēnā tāne mā. Men ka nui tēnā. [Men that's enough that's enough.] Tukuna ko ngā wāhine ki mua [Allow the women to come forward] and I support them wholeheartedly.We heard today about a particular matter that was raised by Dr Reti with respect to the health sector. I would like to take him and the members on that side of the House on another journey one that over decades has already pointed out to the current health system that the inequities were going to continue to compound and grow if we did not make systemic fundamental change to our health sector. It was clear in Wai 2575 in the evidence that was produced to the Waitangi Tribunal that if we did not make fundamental change to the health sector that the issues that plague Māori communities Pacific communities communities that have been underserved by our health sector will continue to grow and grow into the future.The statistics have been very clear—very clear. In fact the DHB system has been in place all of my life. And we have seen health statistics for Māori continue to fail our people. That's why the report from the Waitangi Tribunal the review that took place into the health and disability sector was very clear. Tinkering around the edges would not work so a fundamental change needed to happen. And I'm proud that on this side of the House with respect to the health sector we have made that fundamental change. It's been one heck of a journey. And can I acknowledge the Hon Andrew Little for his leadership in this work to make sure that we not only continue to push on and forge on with these health and disability reforms but also to continue to bring largely the community at large on this particular journey.Myself and my colleagues led by the Hon Andrew Little have been right around the country and the optimism for changing the health sector is palpable. We can speak towards making sure that the Māori health sector continues to get more support to make sure it serves Māori communities. We made it clear that what we needed to do was have a stronger input on locality plans for our regions to make sure that they can drive the health needs that they deserve and most importantly ones that they design. We made it clear that we needed to invest in infrastructure. In the Budget just gone we have already announced that we will build a new hospital in Whangārei. I can tell you as a descendant from Te Tai Tokerau Māori across Te Tai Tokerau call the Whangārei hospital the departure lounge". That's because they did not get the care and service that they deserve. They did not go into a facility that they deserved. On this side of the House the Government acknowledges it recognises it and most importantly has set out to rectify it.I'm proud of the work that we're doing to make sure that the health sector will grow according to the growth of New Zealand. This Friday Mānawatia a Matariki gives us an opportunity on 1 July to launch Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority. This will recast health for our people into the future. If I think about our tamariki and mokopuna I'm proud that we've done the groundwork to make sure that they get a health system they deserve.The health reforms continue to not only address the inequities that are in our system; they remove the postcode lotteries that have impacted upon our country. Just recently at the rural health meeting—actually hosted here in Parliament by myself and colleagues—it was interesting to note that they all agreed that it was a postcode lottery and that they were underserved. And we made it clear through the legislation and the health reform work that this progressive Government is making sure that they will be saved into the future.I'm proud of the work that we're doing whether it's histories in schools whether it's Matariki and an opportunity for this country to come together under one sky and the kaupapa looking forward to the future. I'm proud that we are going to continue to do this work whether it be in housing—we've heard good kōrero here and good kaupapa presented by the Minister of Transport and also the newly minted Minister of Justice. I'm proud of the work that we're doing the leadership that we have and what we're doing for this country. I can't speak more proudly on this side of the House and can only look to the other side with disappointment.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The time for this debate has expired.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed."