Wagner Nicky: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Wagner Nicky: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Sitting date: 30 January 2013. Volume:687;Page:7656. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
NICKY WAGNER (National—Christchurch Central) 
: 
 It is my pleasure to speak to the Prime Minister’s statement and to add my support to our Government’s financial plan to strengthen the economy encourage investment in New Zealand and grow jobs for New Zealanders. Like most New Zealanders I love our beautiful unique country and I understand how important it is to manage our natural resources intelligently and well so that we can preserve and enjoy the unspoilt qualities of our countryside and our environment. 
I believe in the blue-green philosophy that our economy and our quality of life are predicated on a clean green environment and that the economy and growth and improving the environment can and must go hand in hand. It is the cleanliness the freshness and the beauty of our country—the rivers the lakes the mountains and the forests—that define us all as a nation and that make us so attractive to tourists to investors and to immigrants from around the world. In fact everywhere I go in the world I am told how fortunate New Zealand is. Immigrants are attracted to our country by our wonderful open spaces and because we are politically stable and have a safe country and a low crime rate. Furthermore people know that in New Zealand we have opportunities to create a great lifestyle and a quality of life. 
New Zealand is a lucky country. We have huge water resources. We have a temperate climate that allows us to grow high-quality food which is in demand internationally and over the years we have developed renewable energy resources that are increasingly valuable. We are innovative well educated and know how to work together collaboratively. We have all the ingredients for a bright future but we need to manage these ingredients efficiently and well. 
In the face of the worst global recession since the 1930s this Government has managed our finances carefully and effectively and we are now on a path to get back into surplus and start reducing debt. John Key’s National Government is working hard to create a more productive and competitive economy that will attract investment support exporting provide new jobs and help New Zealanders earn and save and we are succeeding. Our economy is growing and is expected to continue to grow by at least 2.5 percent a year for the next 3 years which is a stronger growth rate than Europe stronger than the UK and stronger than Japan and Canada and that is a real achievement that New Zealanders can be proud of. 
The National Government is ambitious for New Zealand and New Zealanders. We are building on our strengths as a nation we are investing in the education and training of our young people we are developing our infrastructure and we are delivering the public services New Zealanders want and need in the most efficient and effective way. The country is in good hands. But for me the focus is on the city of Christchurch and the commitment that this Government has made to the rebuild of our city after the earthquakes. It is an enormous commitment of time of energy and of money to ensure that Christchurch the country’s second-largest city and the gateway to the South Island will thrive once again. The funding commitment has been huge with $5.5 billion going to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Fund and $2.2 billion going to SCIRT—that is the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team—and its repair works so that is all about roads sewers and water pipes. Over half a billion dollars has already been paid out with a further $40 million of work being completed and paid for every month. 
 One of the best things that the Government did was that immediately after 22 February the Government supported 63000 workers who were working for earthquake-devastated businesses. It provided a $200 million wage support package which saved hundreds of small businesses and the jobs that those businesses provided. There was also funding of $6.8 million to actually help those businesses get back on their feet and $4 million to exporters so that they could reassure their partners overseas that they were still in business and were keen to keep trading. There was also special funding made available for Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism and $10 million to back social support service agencies. All of this funding has been appreciated and well used. 
The question still on everyone’s lips when you meet them in Christchurch is: “What happened to your house?”. But more and more we are hearing people telling us that their houses are being repaired or rebuilt or replaced and that their families are resettled. In fact many I talk to now are very happy in their new homes. The Government supported families in the worst-hit residential red zones with the Crown offer for purchase. Although many people originally were very disappointed and maybe even outraged to be red zoned now many people are disappointed and even outraged not to be red zoned because there has been widespread acceptance and grateful acceptance of the Crown offer with over 6500 homeowners who have signed sale and purchase agreements and are now ready to move on to new locations. 
Repairs to homes are also well under way. More than 47000 emergency repairs were completed and 18000 heating units were installed to replace damaged chimneys. The latest information tells us that almost 31000 homes have been fully repaired—totally completed—by the Earthquake Commission. And there is an expectation that that will rise to over 50000 by the end of this year. The Earthquake Commission has paid out $4.1 billion to Canterbury people for earthquake claims. 
In 2011 the Christchurch City Council asked the public to share their ideas about what they would like to see in the rebuild of Christchurch. There were over 30000 suggestions made and those ideas came to form the blueprint for the central business district for Christchurch. The blueprint reflects the people’s desire for a sustainable people-friendly safe beautiful 21st century city. It includes 12 key sites for major facilities a convention centre new public library and metro sports facilities. It is an exciting vision and people from all over the world are keen to be involved in its creation. 
The growth and the pace of the rebuild means that Christchurch is now leading the country in economic growth and in the creation of jobs. It is a city of opportunity and we want as many New Zealanders as possible to have a chance to be part of it. We have created a Working InZone programme to get unemployed Cantabrians working in the region’s red zones. We have new training and employment programmes to attract workers into trades needed for the rebuild and that scheme will recruit over a thousand new workers over the next year. We are also making it quicker and easier to link up employers and workers through the new Canterbury Skills and Employment Hub. 
But there is still a huge job ahead of us. The Canterbury rebuild is the biggest economic undertaking in the history of New Zealand but we are making real progress. I would like to thank Gerry Brownlee the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery and everybody at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority the Earthquake Commission and the Christchurch City Council who are working so hard for the city. Homes are getting repaired and rebuilt the economy is growing jobs are available and we have an intelligent and popular plan for the rebuild of the city.