McKelvie Ian: General DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMcKelvie Ian: General Debate[Sitting date: 09 April 2014. Volume:697;Page:17059. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]IAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei):I just want to commence today by acknowledging the contribution of one Tau Henare to this Parliament. He has added much-needed personality and character to this place. I for one appreciate his sense of humour. I think it is valuable. I just want to make a point while I am on the topic and talk very briefly about the rejuvenation of any business. It is essential for any business to rejuvenate itself and to have a reasonable turnover. I note that there is not one single movement on the other side of the House to rejuvenate it. That of course is its problem. There could be some involuntary ones.Today of course is another great day for provincial New Zealand. It is raining everywhere but the lower Rangitīkei electorate and we need it. We have had no rain in the Rangitīkei since 21 February. It makes one realise why farmers tend to stand around in the rain. However the very good spring and great start to summer will ensure that this year’s production will not suffer as it did last year. Significant rain will be needed very soon or next year’s production will start to suffer. For those who do not understand this the rams are now out in the hill country and tupping will not be as productive as ewes lose weight meaning the probability of fewer lambs being born next spring. I will continue the agricultural lesson. Building up feed supplies is also very important for the dairy sector at this time of year as the cows’ condition is critical as the new season approaches. As we move into the new season it has a great influence on milk production and consequently interestingly enough on the tax take next year. I will get on with some serious stuff now.Rt Hon Winston Peters: It’s like a Federated Farmers speech.IAN McKELVIE: I thought you might need a little bit of a lecture. I want to spend a little time on the work of this Government and the progress that I have seen in the Rangitīkei electorate in the past 2 years as a result of this and on the confidence that has been retained in the business sector by the prudent leadership of the Minister of Finance Bill English and his fellow Cabinet Ministers. In the Ruapehu area the Prime Minister’s national cycleway initiative has created new jobs and optimism as the cycleways progressively open up more opportunity. They are also creating new opportunities for accommodation providers and food outlets. In Taumarunui the Forgotten World Adventures is a very successful business running carts into Whangamomona and on to Stratford and back. This business is extremely popular and has regenerated Whangamomona its hotel and associated backpacker businesses and has provided new life for accommodation and food businesses in Taumaranui.Hon Trevor Mallard: This member’s on the same “Road to Nowhere”.IAN McKELVIE: That was on the “Road to Nowhere”. There is the increasing popularity of walking such as on the Tongariro track with some 120000 visitors per year walking the track and the gorge track in the Manuwatū even attracts some 30000-odd people every year walking across it. Other environmental tourism initiatives include the wonderful Wanganui River and two national parks Wanganui and Tongariro. Slowly but surely more jobs are being created throughout the region leading to new opportunity and optimism in our region. This is all created by the friendly business environment created by this Government. Of course agricultural-related businesses are thriving in this environment as well. As market access improves so do prices and jobs and better pay will follow. Logs meat and milk are all selling well internationally and demand is continuing to be strong.As more attention is given to the environmental matters affecting agriculture and the use of technology increases dramatically a higher skill set is required by the sector. A more sophisticated and better-paid service sector is needed to service our farmers. These people are adding spice to our rural communities. If we maintain the momentum we will see our smaller communities revitalised slowing the urban drift which is one of the keys to a brighter future for regional New Zealand.In the Manawatū Palmerston North and Rangitīkei Plains part of the electorate manufacturing is thriving as the Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce saw last week as he visited a number of very progressive innovative companies including New Zealand Pharmaceuticals and C-Dax. We also have some newcomers in the area that are creating great interest and many job prospects in our region like at Fonterra with the Massey research facilities and the Crown research institutes. It is easy to paint a very rosy picture of business progress in provincial rural New Zealand all created by the activities and initiatives of this National Government.I think this Government has achieved an awful lot for provincial New Zealand and I for one am very proud to be part of that growth. Thank you.