Lotu-Iiga Sam: General DebateText is subject to correctionLotu-Iiga Sam: General Debate[Sitting date: 13 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:23. Text is subject to correction.]Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie): It is a pleasure for me to take a call in the general debate this afternoon. I want to talk about the issues that matter to my constituents in Maungakiekie as well as to the people of New Zealand. But before I do that I want to just talk about my dad. He was my hero. He was a migrant to this country. He passed away recently and I just want to acknowledge him this afternoon. He passed away playing golf last week.I also want to mention Papaliitele Peter Fatialofa—last night I also attended his funeral—and say just what a man of courage he was. He was a man who stood for values of community of service and of loyalty not only in the Samoan community but also in the communities across New Zealand and he is being buried this afternoon.Last Friday was 8 November and it was 5 years since National took office. It was also my mum’s birthday and the day we buried my dad. I just want to say that this is not going to be an overly political speech here today. It is about some of the things that we have done in the last 5 years and that the Government has delivered on. It has been a tough time not just for my family in the last week but also for our country in the last 5 years. I think that is something that we can all agree upon. The financial crisis did hit and regardless of assigning blame to whatever party or whatever person things needed to be done in this country and I am proud of some of the things that we have done to address the issues around the economy around jobs and around the education system.The recent household labour force survey for the September quarter did show that over 2270000 people are employed in this country today. That is a large number. It is a large increase on the corresponding figure for last year and on the corresponding figure for the previous quarter to 30 June. What it means is that there are over 2.27 million people who work in this country who provide for their families and who are able to better clothe their families and that is a good thing. That is a good thing regardless of your politics. It is good to have people independent of the State. It is good to have people with the ability to look after their families and it means that there are children out there and there are families out there who are being cared for.Unemployment is down. It is at 6.2 percent. That is a good thing relative to what is happening overseas—yes. Could it be lower? Of course it could. I think we as a Government are trying to address some of the things that will bring the unemployment rate down and to produce jobs in the different industries that New Zealand has competitive and comparative advantages in. Whether that is in the mineral sector whether that is in the high-tech sector whether it is in my local electorate or whether it is in high-value value-added manufacturing that is where our future jobs lie and that is where I see our economy growing. Certainly I am hugely supportive of those local businesses in Maungakiekie that contribute to jobs and contribute to our economy especially the businesses of the local families in my area.In terms of education in 5 years—and I am glad our former Minister of Education Anne Tolley is here in terms of the work that she has done in the education sector—I am very proud particularly of the amounts that are being spent in early childhood education. Yes members in this House can differ as to how that money is spent but that money is being spent on children—on children toddlers and young kids—who need an investment in education and $1.5 billion does contribute to parent-led centres. My own daughter attends a playcentre in my local electorate where there are also kindergartens and other early childhood facilities that provide a really good start for kids to grow and develop in our country. You know compared with other countries in this world New Zealand does offer one of the best education systems in the OECD and across the globe. Thank you.