Young Jonathan: General Debate 
Young Jonathan: General Debate 
[Volume:678;Page:911] 
JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) 
: 
 Thank you for the opportunity to stand and speak today. It is great to hear my colleagues talk about the primary industries which are undergirding the export-led recovery that this nation is experiencing. In fact it is good to see that New Zealand is faring far better than many nations overseas because hard-working New Zealanders out there are taking our natural resources and with their innovation with their incredible skill and tenacity and with their hard work against all odds they are making New Zealand a world leader when it comes to primary industries. It is wonderful to see the increase that is happening. But can I also say that alongside this increase we are seeing innovation in how to manage our resources. 
I think of my own province of Taranaki where we have a world-leading riparian planting programme—certainly the best in this nation—which is protecting the streams and the waterways of our province which has 17000 kilometres of waterways all streaming down from Mount Taranaki to the ocean. The farmers without legislation but because of their commitment to the environment have planted every year around 300000 plants on the edges of waterways and have fenced those waterways in order to protect our environment and enhance it not only now but for future generations of farmers who will continue to make New Zealand such a successful place. I think the figure is that around 70 to 80 percent of those waterways have been planted out. Credit goes not only to the farmers but also to the Taranaki Regional Council which has led this tremendous work. 
Many of my colleagues have talked about the comments of Labour members over past years and their attitude towards our primary industries. I guess they would say they are for it they are for us and that they want to see all those areas increase succeed and prosper. We always go back to the comment they have made about the sunset industry of agriculture. Mr Speaker you more than anyone in this House would know how important that sector is to us. We know that back in 1961 the consumption of red meat in the world was at a certain level and it has tripled since then. The opportunities exist for industries in New Zealand not only in dairying and red meat but also in forestry and in food processing and production to continue to forge us ahead in great success. 
One of the members today mentioned a great Taranaki company. I want to say that I know that company. I know those people well. I know what they have contributed to our local economy and also to the whole community of Taranaki. That company is highly regarded in Taranaki. In fact as a young boy on the way out from Hawera where I grew up and lived I would go through Manaia. My brother and I on our way out to our parents’ farm in Pihama about to do some fencing would always stop by Yarrows and buy a dozen doughnuts—I know you can tell. We would buy a dozen doughnuts and we would eat them at morning tea time as we were labouring away in our school holidays fencing. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Is that each? 
JONATHAN YOUNG 
: Was that each? Ha! My family—myself and my brothers—became great fans of that company. I went on to play basketball with the gentleman who was mentioned and he continues to be a good friend of my family. 
I have an interesting story. Noel Yarrow the person who is credited with forging the progress of that company went across to Europe on a trade mission and there met a couple in Belgium who after meeting him decided to come to New Zealand. They came to Taranaki particularly to meet him and they loved it so much they stayed. Last Friday night we were at the expansion of their company. They themselves are now producing incredible quality products—they are bakers—and they also export. They send their product to 54 companies in New Zealand and export to three different countries around the world—such is the great strength there is in Taranaki.