McKelvie Ian: General Debate 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
McKelvie Ian: General Debate 
[Sitting date: 13 June 2012. Volume:680;Page:2938. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
IAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitikei) 
: 
 I have sat here all afternoon and frankly I wonder why I did. I have witnessed members on the other side of the House reading the paper to us. I came here and I am sure this side of the House came here to make the news not read about it. In fact we have spent the afternoon listening to a lot of history—the history of a pretty second-rate Opposition in my view. We have also listened to a member of the Greens talking about how to fix the rest of the world not how to fix New Zealand. This National Government is here to fix New Zealand. I am relieved for the men and women of New Zealand who need help that National is in Government not Labour because if we were relying on Labour we would be in deep strife.  
We in the Rangitikei understand the need to grow production not consumption. We understand the need for an export-led economy that will play a part and more in realising this. We know how to produce good quality milk meat wool malt carrots potatoes eggs and many other amazing agricultural products. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Vegetables over there! 
IAN McKELVIE 
: Absolutely—and they are productive. We know how to produce great university graduates and outstanding soldiers and air force personnel. We know how to host and transport tourists and above all else we know how to manage our environment for future generations. We also know what it is like to face a decreasing population and the pressure this brings to bear on an ageing infrastructure as fewer and fewer people are left to pay for that upgrade. We know the pressure on our local councils to produce better facilities for less and on the Government to provide better health and education services to remote parts of New Zealand.  
We like other remote parts of New Zealand know what it is like to fight for what we have. We know how hard it has been over the last 20 years to retain our services. We cannot successfully carry out any of these activities or provide these services without sound government great policy and practical positive budgeting. We feel the harsh economic realities of today but we understand the need for constraint. There is a need to create an environment where this great country can prosper and grow once again; an environment where we can get our produce to market efficiently and as quickly as possible; one where we can be proud of our small communities their schools their health services their infrastructure and their recreational facilities; and one where we can look forward to a brighter future.  
Building a brighter future is about joining many dots along the way including responsibly managing the Government’s finances building a more responsible and competitive economy delivering better public services and rebuilding Christchurch. These dots are contributed to by boosting early childhood education renewing our commitment to what I call special education services and other education reforms i.e. national standards and effective and better supported teachers under the leadership of Minister Parata. 
Hon Members 
: Ha ha! 
IAN McKELVIE 
: At least it has cheered up the Opposition members. They look particularly gloomy. Delivering faster broadband services is absolutely essential to rural New Zealand and to our future. Minister Bennett and her welfare system reforms are enabling people to get back into work and my electorate knows what that is about. Reducing crime improving personal safety and improving prisoners’ opportunities to get back into society is most important to my community as well.  
The Treaty settlements process under Minister Finlayson will have a very positive effect on rural New Zealand and a positive impact on our history and on the morale of New Zealanders in general. Reforming the Local Government Act 2002 will enable councillors to become fleet of foot and efficient and effective providers of essential infrastructure.  
Growth for growth’s sake is not the answer for New Zealand’s future. We must have a planned structured growth and to achieve this we need a country moving in unison. We need planning undertaken in a strategic manner by our Government and councils and in the course of this we must protect and restore our environment as it is critical to the future of my electorate and yours. In the Rangitikei we rely on the environment to provide our income. It is critical to farming and tourism. We also have the resource to provide for solutions to these initiatives through our university and research-based businesses on the Massey University side of the Manawatu River.  
We are a Government about growth about people and about success for New Zealanders. We are a Government about protecting the future for future generations of New Zealanders and I commend the activities of this Government in this term of Government. I think we have done a fantastic job. Thank you. 
The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.