Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): It's always a privilege to stand and make a contribution in this House. I just want to echo the words of the Prime Minister the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern in congratulating the Black Ferns and also the Black Caps and the Silver Ferns—I've got it mixed up because I've just recently come back from overseas. The way people talk about New Zealanders I felt like a proud parent—the way they talk about the Silver Ferns the way they talk about the Black Caps. And not just that; I want to actually commend the parliamentary cricket team for the way they looked after the Parly Ferns in London. They were collegial they looked after us and we were overseas actually demonstrating what was happening—that we are a caring nation and we demonstrated it. So I just want to acknowledge the co-captains of the cricket team Kieran McAnulty and Chris Bishop and the rest of the team. You have done us a stellar job in terms of your performance overseas.Anyway last night I was here in the House. Actually the words I heard about the Opposition were that they were going to hold the Government to account that their contribution would be robust—but last night in my hours of duty here in the House—nothing. There was nobody on that side. We were here ready to take them on—nobody. They may as well have not turned up because they agreed with everything we said. Bills were being passed yes. I think we need to have a replacement on the other side and to call some new energy in because last night there was nothing no robust activity on that side. Last Friday I attended a dinner at Papakura Marae and the Whaitiaki Trust to acknowledge the local leadership. And what was impressive—because I always say that I am privileged to be under the leadership of the Prime Minister the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern. But on Friday night at Papakura Marae Dr Haare Williams of Papakura—he's a well-known veteran broadcaster and educator and he is a poet and an artist—in his kōrero his opening remarks said I'm proud to be part of a country where the Prime Minister is talking about compassion is talking about caring and kindness for the people of New Zealand." I want to acknowledge Dr Haare Williams for his kōrero last Friday night at Whaitiaki Charitable Trust dinner acknowledging our local heroes.We've heard the Prime Minister say today "all New Zealanders". We've heard the Minister of Finance talk about "every New Zealander". Can I remind the House that the population of this country is 4973580 and every eight minutes and 47 seconds a New Zealander is born. Unfortunately every 15 minutes and 43 seconds one of us passes away. Net migration—every 20 minutes a new migrant arrives in New Zealand. When Dr Haare Williams talked about the Prime Minister he actually spoke about a Prime Minister for all times for all New Zealanders in terms of everybody in New Zealand. That's why I go back to saying that we're almost reaching five million.What does that look like? There's plenty of things I'm going to talk about but I'm going to talk about education because my child is a 14-year-old high school student at Onehunga High School and I think I can relate to some of the things that the Minister of Education the Hon Chris Hipkins has talked about: putting the "free" back into education; NCEA. When we're talking about an equal society some students' parents couldn't afford to pay the NCEA fee. They sat it but they couldn't—well it was just unfair. That's what free means. Almost 150000 current and former students who sat NCEA can now receive that just like every other New Zealander. I think I've spoken too much about the parliamentary cricket team but I just want to say that one thing that is what a caring country looks like is caring for those who cannot afford the ordinary—the opportunity to sit an exam. We know that education sets us free and it gives us opportunity—opportunity that without education wouldn't be afforded to us. I think that's all. I just want to congratulate again the Black Caps and the Silver Ferns for being great ambassadors for our country. Thank you."