Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Kia orana Madam Speaker. It's a pleasure to rise and take a call in support of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill and very much a pleasure to follow my colleague Sarah Pallett and the optimism that I hear from her in terms of what this change will mean for our country.I want to start by acknowledging the Minister of Health who effectively has introduced this bill to the House today and has set this on a particular path of reform that is really exciting. So to the Hon Andrew Little I acknowledge him and his work. Can I also acknowledge the Associate Ministers Minister Henare Minister Verrall and Minister Sio as well for the work that they have undertaken because at the core and at their heart is really for the betterment and the good of our people and I do want to acknowledge that.What we've heard from members opposite is essentially—you know we have Mr Doocey we've had Miss Simmonds talk about how members on this side and I'll speak for myself haven't answered their questions. Well I've got news for them. I'm not here to answer their questions. I'm here to answer the questions that my constituents and my communities have elected me to this Parliament to represent on their behalf and the questions that they ask me are: what we are going to do as a Government to ensure that members of our Pasifika community are not dying younger are not getting sicker are not having illnesses that quite frankly can be set aside. Those are the questions. Those are the issues. That is the heart of the problem and what we are providing as a Government to our community to our Māori to our Pasifika and to our disability communities are answers—answers that are long overdue.This will provide an opportunity in—what?—20 years to reform the health sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is something that certainly my communities have been calling out for for quite some time and even though this is at an early stage they thank me and the Labour Government for wanting to do something about it for wanting to act for wanting to make sure that not another Pasifika person dies younger than they should. That's the bottom line that's the reality of this bill and that's why I am absolutely proud to be part of a Government that seeks to deliver in that particular space.We've heard a lot about the issues. Now as members of this House we all experience those issues at a community roots level. In the conversations that we have out and about in our community we hear about the inequity we hear about those significant concerns that exist we hear about the concerns for our Māori community for our Pasifika community for our rural community and for our members of the disability community as well. Colleagues have referred to this postcode lottery. And when I think about number 4412 which is my local postcode for Palmerston North or 9481 which is the postcode as I understand it for Palmerston in the South Island—let's not get confused amongst the two—but someone whether they are in that postcode or my postcode shouldn't be treated any differently. They should have equitable access to healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand and this change is doing exactly that. These reforms will give the reform space the attention but also the resource that is expected and that is required as well.When we reflect on the existing experience that—you know people have certainly talked to me and I'm sure others in this House about the systemic failure. They talk about their experience. They talk about their inability to navigate the system. They talk about and share their experience in simply just wanting to give up because it's not as easy as it should be. When we live in a society and we live amongst a community where people are making those sorts of decisions then that is a sad indictment on the state of healthcare and health reform that's required here in this country.This will be a dedicated and a connected health service for all New Zealanders. But I acknowledge that this particular bill that's before us at the moment has a particular focus on wanting to do something for our Māori for our Pasifika and for our disability communities as well. But that doesn't mean that others will be left behind; far from it. Members in my community that talk to me about being able to access local services is a regular occasion. In actual fact Palmerston North in terms of access to GPs to general practitioners is amongst the worst in the country for my community. Now these reforms in terms of the localised options in these locality plans that Dr Tracey McLellan touched on will do something about that and that's just one part of this reform package.The pleasing thing from my perspective is that this bill is based on a set of principles. As I made a contribution in the House last night around remuneration I reflected on the fact that a good starting point is one where principles are front and centre. So when I look at what's in clause 7 of the bill before us the principles are outlined that the health system should be equitable" that it's about an ability for Māori and other population groups to have access to services to have equitable levels of service to achieve equitable health outcomes. I say to other members in this House what is wrong with that? What is wrong with wanting to ensure that members in our community actually have access to services that they actually receive equitable level of service and that they have achieved equitable health outcomes? Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Those are the principles. Actually there are more than that. There are a number of principles that are outlined in terms of decision-making opportunities and it's all contained in clause 7. I could go on.In terms of my own local community I think of the good folk at Te Tihi. I think of the people at Whakapai Hauora the people at Te Waka Huia o Manawatū and the good work that they do and will continue to do with communities that otherwise could be seen as disadvantaged—communities that are large in terms of socio-economic deprivation. And I know that actually the work that they will continue to do will be better enhanced will be better resourced will allow for their communities of interest to be able to access good services because of the reforms that this particular bill and this particular Government have on the agenda. Because at the end of the day it's about removing barriers right? It's about ensuring that people can access what is a fundamental right and that is access to public health here in New Zealand.Colleagues have touched on the various reforms in the organs and yes there's Health New Zealand which has a long-term lens working in partnership as colleagues have said with the Māori Health Authority again with a longer-term lens focused on delivery of service commissioning opportunities as well. But also let's not forget that the Ministry of Health has a revised dedicated focus in terms of policy development and policy advice but also the Public Health Agency which will be included within that ministry as colleagues have touched on as well.I have an education background but when I started my first year in teaching actually was teaching senior health. And so I reflect on the contribution earlier this evening from Dr Kerekere where she effectively referred back to well a few things actually but Te Whare Tapa Whā and the importance of all parts of our wellbeing and hauora in order for us to thrive and be contributing members of our community and our society. That's what I want for members of my community. That's what I want for the people that have put me here in this place. And that's what this particular bill delivers: a dedicated connected health service for all New Zealanders but at the same time acknowledging that there are some in our community that are unable to access what is a primary right. It is a responsibility I believe of the State and therefore this Government to do something about it.In conclusion I just want to say that this reform even though it's 20 years in the making is long overdue. It will make such a difference to my local community my Pasifika community my Māori community and the wonderful people of the Manawatū. To see those individuals and Kiwis being able to avoid what are unavoidable inequities will be a huge huge achievement and I look forward to seeing this bill progress through the select committee. I am sure that the select committee will hear from a number of members of the community and organisations and entities and I hope that people do submit on it because you know the select committee will be open to that process. But as I say this is a wonderful bill. It's a great opportunity to do something to support what is a fundamental right of all people who call Aotearoa New Zealand their home."