Mahuta Nanaia: General Debate 
Mahuta Nanaia: General Debate 
[Volume:632;Page:4002] 
Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Customs) 
: 
 The only thing anyone listening to this debate will remember about the previous speaker Maurice Williamson is that he used the “c” word so many times that people were beginning to wonder what he was talking about. 
Now more than ever before it is great to be Labour. It is great to be Labour because there are a lot of things this Government has done to improve the lives of people. We know that is what really matters. While groups on the other side of the House like to spend a lot of time talking about animals this party likes to talk about people. We are making a contribution to the lives of families and communities where it really matters. 
On 1 July people will hear a number of announcements that will build their confidence in what this Government achieves and delivers—we say what we will do and we deliver. On 1 July there will be announcements made around the roll-out of primary health organisation funding for the 45-64 year age group ensuring that affordable accessible primary health care is available to that group of people. It really builds on previous gains made by this Government in the primary health care area. First we signalled the roll-out of funding for the under-fives. We said we would do it and we did it. Then we said we would focus on over-65s and provide affordable accessible health-care to that category of people. We said we would do it and we did it. The next focus was on the under-18-year-olds. We said we wanted to ensure that that category of people would be included in affordable accessible health-care through primary health care organisations. We said we would do it and we did it. 
Now on 1 July the next group of people to be included is the 45 to 64-year-olds. So we now have a broader net of people being included in affordable accessible primary health care. All that is left is the 25 to 44-year-old age group and that group will be included next year. When we say we will do something we do it. What that really means for a lot of people is that when they go to their health services they are now paying $10 for a doctor’s visit. That is a far cry from when National was last in Government when people were paying anything up to about $25 $35 or $45 per visit. It makes a difference where it really matters. Also on some prescriptions people are paying $3 rather than $15 or $20. That is making a difference where it really matters. 
The announcements of 1 July will be really important because again they signal the intent of this Government. We have already introduced paid parental leave and on 1 July that measure will be extended to self-employed people. This will be particularly significant for women—Maori women in particular—because we have a lot more women going into self-employment. I know it will make a difference for a number of them. 
In terms of the rates rebate scheme on 1 July there will be an announcement about the extra 300000 people who will be eligible for a rates rebate—up to $500 will be deducted from their annual rates. Again that will make a real difference where it matters most for people. 
The previous Labour speaker touched lightly on the issue of Books in Homes and we know that a real issue for all our families is to improve literacy. This Government has contributed about $32 million per year to lift literacy standards in schools but Books in Homes is a big part of that because kids remember a good story. They enjoy taking home a book that they have been given. 
This Government has consistently contributed $1.2 million per year to the Books in Homes initiative. In the Budget this year the Government announced that a further $750000 will be added to that particular campaign. All week through the adjournment Labour members will be visiting schools because they know that literacy in the home is actually where it matters—and that is what Books in Homes achieves. When young people get a book they are able to take it home their parents are able to sit down and read it with them and that reinforces the learning. We know that all children really enjoy being able to read at home. 
The other thing about this Government is it recognises that early childhood education is really important for all our children. The early years and the good start children recive there make a fundamental difference to their growing up. So the fact that we have invested an extra $30 million to lift early childhood education teaching making sure that we have good-quality early childhood teachers in our schools and in front of our kids again makes a difference where it really matters. 
The fact of the matter is that in order to ensure that all children have a good opportunity in life they must have a good education. Part of that is to ensure they have good literacy. Part of that is also to ensure they have choices—and that is what this Government is contributing to.