Whaitiri Meka: General DebateText is subject to correctionWhaitiri Meka: General Debate[Sitting date: 04 December 2013. Volume:695;Page:15249. Text is subject to correction.]MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): I rise as the proud member of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti a lively innovative and extremely enormous electorate on the East Coast of the North Island. It extends from Te Kaha in the north toWainuiōmata in the south which is by car an 11-hour drive. The people of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti are not seeing any benefit from this Government’s economic strategy.Darien Fenton: What strategy?MEKA WHAITIRI: That is right—what strategy? When I first came into this House one of my first questions was to the Minister for Economic Development Mr Steven Joyce. I asked what was his Government was doing to grow the number of jobs in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. His reply? I paraphrase here. He said that it was growing jobs in three areas. The first was oil exploration just like in Taranaki; the second was theRuataniwha Dam; and the third—wait for it—was a cycle track. A cycle track people. That is it folks. That is the economic plan for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne. I can tell you that there is no one that I know who has a job from any of those think-big projects of this Government and I can guarantee you that neither will they see one.Clearly this Government is out of touch. It is out of touch with Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. It is out of touch with the regions throughout New Zealand.Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is home to many iwi: Ngati Porou TeAitangi-a-Māhaki Rongowhakaata NgaiTāmanuhiriNgāti KahungunuRangitāne and TeĀtiawa. Some 13 territory authorities are nurtured traditionally by a primary base economy of farming fishing forestry horticulture and viticulture. We are manaaki people—hospitable. We are aroha ki te tangata—caring people—who believe that in time of need the manaaki and the aroha will be returned. The people of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti are not seeing the manaakitanga or aroha from this Government. Instead the people of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti are being ignored and neglected by this Government.No amount of spin and no amount of make-believe from that side of the House will remove the struggle many of ourwhānau are experiencing in terms of getting real jobs training opportunities apprenticeships for our rangatahi warm and affordable housing and access to quality health care. But do not listen to me let us look at the statistics. There are job losses. Cedenco Foods Gisborne 2009: 129 job losses. Ovation meatworks Waipukurau June 2011: 304 job losses. GodfreyHirst woollen mill Dannevirke this year: between 50 to 80 job losses. New Zealand PostPētone: 70 job losses this year. Clyde Lumber Wairoa: 25 losses in April this year. The impact of those job losses in those small communities is still being felt today and where is the Government? Where is the Government to provide some safety and some safety nets for thosewhānau? It is asleep at the wheel. It is asleep at the wheel and is neglecting these communities throughout Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.Let us turn to youth unemployment something that I am very passionate about. According to the household labour force statistics in September 2013 since Nationalcame into office the overall number of unemployed 20 to 24-year-olds has increased by 12800 to 29000. That is disgraceful. Since National came into office the number of 15 to 24-year-olds not in education employment or training has increased by 5000 to a total of 72000 people.You can ask what Labour will do when it comes into Government in 2014. Labour believes in economic gain for all and in a fair and just society where people can live and in dignity and protection for all. Kia oratātou.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.