Bennett David: Address in Reply 
Bennett David: Address in Reply 
[Volume:628;Page:271] 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 I bring to Parliament the voice of young hard-working New Zealanders a new generation that believes in the Kiwi dream. At the birth of this new century my generation aspires to renew a country where all New Zealanders can achieve their full potential. To do so we must create a country that embraces youth spirit and opportunity; a Parliament that represents the new generation and their ideas; a Parliament that enhances our spirit of achievement; a Parliament that provides opportunities for all to strive and succeed. I embrace my responsibility to be part of a Parliament that works hard to make the Kiwi dream a reality for future generations. 
I would like to congratulate our elected Speakers. I pay respect to our Governor-General leaders of the political parties and fellow members. 
I am proud to be the youngest National MP elected at the last election. To serve in this House places an enormous responsibility on all of us. It is an honour and a very humbling experience to be able to serve the people of Hamilton East. I thank the constituents of Hamilton East for their support and confidence. I pay tribute to former representatives of Hamilton East. I acknowledge Dianne Yates the former Labour member and two recent National MPs Tony Steel and Dr Ian Shearer. Those previous members have served us well and I look forward to being able to follow in their footsteps. 
To those who helped in the Hamilton East campaign my sincere thanks especially Ed Turner and Stuart Anderson. I would also like to thank Marion Lambie for her support. 
 I thank the National Party for the honour and privilege of being its representative. To our leader Dr Don Brash I say thank you for rejuvenating our party. To our president Judy Kirk and campaign manager Steven Joyce I say thank you for an excellent campaign. I thank the members of the National board especially Alan Towers Roger Bridge and Scott Simpson for their friendship and commitment. I also thank Maxine Viggers and Michelle Boag for their advice and support. 
I represent a new generation of leadership for Hamilton East—the renewal of youth. The introduction of new blood into this Parliament enables us to mix the energy and vitality of youth with the wisdom and experience of the established members. It is crucial for my generation to be represented and heard in Parliament. We are the future of this great country. We believe in perseverance and success. We believe in freedom of expression. My generation understands online information flows and we appreciate having freedom of choice. We were brought up and live in an immediate consumption society. My generation understands that diversity is to be valued and understood not feared and avoided. Differences in skills and attributes will always exist but we all deserve an equal opportunity to maximise our individual potential. 
I want to represent a Parliament that promotes develops and nurtures the ability of youth to achieve their full potential. My generation wants a Parliament that means what it says a Parliament that delivers practical and positive solutions a Parliament that shares ideas and has vision a Parliament that has the flexibility to make the right decision in the right circumstance and a Parliament that avoids the traps of pessimism and uncertainty through the release of strong leadership vision and an unwavering sense of purpose. 
Building on the strength and determination of youth we need to be bold and to have courage to renew the spirit that made this country strong—the spirit of aspiration and achievement where we all aspire to our true potential. It has always been a Kiwi thing that “She’ll be right.” and that “You can do anything.” and we need to renew this great Kiwi spirit and to build a country where young people are willing to take risks and where success is part of everyone’s life. With a positive attitude and hard work anything can be achieved. 
I would like to thank my family for teaching me those valuable lessons. I thank my mother Mary and my father Allister who are here today for the time effort and sacrifices they made so that I could have the opportunity to be here. I also want to thank my brother Tom a successful Auckland lawyer. It is not a bad achievement for the younger brother to get here. 
The spirit of aspiration hard work and dogged determination embedded in me by my family and evidenced by my knocking on over 19000 doors during the election campaign has given me the chance to take my opportunities. While building a successful dairy-farming business I have maintained strong rural and urban links. Just like the foundation attitude of number eight wire and the technology of modern communication systems I represent the past and the present of our society—that of both a practical and professional capacity. 
The National Party seeks to promote that spirit of achievement. Students need to know that they can achieve that we want them to achieve and that we expect them to achieve. Our teachers schools and students need to know that our goals are the pursuit of excellence and qualifications that have a real meaning. Central government restrictions on rolls and funding based on geographical areas send the wrong signals. If parents can make a choice in where they live then they should be given a choice in where they send their children to school. 
It would be an achievement for Parliament to share a spirit of success with all to give others the chance that we have been given. Along with the spirit to succeed we also require the opportunity to reach our goals—but only the opportunity. Individuals need to take personal responsibility for their future and their actions. Personal responsibility determines our ability to convert our chances. Nothing comes easily in this world. Our destiny does not just happen. Our destiny reflects the choices we make. Most people make the right choices. Most people just get on with their lives and try to make the most of their opportunities. They are the core of what New Zealand is and they make it a great place to live and thrive. I support those who are just trying to get ahead. I support those hard-working New Zealanders. Through recognising their efforts and their families we can show our support. 
Tax relief is crucial to provide that recognition. Tax cuts encourage growth and foster initiative. They reward hard work and enterprise. Tax cuts send the right signals and incentives. New Zealanders are struggling under an oppressive tax regime that is sending all the wrong signals. Beneficiaries are reluctant to take on work because there is little marginal difference between the income earned and that received under a benefit. Those on low incomes are not undertaking overtime for fear of losing family support payments. Successful taxpayers are not seeking promotions for fear of changing their tax status. 
We should be encouraging a strong work ethic. This enhances self-esteem and brings respect for others. We need to give trust and choice back to the people not to some Government redistribution policy. We also need to replace the culture of welfare dependency with the path of personal responsibility. The State must ensure that we empower people not entrap them into dependence. At some point the entrapment will no longer be sustainable and the pain of transition will be greater than at the point of entry. The Kiwi dream is based on a can-do attitude. To renew this dream we need to nurture not stifle ambition. We need to have faith in the creativity and passion of our people. We need to celebrate and support success. We need an environment that provides opportunities to achieve. 
As members of this House we play a role in that renewal process. We have a role in providing the opportunity for success. Every time I return to Hamilton and cross the Narrows Bridge I realise the magnitude of this responsibility. Hamilton East is essentially an urban electorate. My electorate combines established suburbs from Hillcrest to Chartwell and the high-growth northern suburbs of Rototuna and Flagstaff. A sliver of lifestyle blocks track around the city. Hamilton East is a marginal electorate because it represents a complete cross-section of people from the students trying to better themselves to the lecturers trying to impart their knowledge and from the new migrants and young professionals seeking to make their mark to an established productive base. We have a highly developed agricultural research industry and a mobile and highly skilled workforce. 
We have a young vibrant and growing city. We embrace the diversity of this multicultural city. Forty percent of Hamilton’s population is under 25 years of age. We are the youngest city in New Zealand in population terms. We are growing at rates equal to the fastest growth rates in this country. Hamilton has a progressive and positive city council. There is a mood of optimism and a real sense of direction. We have young leaders in the city council and in Parliament—I thought Martin Gallagher might enjoy that! We represent the new generation of New Zealanders. Hamilton is the dial-up tone for our country’s youth. 
Hamiltonians have a strong history of determination and results. We believe in our future and have a common desire to make the most of our opportunities. We just get on with the job. We are heartland New Zealanders who are constantly achieving for the greater good. We have a highly educated community. In just 40 years the University of Waikato has grown to be one of the top universities in the country. It has an ambitious vision to be a key economic driver in our region and in our country’s future. We have made real sacrifices for this country and we know what it takes to deliver in an export-based economy. We are motivated and successful. Hamilton has the spirit to succeed. 
But today and for the next 3 years I bring members a message from the people of Hamilton. We are a rapidly growing city that can remain silent no more. The people of Hamilton are restless. We are teenagers who have come of age. We have matured and we are ready to take our place at the table of major metropolitan centres. Our success our growth and our contributions to New Zealand mean that we can no longer be dismissed as just another provincial city. No longer can we be seen as not having a diversified and productive economy. No longer can our inherently agriculturally based export industries be ignored. No longer can we come second-best—or more likely fifth—in Government funding packages. For the people of Hamilton have sent me here for a reason. We deserve to be recognised. We deserve to be heard. We want change. 
We have exciting plans for our city. We want to work with government to align our strategy with the needs of the country. We need to keep my generation living working and bringing up their families in Hamilton. Hamilton has youth Hamilton has spirit and Hamilton has an important role to play in the future of our country. But we need to work in partnership with central government to make the most of our opportunities and for our vision to become a reality. Our future and the future of this country lie in growth. Population and economic growth go hand in hand. 
The crucial factor to supporting our long-term growth will be infrastructural investment. Our future lies in the road to the north. Completion of the Waikato Expressway as a non-tolled road within the next 10 years is paramount. The Hamilton City Council ring route road the future industrial growth to the north-west and the residential growth to the north-east all rely on this road. The Waikato Expressway needs to be linked to a new road to Tauranga. The golden triangle of Tauranga Hamilton and Auckland deserves special attention. This area will be the economic and political powerhouse of New Zealand. It is just common sense for Hamilton’s airport to become the second airport servicing the northern half of New Zealand with a special focus on freight and exports. With the right logistics the Waikato can and will become the vegetable garden of Auckland and the Australian eastern seaboard. We need to see a comprehensive plan for infrastructure that is visionary and leads development. That is the role for central government—a role that has not been performed in recent years. We want to work with central government to achieve the goals of Hamilton the region and the wider economy. 
I am proud to represent the National Party in this House. It is the only party that can renew New Zealand. Renewal requires youth spirit and opportunity. I have great faith in all New Zealanders and the spirit to succeed. As leaders we need to ensure that the opportunities are available. Hamilton represents New Zealand’s renewal as our people are young and we have spirit. But Hamilton needs an active partnership with central government to make our opportunities a reality. Let us provide youth with the vision to grow. Let us trust and back our people. Let us deliver the opportunities and let them grow.