Simpson Scott: Adjournment — Sittings of the HouseText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSimpson Scott: Adjournment — Sittings of the House[Sitting date: 09 December 2015. Volume:710;Page:8731. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): It is a pleasure to speak in what will be my last contribution in this Parliament this year. As I came into Parliament this morning I noted with due consideration that Parliament is actually wrapped for Christmas as we speak. The building is encased in a blue and white wrapping that is very festive I thought and very appropriate given the time of year and also what a good year it has been for this Government.Mr Speaker I would like to commence by joining with others in thanking you and your other presiding officers for the work that you do on behalf of our Parliament and for keeping us all in line and in order most of the time. I also want to join with others in thanking all the people around this precinct who help make our job so doable and make us look like we know we are doing most of the time. There are the people we see and then there are the people we do not see but we know that they all do a diligent thorough and professional job on our behalf and they all make a contribution to this wonderful amalgam this wonderful little intimate precious fragile democracy that we have which is so precious to all New Zealanders. I think it is important that everybody makes a contribution because it is a participatory democracy and it is one that we can all I think be proud of.This has been a great year for the Government. It has been a great year for the Prime Minister. It has been a great year for the National Party and it has been a great year for New Zealand. We are a party that is not afraid of big bold visionary ideas for New Zealand and we have a lot yet to come. We are ambitious and remain ambitious for New Zealand. One of the Prime Minister’s most endearing features in my humble opinion is his relentless optimism for New Zealand and New Zealanders. It shines through on every possible occasion. He is positive he is good-humoured and he is light of manner but he is on top of the detail and he does I think a terrific job for all New Zealanders. His hope energy and effort for and on behalf of New Zealanders has shone out this year.I have the great privilege to represent one of the most beautiful electorates in the country. It is the Coromandel electorate and I am pleased to report to the House that this year has seen incredibly strong economic growth in my part of the world. We have faster growth than many other parts of the country. We have got tourism numbers that are going up. Three million tourists have visited New Zealand in the last 12 months. Many have made their way to my part of the world and our region is benefiting from it. Unemployment is down residential construction is up and local contribution to GDP has increased and more and more people are moving to the region mostly from Auckland. It has actually been my part of the world that has been the net beneficiary of the so-called Auckland property crisis. People are selling their homes in Auckland and coming to the Coromandel buying beautiful homes in Thames Te Aroha Ngātea Paeroa and around the peninsula and they can invest in a beautiful region. They get great communities great schools great councils and a great quality of parliamentary representation. What more could they want? We welcome them with open arms.This is a Government that I am very proud to be a member of because we have got a strategy that is all about creating an environment in which businesses and people can flourish and an environment that allows the private sector to invest to grow jobs and to create business opportunities for all New Zealanders. This debate has seen many previous contributors nominate their person of the year or people of the year and given awards. I want to acknowledge as my politician of the year—notwithstanding the very good work done by the Prime Minister the National Cabinet and my colleagues on this side of the House—Tim Groser. I think that Tim Groser has absolutely done a wonderful job on behalf of all New Zealanders. It will be our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren yet born who will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the Hon Tim Groser’s work on our behalf this year. The contribution that he has made cannot be overstated. I am only sorry that this House is going to miss the opportunity of hearing a valedictory speech from Tim Groser because I think that the House will be the poorer for that missed opportunity. But I know that he will do great work on our behalf and I want to congratulate him and wish him well as he embarks upon a career in Washington.I just want to finish my contribution by making one last comment and it is a quote from former President Ronald Reagan. He said back in 1981: “… Christmas is a state of mind. It is found throughout the year whenever faith overcomes doubt hope conquers despair and love triumphs over hate.” Merry Christmas to you all. Come and visit the Coromandel.