Williams PotoPOTO WILLIAMS (Labour—Christchurch East): It might surprise the House to know that it has been nearly 3 years since I entered the House. I am very proud to represent the electorate of Christchurch East. I do not know whether other members of the House do this—it might be a bit naff—but from time to time every few months I actually revisit my maiden speech. This is because for me I want to know that I am actually living up to the principles that brought me to this House in the first place that I am living up to the commitments that I made to my community and that I ensure that the principles and the values that guide my life and my decisions continue to guide my work. So in reviewing my maiden speech as I often do I know that the overriding theme is about the advocacy for children to live safe and fulfilling lives. I referenced James Whakaruru—his short life and his tragic and untimely death. I am here to protect our children to make our country better—to be safe for our kids. I want our kids to live in dry decent affordable homes and to have a good education and I want all the opportunities to be afforded to them like any other children in this country. I have looked at the factors that have influenced and impacted on the life and the death of James Whakaruru and I have examined the Government's response to his life and his death and I want to hold the Government to account for ensuring that we have safe and healthy lives for all of our children. Let us look at the elements. Family violence is something that I know a lot about having worked in the field for several years. Over 110000 incidents are reported each year which is only about 20 percent of what actually occurs—so there are half a million to 600000 incidents of family violence each year. There were 150000 notifications to Child Youth and Family in the year 2015 up from 89000 in the year 2008. I worked in the family violence sector in west Auckland. We did a study where we looked at all of the police callouts for a domestic incident where children were resident and present. In the area of west Auckland where I worked there were 1900 such incidents and we identified 3500 children who were resident or present in a home where family violence was a factor. Of those about 350 children were notified to Child Youth and Family and of those only 55 children actually got any support for their trauma. So of the 3500 we identified only 55 children actually got the support they needed. Let us look at the factor of poverty. The Salvation Army identifies that one in five kids in this country lives in measurable poverty—230000 to 280000. This Government is actually a little cagey on the numbers but I heard from Minister Anne Tolley's own voice on Friday that she admits there are at least 100000 kids she can identify who are living in poverty. That is from the Government's own statistics. Let us look at the area of housing. There are 42000 people living in cars and 130000 people living in overcrowded homes. The list of illnesses due to overcrowded houses for kids is: sores cellulitis abscesses infected eczema scabies gastroenteritis and infections. This is in a country that claims to be First World. Poor housing conditions in infancy and childhood have a cumulative detrimental effect on physical and mental illness. Let us look at mental health—and here I tautoko my colleagues at the Waipuna Trust in Christchurch who have done a lot of work in youth mental health. There has been an increase in the numbers of young people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness not just in numbers but in acuity. So let us look at these statistics in relation to James's life and his mother. Here is my scorecard for the Government: in family violence where we have increased rates of family violence and reports of concern to Child Youth and Family this Government's rating is a huge fail. Let us have a look at poverty: 230000 kids are living in poverty. This Government's scorecard is a huge fail. Let us have a look at housing and let us read Nick Smith and Paula Bennett into this: 42000 people are living in cars garages and in overcrowded conditions. The Government scorecard is a huge fail. The only way we are going to change the opportunities for our kids is to ensure that it is not just about legislation but about the State the community and whānau working together and about us changing the Government.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.