Bennett GlenGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth): Kia ora Madam Speaker. I was looking forward to going after the other Mr Bennett but this Mr Bennett will just do his thing now because the previous Mr Bennett who spoke earlier seemed to be Mr Negativity" Bennett and Mr "There is no future" Bennett but thankfully right now you've got Mr "Realistic" Bennett Mr "Optimistic" Bennett in the chair speaking right now and what is to come. No it is a challenge and I understand and am fully aware that we can be optimistic and we can also have those rose-tinted glasses. But actually on this side of the House this Mr Bennett sees that we had to be pragmatic. We had to look at the here and now but we also obviously had to look at our future and where we're going. So that's why I'm grateful to be part of a Government that is heavily investing in our people but also heavily investing in our planet. Yip we've got more to do and more to go but thankfully next year we'll get re-elected and we'll continue on the road that we are travelling right now.I'm again grateful to be speaking and as I was preparing for this afternoon—well firstly as I was listening around the House it was definitely a game of two halves but I thought a lot about Taranaki where I come from and the opportunities that are coming to our region because of what we are doing and because of the money that is being invested for our region. In fact Rachel Brooking stole my thunder a bit earlier but that's OK because I'll just reiterate that $18 million that's been put into the development of an energy strategy. I'm not full of hot air but in our region of Taranaki we have some of the best offshore winds in the country. We have exceptional wind. But we've obviously had to do something about this wind because there aren't any regulatory things in place currently for what renewable offshore energy looks like. So part of this Budget and part of that $18 million is looking at that regulatory framework for offshore renewable energy which for me as the MP for New Plymouth—for me as a member of the Taranaki community—is important because we are the energy province and we'll continue to be the energy province into the future. That is sustainable and that is clean energy. So I am grateful that we've put that money in to ensure that we have a framework in place. I've regular meetings with those who are looking at this space and are wanting to invest in clean energy. We have the Waipipi Wind Farm down in South Taranaki that's been successful. But we know that now we need to look at what it looks like offshore because it makes a huge difference to that wonderful renewable resource of wind that is around the coastline that I live on. On Monday I was with a group of year 13 economics students at New Plymouth Boys' High School and they were doing a project around economic development but were also looking at the policy settings when it comes to the future of energy. They were looking at the policy settings when it comes to the carbon emissions trading scheme and what that looks like for their generation to come and what it means for them as they get older and inherit this planet from us. So that's why I'm glad that not only is there $18 million in this development—whether it be around wind or whether it be around hydrogen or our energy strategy—it's also that $2.9 billion in our climate emergency response. I know that many young people in that classroom as well as many who have asked me to come on Friday as they march and challenge us yet again around what we are doing for their future can say this is another step in the progress of ensuring that we are a sustainable that we are a nation that is renewable and that we are a nation that is going to hand over our whenua and our environment in good hands. I'm grateful that the Hon Grant Robertson was able to find that balance in a Budget that was pretty tough. There is no silver bullet to fix what is going on in our world right now but I'm glad that he was able to find that balance around here and now and then looking into the future and what that looks like. That's why there've been challenges. I've heard across the floor and I've heard in the community that there's been pushback around the cost of living payment. But it's been really interesting as I've got around the electorate and talked to people and heard things around washing machines and new sports equipment and other things that people have actually purchased with this money. You may scoff from across the other side of the House but that's a reality for people in my community; $350 is a large amount of money. That $350 for some of us doesn't seem like much. You can get a second-hand one for that. I did as well. That is the thing: you can. This is where you see the difference with us here in Government as the Labour Party and those on the other side. "Ugh $350 what's that going to get you?" Well actually $350 gets you a school uniform; $350 gets you two new tires on your car—things that people actually don't and can't get because they have little. It's a challenge for us as the Labour Party to ensure that we find ways to support those who have little but to also celebrate those moments when a small piece of money for a small amount of time is going to make a difference to several people.Now I understand in my community that it is hard. Recently I had to move house and I've seen and understood what it's like around our rental market—the prices but also the stock. So again I'm glad that we're investing heavily in ensuring that we are a Government that is solving the housing crisis. Another thing for myself and Taranaki is in recent weeks one of my boys and my old neighbour have both been in hospital—a mix of being in A & E a mix of being in the ward and a mix of being in ICU. As I talked to nurses and as I talked to doctors and as I looked around Taranaki Base Hospital it's not perfect—it's not. But as I see a building project going on on the land that is going to ensure that we have a 21st century - fit hospital. As I look at the $11.1 billion—$11.1 billion—Hon Member: That's a lot.GLEN BENNETT: That is a lot that we have put into our health system. That shows that (1) there's been under-investment for a long time; and that (2) we want to make sure that our health system is fit for purpose in the 21st century so that when I go into the ICU ward on Saturday morning when I went into the A & E on—what day of the week was it?—Monday night just before I came down here I ensure and see that there aren't people sitting in the corridors and there aren't people sitting without the right equipment—they had what they need. They don't have all of that just yet but again that's why we have to pump this money in. As the previous ACT Party member Damien Smith said he thinks we're being frivolous in spending money and it's actually the taxpayers' money. I agree; it is the taxpayer's money—absolutely—but it's taxpayers' money that is given to us to be wise stewards of in ensuring that we have a health system that cares for people and in ensuring that they get the healthcare they need. That's why I'm grateful they put $11.1 billion into our health system. How's it going for us? It's a challenge—I absolutely agree—but at least we're stepping up to that challenge; at least we're putting money where our mouths are and saying "We are going to do something because the status quo is not good enough; the under-investment is not good enough." And that's why we're here doing this work. Finally I want to speak briefly about conservation. Last week I had the pleasure of going and catching up with our local Department of Conservation (DOC) staff. I had morning tea with them and got to do the daily quiz—it was fabulous to see that we put $374 million extra into the operating funding of our conservation department and $26 million into capital spending. And as I speak with those members of the DOC team they are so passionate; they are so driven. Taranaki Predator Free 2050—they're all over that in terms of our riparian planting around our stream management around ensuring that our riverways are protected and around ensuring our Maunga Taranaki is something that is a legacy that is a taonga for all people not only today but tomorrow. I'm grateful that I'm part of a Government that's investing $374 million—not just but more—into our conservation department. We have challenges; we have a lot to do. I'm grateful that we are putting money into the places and spaces that need it."