Paraone Pita: General DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParaone Pita: General Debate[Sitting date: 25 March 2015. Volume:704;Page:2592. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]PITA PARAONE (NZ First):Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. I just wonder whether I am in the right place because for the last 3 weeks all we have heard about from the other side of the House was Northland and what National was going to do for Northland. And yet here we are in the last week of a “buy-election” and all that those members can talk about is Anzac and that is important; cricket which is important too but Ōhāriu Korea Johnsonville Japan Wellington Korea—I am not saying that that is not important but gosh if I was a member of that party I would certainly be wanting to do my best for the people of Northland.The Northland electorate is currently experiencing a political phenomenon that has never ever been seen before in the last 10 years. The political party that Northland people have pledged their faith in has deserted them and what is National doing about it? It talks about Northland being important and about what it is going to do for Northland but Northland is an example of regional New Zealand—forgotten. However that has all changed. Why has it changed? Because the “Force of the North” has arrived with a simple byline “Send them a message”. We are 3 days away from an election but the Government has already received the message so that is very good. The people of Northland are certainly taking the opportunity to send their message and the reaction from that side of the House certainly indicates that they have. It is great to note the members who are present in the House. Obviously they are the favoured few because the rest of the team are all up in Northland getting ready to pull down the hoardings.We know that the people of Northland have been promised 10 two-laned bridges. I am from the north and I am really sad. Although it may be good news for some people in the north I am really saddened that the bridge in Mōtatau the bridge in Opahi the bridge in Pokapu and the bridges at Matawaia Pipiwai Otiria—all within the Ngāti Hine boundary—have not even been included on the Government’s list. Those people who are living in those communities certainly do not believe that they have been considered. However once the New Zealand First candidate put his name into the hat all of a sudden the fruits the baubles of office started to fall down on Northland. That is just an indication of the pulling power of our candidate whom Northland people will certainly provide their support for.Talking about history was it the National candidate who said that he would take the Government back to Northland? Well I just want to let you know that the New Zealand First candidate has already beaten him to that. He has established his headquarters in Russell just down the road from Ōkiato the original capital of New Zealand. So not only is he preparing himself to represent the good people of Northland but also he is indicating that there is a sense of history in all this a history that will see that 70-odd years of representation by one political party in this House for the people of Northland will come to an end.I have just one final thing to say. The Government had the opportunity to show how sincere it was towards the people of Northland. In Northland there are 71 schools with a decile rating of 1 to 3. Last week the Government had the opportunity of supporting two bills that would see assistance given to families who were having difficulties feeding their children. What did the Government choose to do? Ignore it—ignore it. And the history of this country will show that all the filibustering that the National Government has done towards helping Northland has been just that: filibustering. Kia ora.