Adams Paul: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Adams Paul: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:615;Page:10989] 
PAUL ADAMS (United Future) 
: 
 I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister state that the Government is going to instigate a programme to promote positive parenting but does it really know what that is? Parenting is one of the greatest responsibilities a couple can ever undertake and it should be a lifetime commitment. In this debate we have heard much about our great nation but a great nation is built from great families. I am pleased that this year we will again see efforts going to rebuild the families of New Zealand. Within the family is the ability to teach the important issues of life. Family after all is the first form of government we all experience so let us make it good government. 
As a father there are three things that become very important to me and these three things are also important to our nation if we really do want to get ahead. Firstly I must have passion for my family. I must believe in them and believe the best for them. I need to learn of the differences in my children and build on and promote their strengths. I need to love and honour their mother and demonstrate to the children what true love and commitment is. It is my responsibility to train them about what is right and acceptable and teach them to be great citizens. They need to know I am there with them for the long haul. 
As an MP I have a passion for my country. New Zealand is the greatest little nation in the world. I believe in it and love all people who have chosen this land as their home. As in my children there are many differences but I will continue to look for strengths and build on those. Legislation needs to be fair and just and United Future intends to be here for the people of New Zealand—to bring long-term stability to our great nation. Secondly I must have focus. To build a great family requires focus. Many distractions can come and a family is very easy to destroy. If we do not have a long-term focus we might not make it. A father knows he has been a great father when he sees his children raising their children in a similar manner to the way he did. As MPs we must focus on things that will build our nation but for too long we have ignored the family. But then came United Future and we have successfully turned the focus right back on families. We will fight for families and for assistance that again will see New Zealanders succeed in building strong families that hang in there even when the going gets tough. As Zig Zigler once said “When the going gets tough the tough get going.” 
Thirdly as a father I am responsible for keeping unity and stability within the family and of course we are the Adams family. A family can have many opinions and my responsibility is not to inhibit each member’s creativity but rather to coordinate so we all help each other and keep pulling in the same direction. As MPs we need to work hard at keeping unity and stability within our nation. In club rugby we may play to a position: one may be a lock another may be a centre and that is what they focus on and what they concentrate on. But if people ever get the opportunity to don that black shirt with the silver fern on it no longer are they playing to a position. They are playing as a team because they have become All Blacks—and we focus on winning. 
So those three things are also important for our nation: that passion focus and unity—for after all are we not all New Zealanders? Let us wear our nationality with pride. United we will stand; divided we will fall. A nation is rarely destroyed from the outside influences it faces; it is normally destroyed from within. What is the most internal force we have? Our families! So let us rebuild them and rebuild them strongly. United Future came into this House with the focus on the family. Let me assure the House that we are honing in. We are seeing the things that are important to so many people and our hearts have been broken by some of the situations we have seen in our families. 
As I opened my speech I said I was encouraged to hear the Prime Minister state that the Government is going to instigate a programme to promote positive parenting. We are thankful for the support we have had from the Government in setting up the Families Commission and we believe that by the end of this parliamentary term families in New Zealand will know that there is a difference coming from United Future.