Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Lotu-Iiga Peseta Sam: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
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PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to speak on this the economic development estimates at the Committee stage. To listen to Labour members on the other side babble on about their record in power is almost laughable. It is laughable because for 5 consecutive years the volume of exports contracted under the Labour Government and the biggest show in town was Government spending. The biggest show in town was Government departments which were leasing some of the most-expensive real estate in this city of Wellington. That was the biggest show in town but that game is over. That game is over because the National Government is now in power and the National Government has brought a plan to this country in order to promote economic development—to promote economic growth and jobs in this country. 
Hon Member 
: Jobs? 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: My counterparts opposite have asked where the jobs are yet not one of them has talked about talking to businesses. You see in my electorate of Maungakiekie we have numerous businesses that are thriving that are actually growing and that are doing things to promote this economy. I was at the opening of the premises of New Zealand Gold Merchants in Penrose in my own electorate. That company is refining gold and silver metals. It has international strategic relationships. Tony Coleman and the team are working to promote jobs and opportunities for those in my community and I salute them. I can talk about other companies. I could go on about Rakon; I could go on about Sanitarium and Coca-Cola—those types of businesses that promote jobs in our communities. But there are also high-tech companies. One that started in Maungakiekie is Trifecta Global Infrastructure Solutions which is led by Mr Steve Burnie. That company now exports its products to Ireland and the USA and it has world-class web-based— 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Yes. Fair enough. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: —and Mr Jones knows it—geospatial asset-management software. That is a success story in Maungakiekie that I am proud of. 
I do not know whether Labour members have actually seen what has gone on in global financial markets in the last 2 weeks but the clear message from ratings agencies and the clear message from financial institutions is that the debt must stop. The debt the borrowing the taxing and the spending that Labour is promoting as the solution to economic development must stop. This National Government now has a plan to keep the amount of debt to under 30 percent of GDP and we are doing that through the infrastructure spend and through savings in Government departments—through savings where Labour is promoting spending. We are doing it through upskilling our people in an education system that is robust and an education system that promotes standards—it actually has standards. It is positive about our children and aspirational for our children to develop and grow. But those Labour members are all about negative destructive behaviour. We see it in their blogs we see it in their press statements and we see it at every question time when Phil Goff stands up with very little in the way of questions—in the sort of hypocritical way those members go about their work— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The member will withdraw that comment. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: I withdraw. But this is really about the aspirational— 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I think the member should withdraw and apologise. I take offence at that comment. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: Speaking— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: No. The member has withdrawn on my instruction. However a member has taken offence. I will ask him also to apologise. I ask the member to apologise. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: Sorry Mr Chair—you asked me to withdraw the comment and I did. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: I did but a member has since taken offence so I now ask the member to also apologise. 
PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
But this Government is standing up for New Zealanders. We are standing up for New Zealanders who are aspirational and who are not destructive negative and nasty. New Zealanders want jobs and this Government is putting in place a plan that will promote jobs promote opportunities and promote economic growth. We will see that in the decision that New Zealanders will make on 26 November—whether they want a positive affirmative encouraging Government or they want a negative nasty Opposition. 
Vote agreed to.