Utikere TangiTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Kia orana Madam Speaker thank you. Can I take the opportunity to wish you and colleagues all around the House New Year greetings as we recommence the parliamentary year. And can I also thank the Prime Minister for her statement earlier in the day because what I take from the statement actually is that together we have risen to the challenge of COVID-19. And while we are all on this pandemic journey together at every turn our goal as a Government has been to do what is right and to protect our communities and its peoples at every single turn.And when we look at our current context people can draw the conclusion that the approach has worked. I refer to contributions from my colleague the Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan who says yes that our confirmed cases the hospitalisations and deaths have been low compared with other countries for each of the past two years. It gave me an opportunity earlier today to reflect on those past two years. Just before we went into the very first lockdown in 2020 I vividly recall as a deputy mayor along with the mayor going into my city's emergency operation centre—they called it The Bunker"—to confirm at that particular time in a very small space of time contingency plans for the refrigeration units that would be required to meet the overflow that our city's cemetery would not be able to handle. And the reality of that was because that was what was proposed and what was happening in other cities other regions other places that people called home all around the globe. Now thankfully due to the Government's plans that did not eventuate and we did not need to as a city call upon those contingency plans at the time.So these results—and that result in itself I would suggest—are a vote of confidence in the efforts of all of us throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The measures that we have taken have saved lives they have protected loved ones and they have protected communities. Our policies have supported jobs and employment. And we've heard today in the House about the record low levels of unemployment but the policies and decisions that this Government has taken have also saved businesses during times of uncertainty and also in times of immense need.The plan that we have followed during a difficult time has worked. And of course we now find ourselves relative to other countries around the world in a stronger position because of our high vaccination rates. And it was pleasing also to hear from the Prime Minister today that 40 percent of tamariki have now had their first dose. And of course the ongoing roll-out and support for boosters will be a vital ongoing form of protection. So Kiwis can draw confidence from our current position—confidence that with a clear plan based on good scientific advice and a real sense of unity our country and its people can continue on its journey.I want to take this opportunity to also acknowledge the Māori and Pacific health and community providers who continue to be absolutely essential and critical to our plan. Yes the Government has invested more than $250 million in partnerships in this space but they are providers who are on the ground. They are providers who are connected and able to see the need within their communities. These are the providers who've driven up the vaccination rates. And I know that in my electorate of Palmerston North and I'm sure in many others they are the providers that will continue to be relentless in the work that they do. So I want to say thank you to all of them and to the broader line of vaccination frontline workers for the work that they continue to do to keep us safe.When I reflect on the Prime Minister's statement she talks about the Government remaining committed to addressing some of those long-term difficult issues. And I want to briefly reflect on that of housing through a local lens. When I see Kāinga Ora for the first time continuing to build new homes and houses in my city—the first time in decades where we see an increase in public housing infrastructure—warm dry healthy homes in Highbury in Awapuni in Roslyn in Hokowhitu in Takaro in central Palmerston North and there is much more to come that is a fantastic part of the plan. And I have to say that there is no intention on this side of the House of taking our foot off the housing accelerator in Palmerston North for the fine people of Palmerston North as well.So in conclusion: our Government has a plan for the year ahead; it's a plan that we're all committed to; it's a plan that keeps us safe; it makes a real difference to the lives of many; and is a plan that as the member for Palmerston North I wholeheartedly stand beside and endorse.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki—five minutes."