Lole-Taylor Asenati: Budget DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLole-Taylor Asenati: Budget Debate[Sitting date: 21 May 2014. Volume:699;Page:18176. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR (NZ First): Talofa lavamalo lesoifua.Fa‘afetaitele mo leavanoailau afioga a le Speaker. It is evident that this Government has reassessed its stance on the Pasifika party vote and has indicated in no subtle manner how it hopes to win the hearts of the Pacific population. The decision toput a Pacific face to the role of Minister paved the way for deliberate visits to church services to appeal to the Pacific mass. Even Judith Collins managed to attend a Samoan Catholic mass in South Auckland inMāngere at theMalaeola accompanied by her Asian and part-Samoan husband and followed by a Samoan entourage—an over-the-top display. It was—[Interruption] Sorry I hear somebody.Tim Macindoe: This is the Budget debate.Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR: It is. It is coming. It was a masquerade and artificial mana to somehow woo the hearts of the congregation.The National Government clearly expects to take Pasifika votes for granted. You may fool a few but it is not hard to see the underlying game played by National. As we watch the game play unfold there is no real hope given from Budget initiatives that yet again are titled with empty promises of improvements and of a brighter future. The strategy is clear—let us skim enough Pacific party votes to win this election. Let us make them feel good by attending their churches for the first time in numbers and in the year of the election. The problem with this strategy is the undermining of Pacific communities in their ability to see through the facade and recognise good policies that give concrete results to all. Why is it that Pasifika are always—always—on the extreme spectrum of negative statistics yet the last to benefit from Government interventions?The Minister of Pacific Island Affairs has made it clear that the Pacific language is not a priority for this Government. He needs to tell the Prime Minister that language is a very important aspect of learning. It is considered a very important part of the Pasifika culture and schools should be allowed to incorporate languages into their curriculum. New Zealand First will encourage Pasifika to speak their languages. The problem this Government has is that it knows exactly what the needs of Pasifika are but it is reluctant to follow through with any real commitment.It is simple. Pasifika want to earn a stable and fair wage through employment. Pasifika have lost almost $90 a week in their overall weekly income since 2009 yet the cost of living has gone up dramatically. Last year’s Budget saw a pathetic 3000 trade training initiatives introduced to appeal to young Pasifika. A 2014 pre-Budget announcement of $20 million for 6000 more apprenticeships for all New Zealanders shows an increasing demand in priority trades. There needs to be a decrease in the number of Pasifika “neet” youth. Those are the youth who are not in employment not in education and not in training. You would think that with a surplus more would be invested to encourage trade training particularly in the area of rebuilding Christchurch and housing construction in Auckland which would benefit the New Zealand economy.Housing affordability is now at its worst and it is impossible for any of the Pasifika people to access homeownership. It is now at its all-time low of almost 19 percent. Well what can anyone expect with a 20 percent deposit now required and the cost of houses starting from $400000 upwards? The 41 new special housing areas in Auckland will not be effective for many. This Government is out of touch in its belief that the average family can afford over $400000 for a new home.Pasifika do not want handouts. They want the opportunity to work hard in order to earn a living to support their families. You may boast about a surplus but I can tell everyone listening to and watching this debate right now that Pasifika communities are not as excited. One can only hope that the $20 million to $25 million expected spend on Pasifika futures will not end up in the same dubious business asWhānau Ora. Public accountability is imperative in making sure that taxpayers’ money is not being spent on or used to finance projects that deliver unsuccessful outcomes. Pasifika need worthy projects that deliver jobs affordable housing education and good health systems. It has been said by many Pasifika orators of our time: “O le manuusupona temauauma iaanufe o letaeao.”—a bird that gets up early will inherit all the worms in the morning.When the Samoans translate that into oratory wisdom it is that early and well-prepared hunters will catch all the goodness available. A Government with advanced strategies will achieve its expected outcomes if there is genuine commitment for Pasifika which is not the case.Bill English and Nick Smith rambled on and on last year about how the Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme was expected to insulate around 46000 homes. Well why do they not come to South Auckland and explain to the Pasifika constituents why many of them are endlessly on the waiting list or forever waiting on the 0800 lines for somebody—anybody—to listen to their housing concerns? Why does the Minister not tell them why waiting for 4 months after speaking to an 0800 line robot about urgent maintenance issues is standard process under his Government? Why does the Government not tell those affected by rheumatic fever asthma and meningococcal disease that it is sorry but to toughen up and to continue to live in an unhealthy unsafe and overcrowded housing situation? Why does Tony Ryall not explain to them why they have to basically prove that they are on their deathbed before anyone will address their health issues?No doubt you will try to cover these issues with the recent release of the $4.3 millionMatanikolo Project to provide 22 families with a better living situation. What a joke. That is a complete joke.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Order! I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member. I just wish to advise members that courtesy is contagious. There is far too much background chatter and unless it relates to parliamentary business I would urge members to take their private conversations outside the Chamber.Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR: That is a wonderful comment. Thank you very much.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Order! The member must not comment.Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR: I know that 22 families down one street alone are crying out for help. They are crying out for improvements in their quality of life and future prospects. Too many families will be crammed together on small sites and many of the special housing areas are in places where families are large. Yes indeed you have targeted low-income households but not for any other reason than to ensure that they are left at that end of the spectrum. When you see the struggle of living every day for these struggling families and the overwhelming amount of debt that these families are unable to climb out of there is no light. Why has it taken so long for an initiative to expose the current dire situation of the loan sharks in this country who have preyed upon the vulnerability of low-income families for far too long? Pasifika are often the targets of these low-life lenders who care only about profit margins with no regard for the social implications. Dodgy loan sharks should be held to account and there should be a cap on interest rates.Many of the community may still be excluded if they do not meet basic requirements. Given the harsh reality of the current housing market situation even with this initiative low-income Pasifika families will not be able to afford their own homes. Pasifika parents are put in an uncomfortable situation when schools recommend compulsory school payments and donations. There are also requirements for them to buy laptops and modern technology. Does this Government understand the level of debt a Pasifika student is left with after seeking the rewards of higher education?New Zealand First will lift the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour and the free general practitioner visits should be implemented immediately not next year. Is the election game plan worth playing out when it continues to put many in the back pocket?National might demand the Pasifika vote. It might demand the Pasifika people’s vote but do not tell me that you honestly deserve it because you do not. Thank you.