Muller ToddTODD MULLER (National—Bay of Plenty): I rise to take a call on the Estimates for education. Firstly can I acknowledge the contribution before of Tim Macindoe who I think is doing a sterling job as Associate Minister of Education. You can hear the enthusiasm in his voice as he talks to the privilege of being able to go round the country to communities that are finally after many years as he said—you know when we took over there were a number of properties that were seriously under-invested in and through the choices that we have made to get an economy delivering as it is now we can put significant investment into education. You could hear in his passionate portrayal the genuine enthusiasm he has and the warmth he receives from the communities when we talk to these various school announcements and I will shortly talk through some of those as they pertain to my community. I can assure Mr Hipkins that it does not in any way relate to the pressure on the majority; it relates to the strength of the community and the growth of migration particularly in the Bay of Plenty context.Look I thought the Estimates hearing was actually extraordinarily well done. The Education and Science Committee had the privilege of having the Hon Nikki Kaye address us as a committee for the first time. We stepped through a number of issues and Opposition comments have touched on some of them. I firstly want to talk about this view around school capacity. I think Nikki Kaye in particular was very open about the importance of ensuring that the ministry has the right systems and processes to look forward 10 15 20 years and ensure that the capacity planning is appropriately competent and resourced accordingly. So whilst the issue was put to her she very confidently talked to the $8 million that is appropriated in this Budget to be able to lift that forward planning for the ministry and I think that is very useful. Whilst it is only a small amount when you look at the overall $11 billion investment it is an important amount to ensure that that part of the ministry's work programme is done effectively.My area in the Bay of Plenty has benefited from the announcement in the Budget around school buildings. I was very delighted to be alongside Nikki Kaye when she announced in Papamoa that we have another new school on the horizon starting in 2 years' time. In addition to roll growth for Papamoa College there are additional buildings for the second year in a row for Golden Sands School in Papamoa and there is the new school in Pyes Pā that we announced last year. You know I come from an area that is going particularly well. A lot of people from around the country are moving to Tauranga and the wider districts of Papamoa and Ōmokoroa and Welcome Bay and it is great that we are in the position as a Government to have an appropriation as listed here that identifies that pressure on the community and that is in front of that expectation of two new schools being built in my electorate over the next 2 years and significant increases in the schools that are already there.We also touched on early childhood education. As we have already heard from our speakers and particularly Tim Macindoe we have got a significant chunk of additional money—$386 million of operating funding over 4 years.Maureen Pugh: How much? TODD MULLER: $386 million. Look these numbers—you know they tend to run off the tongue a bit but they talk to a Government that has worked very hard to ensure that we have the economic choice as a country to be able to invest in this sector.So it does frustrate me when I hear cries from the Opposition that it is never enough. It is never enough but there is significant investment that is going into this sector. This is the highest amount in education ever in this country—$11.6 billion. It is a record investment but it is not just investment in property and an increase in the operations grant. It is investing in the digital literacy of our teachers to ensure that the environment in which students are being taught is absolutely appropriate to give them the skills to be successful in an increasingly demanding global economy.This is a Government that is delivering. This Budget in respect of education is a great example of that and I am very proud to be able to be part of a Government that can deliver this sort of vision and aspiration for the country. Thank you very much.