Parata Hekia: General Debate 
Parata Hekia: General Debate 
[Volume:668;Page:15180] 
HEKIA PARATA (National) 
: 
 Tena koe e te Mana Whakawa me te Whare. I am delighted to stand as the National list MP based in Mana and to have the opportunity of my parliamentary role to congratulate Porirua on winning three Gold Awards at the International Awards for Liveable Communities held in Chicago last night. Porirua achieved gold for its Village Planning Programme winning first place in the socio-economic section of the Environmentally Sustainable Project Award. It also won a Gold Award in topping the community sustainability criteria in the Whole of City Award. That is particularly important because they competed against 43 other cities from around the world included in which were Montreal Vancouver and Beijing. 
The reason I start my contribution with that today is that if we listen to the Opposition the only thing we would hear about the Mana electorate would be doom and gloom. The people there want the full story of all the communities of Mana told to the world because they are proud of what they are achieving every day. Unfortunately the attitude of members opposite was personified and typified by their vote on the Rugby World Cup 2010 (Empowering) Bill last night; they try to ride all sides of a story—they are for they are against they do not know they are ambivalent and they are ambiguous. That they are in disarray is the fact of the matter. 
Dr Cam Calder 
: A casserole? 
HEKIA PARATA 
: I thank Mr Calder. They are a verdant casserole of complexities in disarray. 
The fact is Mana has a great story to tell across the board. The crime rate in the Kapiti-Mana Police District is the lowest in the Wellington region. In terms of health I am sure the House was delighted to hear—although it could be forgiven for thinking otherwise because of the acrimonious remarks thrown by members opposite—the Minister of Health yesterday advise the House that in the 2 years of this National Government the number of elective surgery procedures has climbed 57 percent in the Mana electorate. 
Hon Members 
: Hear hear! 
HEKIA PARATA 
: It climbed by 57 percent. As for outpatient consults they have climbed 30 percent. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: So what! 
HEKIA PARATA 
: I will tell Mr Mallard so what. For 60 years the Labour Party has had—apparently—a safe seat in Mana and what does it have to show for it? A legacy of poor health a legacy of deferred maintenance in housing a legacy of people who are undereducated. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: So what! 
HEKIA PARATA 
: So what! I and the National Party care about making a difference for the people of Mana. We care about backing the people of Mana into business. We care about the Porirua youth of whom there are a significant number as witnessed by the Porirua Youth Awards which were held last week. This party in Government wants to celebrate achievement. Yes there are problems; yes we must address them and are we? Yes we are. This record in health demonstrates that. 
I have been criticised by the Opposition for apparently remaining silent on roading. I am not silent on roading; I absolutely support this Government’s decision to invest $2.2 billion—by the way our scheme has been costed unlike the Opposition’s scheme—in a corridor from Wellington Airport to Levin. I have spent my time advocating that the impact be as minimal as possible that the schools be as little affected as possible that the focus on environmental screening be important and that the interchange options be the best possible available. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Where are the plans? 
HEKIA PARATA 
: Unlike Mr Hughes I do not think public silence means total silence because effectiveness does not require press releases every 5 minutes that say or mean nothing. My interest is in how we get the best possible outcome for all the communities of Mana. It is a young population it is multicultural and it is aspirational. I want more for the families the kids and all of those communities. Unlike Labour which has had 60 years to do something about it I in 3 years have made significant differences and I can point to them. This Government can point to them because what we are interested in is— 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: How sweet is the kumara? 
HEKIA PARATA 
: Yes quite right Opposition members also specialise in cultural insults which they put other people up to talk about. 
Our Government is interested in sustainable economics. It is interested in sustainable health which is why we have seen an improvement. It is interested in sustainable policing which is why we have seen a decline in the crime rate. It is interested in sustainable employment which is why we have seen an improvement—yes it is modest but it is an improvement nevertheless—in employment. That is what this Government stands for. Kia ora.