Naylor Jono: General DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNaylor Jono: General Debate[Sitting date: 25 March 2015. Volume:704;Page:2593. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JONO NAYLOR (National):I have got to say it is fantastic to be associated with a Government that is assisting New Zealand families to get ahead. We are doing better and there is more on the plate that is coming. On 1 April we are going to see paid parental leave increase by a further 2 weeks. This is great news for families. We are going to see again on 1 April the parental tax credit for low-income families increase from $150 to $220—more great news for families. The HomeStart scheme is going to be up and running and we are going to see more and more first-home buyers being able to access the market. We are going to see free doctors visits extended not just for those who are under 6 but for those who are under 13 years of age. This is great news for New Zealand families. This is great news for our country as we build on our successes of the past and continue to do more.This is not a Government that has run out of steam. This is a Government that has got energy. This is a Government that has got vision. This is a Government that wants the very best for New Zealand families. Although we are making great progress in these social areas in terms of the assistance we are directly providing to families there is more we can do and there is more we are going to do particularly to empower families to be able to provide for themselves because that is ultimately the outcome we want to see. We are going to do this by continuing to grow the economy. We are going to continue to do this by growing jobs and we have got a good record in that over the last little while. That is something that is happening right across New Zealand.I hear constantly on the other side of the House people talking about a two-speed economy where if you are not in Auckland or in Christchurch then you are forgotten. The regions of New Zealand have not been forgotten. The regions of New Zealand in fact are doing very very well. We see the recent growth statistics that have come out about regional development in New Zealand and we see that things are going incredibly well things are growing at a greater rate and we are in good shape.If we are going to continue to grow the economy in the regions it does take a little bit of extra effort. Over recent times we have seen that extra effort go into regional growth studies that have been occurring right across different parts of New Zealand—particularly so far in the Bay of Plenty in Northland and also in the Manawatū–Whanganui area where I come from. These regional growth studies are working very hard to identify particular areas that will be great opportunities for those particular regions. I know that in Palmerston North and in the Manawatū in particular we know we do some things better than pretty much anyone else in the country. We are developing and working alongside this regional growth study to enhance those opportunities further. We are seeing great expansion in the area of food research and development. With the help of the Government through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in cooperation with local authorities we are starting to see more jobs grow in our region in this area. We have been able to attract overseas companies to come and set up in the Manawatū creating more jobs for locals. We are seeing New Zealand companies like New Zealand Pharmaceuticals expanding their operations. They are exporting more and the region is going to do better as well because of it.We are also the best place in New Zealand—the Manawatū—out of which to operate logistics-type operations. The investment this Government is putting into the MacKays to Peka Peka diversion around Waikanae and Paraparaumu is well on the way and is going to increase the connectivity between the Manawatū and Wellington. Transmission Gully is not too far away either. These particular roading projects are absolutely connecting the region I live in to the capital city of Wellington. We know it is going to have good pay-offs for us in this region and is something we will be very proud of.Also in terms of regional roading funding the Foxton trestle bridge is due for an upgrade. Unfortunately at the moment it is unable to take high-productivity vehicles along it but when that bridge is done up we are going to see high productivity from the produce that is grown right around New Zealand getting better access to the markets.I want to finish by reiterating that this is a Government that is going forward. This is a Government that is very keen and committed to growing jobs growing the economy and seeing better outcomes for New Zealand families.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.