SpeechIBRAHIM OMER (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. It's an absolute pleasure to rise to speak on the Prime Minister's statement. We farewell 2022 and welcome 2023 with a great hope and ambitions that 2023 will be perhaps a better year. The time will be to focus on what really matters to day-to-day New Zealanders—such as the recovery and other things that really matter to Kiwis. Instead things have taken a rough turn. Violent weather floods and now Cyclone Gabrielle caused devastating destruction to properties and livelihoods destroyed infrastructure and has taken 15 precious lives away. We know that many more people are unaccounted for. My heart goes out to those who have been affected by this tragedy especially the families that are bereaved. I want to acknowledge the first responders the volunteers and everyone every ordinary New Zealander who stepped up to help. We have heard a lot of heroic stories of people doing unimaginable things to help others perhaps even saving lives. What is happening is no coincidence. It's been in the making and we have seen climate change destruction in far and near places. But we didn't think it would hit us this early and this hard.In October last year I was in Ethiopia talking to a lot of UN agencies about climate change and they told me that in climate change in the region four years of drought no rain have killed livestock and exposed millions of people to the danger of starvation. People are dying; it's a reality. Climate change is a reality now. It is here and it needs to be part of our day-to-day conversations. I am proud of what this Government has achieved in reducing carbon emissions and the effects of climate change but more needs to be done.I want to talk about the cost of living. The Prime Minister since coming to power has been focusing on the bread and butter issues that affect New Zealanders. That is why the Government has stepped up assistance to help Kiwis to get through these tough times. We know that after COVID-19 and the Russia/Ukraine war things have been tough globally not just for us but the Government is committed to getting people through these tough times.From 1 April the minimum wage is going up by $1.50 which will make it $22.70. We need to talk about things that really make practical changes in people's lives. Until five or six years ago I was on the minimum wage and every single cent that people get makes a difference and $1.50 is going to make a difference. In the last few weeks I've been talking to a lot of cleaners and security guards on the ground who are on the minimum wage and it is going to make a difference in their lives. They will be able to put extra meals on the table for their kids and it will help them with buying uniforms. Their lives are better with minimum wage increases. Approximately 220900 workers or 10 percent of wage earners will receive that increase in the minimum wage and this is a huge number.Last year this Government passed the fair pay agreements legislation and that is going to help cleaners security guards bus drivers and supermarket workers and it will give them the power to negotiate with their employers and perhaps be able to get fair wages. This Government takes pride in helping ordinary Kiwis and not leaving anyone behind because at the end of the day COVID-19 taught us who is really important. These are the people who were out and about risking their lives while many of us stayed home being safe and the least we can do is tell them that we are here to support them that we will give them fair wages and that we always have their backs. I'm very proud of what this Government is doing.