Sio William: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSio William: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 18 March 2014. Volume:697;Page:16733. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.Su’a WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Māngere)to the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs: Does he have confidence that the Government is “achieving better outcomes for Pacific peoples in New Zealand”?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Minister of Pacific Island Affairs):Yes I have great confidence that Pacific people are reaching their potential. The number of Pacific people employed in our nation has risen 10500 since 2009. Achievement of level 2 National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) among Pacific students has risen to nearly 72 percent—up 16.5 percentage points since 2008. This Government is also making a significant contribution to supporting the use of Pacific languages in early childhood education.Su’a William Sio: Does the Minister agree that Pasifika people have been left out of National’s promise of a brighter future with unemployment rising from 7.8 percent in 2008 to 13.7 percent in 2013?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: No I do not agree with that. What I will say is that the figures that have come to hand to me show that since the fourth quarter of 2009 when the full effects of that Labour administration took their full force it was 14.3 percent. In the fourth quarter of 2013 it is 13.7 percent so we have seen an improvement since that administration left the Treasury benches.Su’a William Sio: Why has his Government failed to close the income gap with median weekly income for Pacific people falling by $74 a week since 2008 while income for European Pākehā rose by $51 a week during the same period?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: I do not have those figures to hand but what I do have to hand is that there are 10000 more people working in quarter four 2013 compared with quarter four 2009 when that Labour-led administration left a mess of an economy to us the National Government.Su’a William Sio: If Pasifika people are doing so well under the National Government’s promise of a brighter future why did the Salvation Army give out nearly 5000 more food parcels in 2002 than in 2008 to Pasifika clients?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: Well I do not take any responsibility for what the Labour Government did between 2002 and 2008. But what I will say is that $2.5 billion is spent every year on Working for Families $4.5 billion is spent on benefits $1.8 billion is spent on subsidising housing through income-related rents and all State houses under this Government the National Government are insulated whereas that previous Labour Government left that stock depleted and dilapidated.Su’a William Sio: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was supposed to be 2012 from 2008. I heard the Minister refer to 2002-08. The correct quote should be 2012-08. He did not respond—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I understand the point. [Interruption] Order! I do not need assistance. I understand the point the member is making but it does not change the fact as to whether the question has been addressed. In my opinion that question has been addressed.Carol Beaumont: Given that Pacific women are the lowest-paid workers in New Zealand what will he do to achieve better outcomes for this group of hard-working women?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: As the Minister of Finance the Deputy Prime Minister has said the key to unlocking the potential of not just Pacific women but Pacific people is through education. On that front this National Government has improved access to and participation in early childhood education. It has improved achievement in NCEA level 2 for Pacific people—it is now over 70 percent—and it has improved the completion rates for Pacific people at university.Carol Beaumont: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was asking about wages paid to women who are in the workforce and what he was going to do to make a difference for that group.Mr SPEAKER: That is right and the Minister told you what he is going to do.Carol Beaumont: I seek leave to table a chart. This is women’s pay by ethnicity relative to other groups.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I just need the source of the document.Carol Beaumont: The source of this is the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions submission to the minimum wage review.Mr SPEAKER: On the basis that it is not freely available to all members I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions presentation. Is there any objection? There is objection.