Duynhoven Harry: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Duynhoven Harry: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:627;Page:21997] 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Minister for Transport Safety) 
: 
 It is always a pleasure to follow my New Zealand First colleague. The junior Government whip made a very interesting interjection when he asked the New Zealand First member who his favourite was—who New Zealand First would go with. I think that is a really important question for the New Zealand public because the New Zealand public very clearly heard New Zealand First the last time that party thought it was in that position saying to them: “Vote for us and we will put National out.” But what did New Zealand First do? It went back with National. 
However I want to talk about regional development issues because I think that they are really important issues. I am delighted to have been part of a Government that for more than 5 years straight has seen in every quarter the regions in this country prospering in positive growth. Nowhere is that more exemplified than in Taranaki. 
Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The Hon Harry Duynhoven has just over 4 minutes remaining. 
Dail Jones 
: If he wishes. 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: In answer to Mr Jones I do wish to continue my speech. It is always a pleasure to follow someone from New Zealand First because it gives one quite a lot of debate material. The New Zealand First member had just been gleefully telling the Committee how New Zealand First was determining who would be in Government perhaps after the election. I want to remind the public of New Zealand that the last time New Zealand First members thought they were in that position they told the public to vote for New Zealand First to get rid of a National Government. And what did they do? They put a National Government back in. 
I return to the topic of this debate which is industry and regional development. I am absolutely delighted with the tremendous progress that has been made not only in my own region of Taranaki but also throughout the country and the regions where we have seen economic growth second to none. We have seen huge development. Regions like the Waikato Taranaki and Whanganui—all sorts of regions in the country—have done extremely well under this Government. I can tell the Committee that in my own region—and in every one of our regions actually not just my own region of Taranaki—under this Government we have had a total complete period of economic growth. We have seen quarter after quarter of continuing economic growth right throughout the country and the regions. This has meant that for the last 5-and-a-bit years in Taranaki we have seen continuing growth in all sorts of areas—engineering film and all sorts. We have seen continuing growth and therefore continuing employment. We have not only seen employment; for the first time in my political career which now spans 15 years in total—with regrettably a 3-year break which you might remember Mr Chairman—we have the problem of attracting people to the region to fill jobs. The problem used to be finding enough work to attract people and getting them to stay. Now it is finding enough people to fill the jobs we have. In all skilled areas we simply have shortages. We will take any fitter-welders engineers electricians and plumbers—skilled people who add value to the economy. We will take tradespeople any time in any place in this country. 
This Government has been a partner with private industry. Our regional development policies have added a huge amount to that growth. The total investment in Vote Economic Industry and Regional Development is now close to a quarter of a billion dollars. Contrary to what the National Party keeps telling us 94 percent of that $250 million actually goes to delivery. Only 6 percent—a small percentage—goes into the bureaucracy making it happen. I tell the National Party that it can promise all the tax cuts it likes and promise them on the base of no borrowing etc.—it is not saying that but it is leaving that impression by saying that tax cuts will come out of cuts to the bureaucracy—but such a small percentage of the New Zealand economy is spent on those involved in the bureaucracy that National is simply misleading the public if it is saying that savings will come out of the bureaucracy. It will either borrow and leave debt for our kids or it will cut services. That is all that can happen. One cannot simply invent cuts. Mr Ardern can leap up and down all he likes but he knows that what I am saying is the truth just as his Taranaki predecessor did some years ago on the same sorts of issues. I am very proud to be the member for New Plymouth in this case. 
Vote agreed to.