SpeechJENNY MARCROFT (NZ First): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity to take a call on this the second reading of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill. I'm really pleased to take a call because today is another step forward towards the commitment between New Zealand First and Labour to deliver a mental health commission as part of our coalition agreement. So I'd like to thank the Minister the Hon Dr David Clark for working so well with New Zealand First. I'd also like to take the opportunity to thank the Health Committee because it's been a really amazing process to be part of a team of politicians from both sides of the House where we have this common purpose. Mental health and wellbeing is such an important part of the country's and individuals' wellbeing that we are able to work in such a way that we put our party politics to the side and we come up with legislation that will support all New Zealanders particularly those who are suffering with mental health and wellbeing issues whether that's addiction or an array of mental health issues. As a member of the cross-party mental health and wellbeing group I'd just like to acknowledge those members who may not necessarily be on the Health Committee but we all work together. So this is also something I'm sure we're all proud of that we're taking another step forward.Yes there was a commission previously that was wound up but this is a repurposed one with a new focus which hopefully will be the commission that we see is necessary not just now but into the future—so if we can futureproof this commission so that they are able to make recommendations and make sure that framework to support New Zealanders is there.The board of the commission—we did originally have a number in the original bill two to five board members but that was expanded out through the select committee process from three to seven members. They will need to have knowledge and understanding particularly with a focus on Te Ao Māori tikanga Māori whānau-centred approaches to wellbeing along with mental health services and addiction services public health approaches population health approaches and improving health outcomes. We heard a lot of this from the submitters that came to us—99 submissions for this bill. Personal experience lived experience—that is something we hear a lot about when we talk about mental wellbeing—and having those personal experiences really add to the fabric and the depth of what the commission will be and the work that they will be doing.There are many of us who have whether it's a family member or close friend been touched by mental health and wellbeing. I think one of the things that I'm really really proud about and pleased with having a bill like this and the amount of money that has gone into it and from the focus of this Government into mental health and wellbeing is that it's a topic that is becoming more easily able to be talked about right across society because hiding away from the shame of mental distress and mental disorders is something that can have the light shone on it now. As leaders in this country I think that is one of the roles that is ours to do to enable people to start talking and seeking the help that they need.The objective of the commission in performing its functions and exercising its powers under this Act is to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people in New Zealand. I think one of the things that I've been touched with within my Māori whakapapa is the number of suicides of young people in the North from the whānaus that I'm connected to and it is deeply disturbing. So the commission will have a focus on Māori and I think that's really important.But we did actually through our conversations with the submitters realise that we need to expand out and hear from the groups that were mentioned in the report He Ara Oranga—that there were 12 groups that were identified in that report as examples of groups that are at risk and experiencing poor mental health and wellbeing. So the focus won't just be on one particular segment. Obviously there are concerns in the rural community concerns in the Māori community the disability community the rainbow community and right across the board. It doesn't matter what community you come from but there will be mental health and wellbeing issues right across the board. So focusing our attention directly to providing a way of enabling people to move through their challenges and to heal from them is a direct focus not just of this commission but of the wider Government indeed.So on that note I don't want to continue too much longer but just to say that I'm very pleased that today we are here to get through the second reading of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill and I commend the bill to the House.