Martin TraceyTRACEY MARTIN (NZ First): Merry Christmas! I am so pleased that I am following Barry Coates. I mean welcome Barry you are new to Parliament—wow did you just make an impression! We all try to be a little bit cleverer I suppose at this time of the year—[Interruption] Mr Muller up here will tell you that I do not have to try very hard to be better. Can I just first of all say congratulations to Paula Bennett. This is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate her—a member of the sisterhood stepping up and taking a spot. And yes you use eggs for pikelets not eggs for scones.Can I thank the first responders. I was here in Wellington when the earthquake happened in Kaikōura and it is the first time in my life that I have been affected by something like that. So it really brings home I think the way that Parliament came together to pass pieces of legislation. Mr Coates seemed to forget that that is what happened—that this Parliament put aside what we do which is our job. The Government's job is one thing the Opposition's job is another and that is the strength of our democracy—that we can do our job and yet go to select committee and make laws that are for the betterment of our country. That is what we are paid to do—to keep a transparent and open democracy and we came together to pass three pieces of legislation in response to Kaikōura.Can I acknowledge the first responders. We are thanking a lot of people this year so we want to thank the Defence Force civil defence urban search and rescue the ambulance service the Fire Service and the emergency helicopters. I live in Warkworth and although I know that Mr Bridges went and turned the sod on the Warkworth to Pūhoi road they cannot get through the Dome and I am going to go on about that again next year. But although they have turned the sod on the road of national significance—they have not built a metre but they turned the sod—most of the accidents in our area happen on State Highway 1 and they are often fatalities. People head up into Northland because that is where they want to go for their holidays and so the emergency helicopter service the ambulance service that runs out of Warkworth and Ōrewa and so on they are going to be spending their holidays doing that while we are all out trying to enjoy time with our families. I hope that for most New Zealanders they are safe holidays that they are with family that they are cared for but these people will be working and so I just acknowledge them.I want to also acknowledge the ushers who left us halfway through the year. Some of them had been here for an incredible length of service so I do not want them to think that although those changes took place we have just moved on and we do not remember that they were here and that they served us. I want to acknowledge the new ushers who came with lots of younger faces—younger than most of us that is for sure. And of course the security services staff who have also had some interesting work to do this year because that was stepped up as well. So all those people who are behind the scenes—Mohamed particularly in Copperfield's and in Bellamy's. This one is for Mohamed.I also want to acknowledge Mr Seymour. Although Mr Seymour's speech was again an interesting one he acknowledged a few people in education. I am quite happy to acknowledge that the people inside the charter school system have been under great political pressure because they have been used as a political pawn. Can I acknowledge all the teachers all the support staff all the administration staff all the groundspeople—everybody who has put time and effort into children this year. Can we acknowledge them as a Parliament and the efforts that they go to every day under great stress because there is a lot that is asked of them.There were several things that were a highlight for me and the flag debate with Mr Tim Macindoe—which I won—was also a highlight. But in closing can I just say that my last statement would be: my mother used to get an orange for Christmas. That was her Christmas present. But that was during the war. There are children right now who will not get Christmas presents. There are people who will not have families who will not have a Christmas dinner and I ask for us all to do what we can to actually extend a hand of companionship and of sharing and so on over the Christmas period and acknowledge that it is not all twinkle lights for some of us. Kia ora.