Lewis StephSTEPH LEWIS (Labour—Whanganui): Tēnā koe Madam Speaker. In this place we talk a lot about what we know or what we've experienced. In some people's cases they also talk about what they know nothing about. I can tell you though that I know what it's like to come home to a mother in tears because she has to choose between paying for power between paying for the phone between paying for petrol to get to work or groceries to feed her children. I can tell you that I know what it's like to have fishcakes for Christmas dinner. I know what it feels like when there's not enough food in the house for all the children to make lunch for school. I know what it's like because I have lived it. I get it. Times are tough at the moment and some of our families are struggling. But that's why I am proud that on this side of the House instead of listening to the braying from the Opposition benches we haven't cut spending on education or health as they would have done. Instead we rolled out the cost of living payment to help our families get through. I know that every little bit counts; every bit helps when you are budgeting down to the last cent. I also know that cutting taxes for the wealthy does not trickle down. It does not give more money to those who are struggling. I know that because during the global financial crisis when National cut spending and borrowed money to pay for taxes for the wealthy I left uni. And what did I leave with? Thousands of dollars of debt two degrees and no job because nobody was hiring. It took seven months of applying for work before I even got a part-time job. By contrast our Government has shepherded us through the pandemic by backing Kiwis—backing our businesses. During the management of this pandemic we've seen wages increase record low levels of unemployment and jobs aplenty. Instead of the 6.7 percent of unemployment under National we've got it down to 3.3 percent. If the trickle-down effect truly worked then every one of us would be going out there looking for the biggest flashest house in the nicest suburb and we'd be giving those homeowners money. Then we would watch as that money trickled down to someone who's living rough so they could get into their own home. But we don't do that because trickle-down theory doesn't work. Even Liz Truss has cottoned on to that so why hasn't National?There is cause for hope and there is cause for optimism. I spent a glorious two weeks in my electorate where I held constituent meetings in Whanganui Hāwera and Eltham. I attended the blessing of Wai o Rua - Stratford Aquatic Centre and the first birthday of the Stratford bike park. Both of those projects are loved by the Stratford community. Both of those projects receive funding from this Government which created local jobs. I popped in to some of our local businesses to check on how they are doing and I can tell you that they are feeling hopeful and optimistic. I chatted with Russell a small-business owner who told me he's been thinking about retiring but he's got a problem. The problem is he's got too much work. He's got a sign saying he can't take on new jobs. So instead of retiring he's planning to continue on working to meet demand. Then I talked with Libby a small-business owner who's just moved and expanded her business and it's doing so well even during school holidays which tend to be a bit quiet. She was flat out. Angela Roberts and I hosted a stall at the Women's Lifestyle Expo in New Plymouth and even shoppers there were hopeful and optimistic just like the stallholders. This Government is building more houses. Just recently we had an announcement from Minister Megan Woods supporting infrastructure in Whanganui; pipes in the ground in Castlecliff to build 340 new homes there. I want to acknowledge the work of Tūpoho and the Whanganui District Council. Times are challenging but I can tell you that from out there on the streets there is hope and there is optimism thanks to this Government.The debate having concluded the motion lapsed.