Lu NancyNANCY LU (National): Mr Speaker happy Year of the Dragon to you and to all members of the Parliament parliamentary staff and all families in New Zealand. 新年快乐 新年快乐。In Korean: Saehaebok mani badeuseyo. In Vietnamese: Chúc mừng năm mới! And in Malay: Selamat tahun baru.Today is the fifth day of the Lunar New Year celebration and hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders especially in our migrant communities are still celebrating the Year of the Dragon. This Monday on the third day of the Lunar New Year celebration our Hon Melissa Lee Minister for Ethnic Communities hosted the inaugural Lunar New Year celebration at Parliament to celebrate this very auspicious event. Me and my colleague Dr Carlos Cheung had the honour of MCing the event for hundreds of community leaders from across the country.Chinese New Year events have always been hosted in Parliament since 2002. This Monday's event is however the first time in the event's 21 years of history in Parliament that it is officially celebrated as Lunar New Year. This reflects the diversity of cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year in New Zealand including Chinese Korean Vietnamese Cambodian Filipino Malaysian Singaporean and many others. This year Minister Lee of ethnic communities expanded the celebration to include the various communities celebrating the Lunar New Year aiming to be as inclusive as possible.New Zealand is known for its incredible diversity. So as a nation it is important to acknowledge the traits we share and celebrate them. Cultural celebrations hold immense importance for communities and nurture a strong sense of belonging. They recognise and welcome diversity while also giving the wider population an opportunity to embrace other cultures. This celebration event is a great example of how our similarities and differences can actually bring us together.For generations Asian communities have had a long and significant presence in New Zealand's history. Trade and immigration between New Zealand and Asia has existed since the 19th century and we can expect the contribution and value of Asian communities in our nation to only grow.The Year of the Dragon in 2024 symbolises bravery honour strength success and innovation. As we celebrate the auspicious fifth day of the Year of the Dragon today marked by the themes of prosperity money and fortune it is a moment to reflect on our collective journey towards economic growth and our abundance. So today I am filled with optimism as I envisage a future where the blessings of prosperity reach every corner of a beautiful country New Zealand.On this day people engage in various activities aimed in attracting prosperity into their lives: from offering prayers and making offerings to 财神 the God of fortune to practising acts of generosity and charity. Each action is believed to invoke positive financial energy and blessings.Under the National-led Government and the visionary leadership of our Minister of Finance the Hon Nicola Willis we are embarking on a path towards a stronger economy—one that uplifts every individual in a community. The significance of sound economic governance cannot be overstated. A thriving economy brings tangible benefits to all citizens fostering opportunities for employment entrepreneurship and upward mobility. It paves the way for improved infrastructure healthcare education and social welfare ensuring a higher quality life for everyone. So a robust economy empowers us to tackle pressing challenges such as climate change inequality and healthcare access with resilience and determination. It also enables us to build a more inclusive society where every individual has the chance to fulfil their potential and contribute meaningfully to our nation's progress.So as we honour today as the day of prosperity the fifth day of the Lunar New Year I sincerely wish all New Zealanders a joyous celebration filled with blessings and abundance. So finally happy Year of the Dragon. 新年快乐 龙年大吉。Saehaebok mani badeuseyo. Chúc mừng năm mới! Selamat tahun baru. Thank you.