Luxton JoJO LUXTON (Labour—Rangitata): Thank you Madam Speaker. I too would like to join my colleagues across this House in acknowledging the trauma and the devastation that people from Auckland and across down to the East Coast have experienced both in the initial floods that happened earlier in January and then the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle that we have seen more recently. I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to those who have lost their loved ones in both of these events and I would particularly like to make mention of Craig Stevens and Dave van Zwanenberg who lost their lives doing what they needed to do in order to protect their communities. They made the ultimate sacrifice as have their families. I also want to acknowledge all of our first responders and they have been listed by other speakers today. One of the previous speakers also mentioned those who work in our local supermarkets. And I think it's really important that we acknowledge them also because I can imagine that with people panic-buying very fearful tempers perhaps flaring because of the anxiety that people out there were suffering they have perhaps had to be the brunt of some of that. So I would like to acknowledge all those who work in that industry. I also want to acknowledge people such as the nurses that the Prime Minister mentioned in his speech earlier today who despite having lost everything themselves their houses all their belongings still get out there go to work do what needs to be done supporting their communities despite their own personal losses. I think it's important that we also mention or acknowledge the community organisations who have stepped up to offer food accommodation and support to those in their communities. We've heard about the churches the marae who have once again opened their doors providing food accommodation and sanctuary to those who have been affected. I want to acknowledge those in our agricultural sector the primary producers the orchardists who have lost a substantial amount of their income and livelihoods going forward particularly if not this season then in the years to come as well. It is going to cost the country billions of dollars to recover from this. But as mentioned in the Prime Minister's statement I would like to quote: We will stand by New Zealanders as we recover. You are not alone. We will build back. We will back you and rebuild. We will continue to support the recovery as well as supporting and ensuring that our number one priority going forward is to support New Zealanders and businesses throughout the tough economic conditions that we are currently facing."This Government has consistently put families and children at the heart of the decisions we make and the work that we do. Some of the things that I would like to acknowledge that this Government has done are things such as removing the barriers to education because we know education is the one thing despite your background that can determine the course that you may take in life. Things such as lunches in schools. And I've seen the benefit of that in my electorate in Rangitata not just in providing lunches in schools to the children who need it most but that also has a flow-on effect by providing employment to people to provide those lunches. And I know that there have been people who have been given employment in that space especially those who perhaps might have been unemployed previously. Free period products in schools the removal of school donations the winter energy payment are some of the things that this Government has done to support families previously.But we have some good changes coming in from 1 April. More families will be eligible to receive the childcare subsidy and that is a big deal. That is a big deal particularly for women actually who are often those who are the main caregivers—not all the time but the majority—and it will allow them the opportunity to move back into the workforce potentially if that is what they choose to do. Family tax credits will increase. And the big one: the minimum wage will increase to $22.70 and that is a substantial amount for those on our lowest income. I just want to finish off—ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The member's time has expired."