Estimates Debate — Vote Pacific Island Affairs

It is a pleasure to take a call in the estimates debate, as the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs. It is a pleasure because I am excited about the future of Pacific people in New Zealand. The Opposition continues to talk down to our people. It continues to focus on the negative. It continues to treat us with utter disdain. But I have more faith in Pacific people because I know what their aspirations are, and so does this National Government. I recently did a tour of the country, holding fono across this great land to take the pulse of Pacific people. From Invercargill to Ōtāhuhu, from Levin to Dunedin, from Porirua to Avondale, without exception the response is that we as Pacific people are aspirational for ourselves, our families, and our communities. We want high-paying jobs. We want achievement in education. We want accessible, quality health care. We want to live in communities where we feel safe and secure. These aspirations have not changed since my dad migrated to this country in the 1950s. These aspirations likely will not change when my children start their families in the future.

So how do we measure up as a Government to these aspirations? Members opposite ask how, and I am going to detail exactly what this Government has done. There are currently 105,900 people Pacific employed. That is up 7,900, or 8 percent, in the last 12 months. We know we can achieve those aspirations when we are in higher-paying jobs. Average weekly earnings have gone up 14 percent in the last 5 years. Treasury also estimates that there will be 170,000 more jobs by mid-2018, and Pacific people will be taking a large chunk of those jobs. We also know that our aspirations are better served when we are educated. This Government invests $1.5 billion into early childhood education each year. Early childhood education participation was up to almost 90 percent in 2013. The number of Pacific teachers in early childhood education has increased 30 percent under this National Government, and—

💬 Kris Faafoi: What’s your unemployment percentage? No, we won’t hear that, will we?

—total enrolments in early childhood education, Mr Faafoi, providing Pacific services is up 12 percent since our National Government took hold of the Treasury benches. This is a fact that Mr Faafoi will like: Pacific achievement in National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 2 has gone up 16 percent since National took power. He should be ashamed of the 55 percent level that Labour members were stewards over in 2008. And how about the 75 percent who are now completing their tertiary studies? Labour should be ashamed of the fact that it was 60 percent when it was in power. The number of Pacific students gaining tertiary qualifications under National has risen 65 percent, Mr Faafoi—65 percent. There were over 12,000 in 2012.

We know that this Government is committed to Pacific families, and that is why our Government released Pacific materials for Incredible Years. It is why our Government has increased paid parental leave to 18 weeks. It is why our Government has given free general practitioner visits for under-13s. The Pacific people I talk to are pleased about the investment in front-line services. They are pleased about the investment in police. It is no surprise, therefore, that we have the lowest crime rate in 35 years.

Finally, it gives me great pride that the budget of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs has gone up 16 percent in the last year.

💬 Alfred Ngaro: 16 percent.

Sixteen percent—that is right, Mr Ngaro. It is now over $10 million. Mr Sio will be interested because it is 28 percent higher than what it was under the Labour Government. Labour should be ashamed of its record on Pacific people. It should be ashamed of its stewardship of the Treasury benches—

💬 Su’a William Sio: I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. I am just wondering—the Minister is making a lot of assertions and claims—

The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): That is not a point of order. [Interruption] Order! No, no, this is a debate. They are debating points. [Interruption] Look, I will handle this. Point of order—I will take Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. I am happy to table my speech. It is all the facts—

The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch): No, no, that is not—[Interruption] The Minister will sit. That is not a point of order either.

💬 Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. Yes, and it is a very serious point of order. I noted that as you stood to rule on the point of order, the Minister in the chair, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, held on to your arm in an attempt to get you to sit down. That is absolutely outrageous and unparliamentary. I know you would take no notice of him, even if he is a slightly larger man and taking a bullying demeanour, but I think the Minister needs to be told that that sort of behaviour is just not appropriate.

I thank the member. I did not notice the Minister holding my arm—[Interruption] Order! I am making some comments here. I did not notice the Minister holding on to my arm, and I am sure it was not intentional, but you never know. The time for this debate has actually expired, so we now move to the votes.

The question was put that Vote Pacific Island Affairs, Vote Customs, Vote Statistics, Vote Māori Affairs, Vote Internal Affairs, clauses 1 to 10, and schedules 1 to 5 be agreed to.