breakfasts in schools. Over 8 million breakfasts. This government
to New Zealand children, over the last few years.
organisations like kids can, who make
start of the year, kids have shoes and sandals, that they
have raincoats, and
raincoats, and of course we've supported
supported the NetBusters. Mr Speaker,
Speaker, this Government doesn't just talk
hardship. This Government has set out to address
the drivers of poverty and
poverty and hardship and support New Zealand families to
lift themselves out of that hardship.
Tracey Martin. Kia ora, Mr
Speaker. Thank you very much.
much. Yesterday, the Rt Hon Nikki Kaye returned to the House, and it
was great to see her. It was great
to see her
on her feet, and as passionate
passionate as she's ever been with regard
regard to, I believe, New Zealand education
education and New Zealand children. One
One of the things that Minister Kaye did
did was she challenged the Opposition
decided Iwould. Iwent away and had a
a look at a couple of things that have
have been said by the Government and its support parties. I want
to start with
with some things that the Maori Party
Party and the ACT Party made mention of
of in their contributions yesterday. It's something
It's something that they've said a few times. One of
statement is that New Zealand First doesn't support settlement bills. So
Parliament since the 45th Parliament, since 1996. We
had a small
small break between 2008 and 2011 where
where we refreshed and came back in strength,
strength, and came back in strength... During that
time, there were
were 54 settlement bills during the time
time that New Zealand First has been in
settlement bills. Of those settlement bills,
settlement bills, New Zealand First has voted
has voted in favour of 49. New Zealand First has voted against 5.
The ACT Party has voted against 7.
Let's be
support parties want to talk about who
who supports settlements, on record, in
in the Hansard, they need to have a look at the
people that they sit just down
just down from, rather than shouting across the
across the House with regard to New Zealand
Zealand First. And, Iwould suggest to the Government whip that, if
the Government is
Government is going to include secret
secret clauses that even Maori don't know about inside of
know about inside of legislation, secret clauses that
Maoridom don't even
even know about inside of education, then
Opposition from the Opposition. Let's
Let's also have a talk about the fact
fact that the Maori Party, yesterday, took credit
other things that they have achieved for
for Maori was, apparently, free doctors' visits. Now, I'll
agree
Party amended that initial statement to say
Zealand First doesn't stand for Maori
Maori Party and that the Rt Hon Winston
Winston Peters doesn't stand for Maori in this House. In 2005, free
doctors' visits
Maori in this House. In 2005, free
the Maori Party claimed credit for in their Coalition with
the National Government,
Government, introduced between a memorandum
New Zealand First and the Labour Party. So let's
cannot have it both ways, Mr Speaker. Alternative facts,
at the end of the day.
end of the day. Alternative facts will
will be shown to be exactly that. So, if we keep going fonNard...
Mr Seymour, for
Seymour, for example, talked about expanding charter
expanding charter schools 'cause they're doing so well. I believe
that the Maori
Party supported that vigorously
vigorously yesterday. Let's just be clear
of the Maori Party shouted out again and
and again and again that they're working for Maori.
Let's be clear.
I don't need to talk to Mr Jackson, ma'am
party. Completely disregard the fact that
English medium schools in this country,
country, completely ignoring all those
the Maori Party doesn't care about, because
supposed position of power. But let's be clear about
their academic
INTERRUPTION Last year
INTERRUPTION
the Ministry of Education put out a report quite clearly
showing that the data
the data that was used, Mr Seymour of
of the ACT Party stood up and said that vanguard, for
NCA Level 2 pass rate. What's unfortunate
unfortunate is there's a Ministry of Education
dang, they didn't report it in the same way that every other
Speaker, but I suggest Minister Tolley might like to go and check
the ministerial education report.
And then what we have... We have
Fetu Tina achieved only 2 of
their 18 targets.
18 targets. But apparently this is doing
doing wonderfully well for Maori students.
students. So well that Mr Seymour says that this
country should expand charter schools so that we
can spread the profit
margin around the sector there.
sectorthere. Not onlythat, but this Government
this Government apparently has agreed with Mr
Seymour to start opening
opening science charter schools, technology
other speakers from the Government would
would like to stand and take some call
INTERRUPTION What was
What was interesting about the PM's speech was he didn't say a thing
about students.
about students. He didn't say a thing
thing about students. He didn't mention the number
of Victorian university
walking around the street trying to find somewhere to
live. He didn't talk about
talk about the students up in Auckland who've been swapping sex
for somewhere to live.
He didn't talk about the university student
associations that are handing out more
more food parcels than they've ever handed out before. He didn't
stalk about
talk about fact check, Ms Parata stands
stands and talks about how well this Government is
Government is doing in education, and yet we
have just had, at the education
education and science select committee,
a country, for children with special needs.
needs. 1 in 5 children with dyslexia. 1 in 8 children suffering
level of professionalism to deal with it. But one of the other
Government removed it two years ago. Mr Joyce
Mr Joyce removed anybody's responsibility for
responsibility for workforce planning. But what we
it was mentioned in Mr English's speech
it was mentioned in Mr English's
visa will be piloted to attract up to
to 400 young technology entrepreneurs.
entrepreneurs. So there's 100 places for international
for international candidates per yean
for international candidates per year, but only 20
places to support current
technology to be funded by this Government. This is
what the PM said yesterday. But, wait, there's
more. Of those 100 places
Of those 100 places for international candidates per year,
they get the opportunity
for a
eligible to apply for permanent residency.
residency. This is designed to attract those who may not
be able to qualify under other visa
So, we haven't got enough people coming
coming into the country at the moment.
coming into the country at the moment. We've got
high levels of unemployment
our young people. 41,000 work visas were handed out last year.
This Government's
public that we're not going to cut down on work visas. We
are going to come up with something with
come up with something with another name for
name for people who can't use the usual
Joe... BELL
BELL RUNG ..And
another streamlined pathway into New Zealand.
Because that's what the New Zealanders are
just won't tell them that's what we're
we're going to do. We're sure they'll
they'll agree with us by the time it's too late to do anything about