Darroch Ball, NZ First list MP

‘‘We want to create sustainable jobs and see economic growth reach all corners of the country.’’

As we approach the halfway mark of the year, with the coalition Government’s first Budget delivered and Winston Peters poised to step in as acting prime minister, it is timely to reflect on how much this NZ First-labour coalition has achieved in a short time.

There was much to celebrate in the Budget. It was big and brave, but it is only the beginning. No-one can now deny that we have had nine years of chronic underfunding in our essential infrastructure, nor can they expect that will be turned around overnight.

National’s claim is that it created a ‘‘healthy surplus’’ – but in reality what does that mean? If we ran our households just for a month without paying for rent, electricity, insurance, maintenance or any other of the essential expenses we all, too, would have a ‘‘healthy bank balance’’. But is that really any way to run a household, let alone a country?

We inherited record homelessness, debt and immigration, increased child poverty and youth disengagement, under-investment in health, education, housing, defence, and rail, declining police numbers and overflowing prisons, and a massive infrastructure deficit.

From the first days of this Government, NZ First has been determined to make a real difference in the lives of New Zealanders. The coalition agreement set out the blueprint for what we wanted to achieve in government, and in a frenetic eight months we are well on the way to not only solving the underinvestment

We will not accept homelessness or substandard housing.

we inherited, but also to meeting our goals for the country.

Shane Jones has launched his $3 billion provincial growth fund, which will breathe new life into regional New Zealand. We want to create sustainable jobs and see economic growth reach all corners of the country.

Initial funding has focused on forestry, rail, and tourism, with Manawatu¯ and Whanganui identified as among the first regions to benefit.

The Working for Families package gives a much-needed boost to people struggling to balance work while raising a family, and free GP visits have been extended to under-14s. We have retained the age of eligibility for national superannuation at 65, and those superannuitants are about to start receiving their winter energy payments to help them through the coldest months of the year.

The minimum wage increased to $16.50 an hour in April, part of a phased scheme which will see it rise to $20 by April 2021, and we have introduced programmes for the long-term unemployed to improve work readiness.

The Government has also committed funding for 1500 new teachers, hundreds of new classrooms, and extra support for 8000 children with additional learning needs.

We believe all Kiwi kids are entitled to a quality education that will set them up for life.

And we will not accept homelessness or substandard housing in New Zealand. The current housing crisis is entirely of National’s making, but we will work to make it right. We are investing $2 billion in affordable starter homes through Kiwibuild and will build thousands more state homes for families in need.

We know that law and order is a key concern to many New Zealanders. The coalition Government’s police package, when fully rolled out, will deliver 1800 new officers.

The Government is working to address the most urgent issues we have inherited, but we are also looking to the future.

We plan to transform the economy and improve the living standards of all New Zealanders.

NZ First will continue to work as a constructive and positive coalition partner in order to bring about this transformation.