GEORGINA BEYER (NZ Labour--Wairarapa): What a remarkable debate this is, celebrating the first 100 days of this new Government! It occurs to me that the words coined at the time of the Hïkoi of Hope, "Enough is enough!", were what the country delivered on 27 November last year when it returned a Labour-led Government to the Government benches. In a very short period after the election the coalition agreement was brought together, signed, sealed, and delivered so that we could get on with what was required as far as our commitments to New Zealand were concerned. That was achieved well before Christmas, when we started to deliver on some of those promises and to get the debates under way. It has been an immense privilege to travel around my electorate of Wairarapa and see a sense of sunshine and relief that at last we have a Government that feels for the heart of this country, for the people, by putting them first and by looking at what they need, as opposed to some of the small, sectional interests that were dealt with by the previous Government in a very compassionate way--let me put it that way.

I will point out just a few of the things we have achieved, but I do not want to repeat what some of my colleagues have spoken about previously.

As far as compulsory education is concerned, we have reviewed the eligibility for the supplementary grant, and have extended it to all school principals, not just those on individual contracts. We have signalled that there will be extra funding for non-bulk-funded schools. I can tell members that has been of some relief to many schools around the country.

As far as the economy is concerned, we have released a Budget Policy Statement that points to continuing surpluses and improved social spending. We have also announced the establishment of the Ministry of Economic Development--Industry New Zealand. In the Wairarapa, people have been knocking on my electorate office door wanting to know how they can become a part of it and can become fully involved in helping to restore economic stability and progression in our region--something that they have been struggling with during the previous 9 years of a National Government.

It is worth mentioning that as early as a week ago the Prime Minister, with a number of other Ministers, met with the leaders of local government--the national council of Local Government New Zealand--to discuss matters that are very close to our communities and very important to local government. In my experience in local government, as the Mayor of Carterton District for 4 years--unfortunately, I had to relinquish that position last Wednesday--we had at least four Ministers of Local Government within one triennium. That was an outrageous indictment on just how important local communities and local government were to the previous Government. Now that we have a Labour-led coalition, along with the Alliance, the Government not only is placing great importance on local government but will move, in cooperation and full and realistic consultation with local government, to make sure that matters involving the streets where people live, the roads they drive on, and the parks where their children play are taken notice of. That is part of what our first 100 days have been about.

Let me move on to environment issues. We are well down the track to the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry into genetically modified organisms. This has been a matter of passion for some people in New Zealand. We are certainly working on that now.

Health has been mentioned. We are moving to disestablish the Health Funding Authority and to establish district health boards. This has been warmly welcomed by many people around the country as putting back to local communities control over their health needs, and giving people more say in what is happening there. I have been well informed by our local Plunket that the reinstatement of the 24-hour Plunket Line has meant huge relief for many parents and for those who work in that field.

In relation to housing, plans to restore income-related rents are well advanced. People should feel very comfortable about it progressing. We have stopped the sale of State houses. That will also be of benefit and a great comfort to many low-income and fixed-income people.

As far as justice is concerned, we have cancelled the expensive and ironic debacle of the INCIS inquiry in favour of a smaller, ministerial inquiry.