11. Hon MARK GOSCHE (Labour—Maungakiekie) Link to this
to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment
What reports, if any, has she received on the number of Pasifika people in employment?
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
Talofa lava. I can advise the House that employment growth for Pacific people rose by 3.8 percent per annum from 2001 to 2006, compared with 1.6 percent for Europeans—palagi. At the same time, the Pasifika unemployment rate dropped by more than a third, from almost 10 percent in 2001 to a near record low of 6.4 percent last year. O nisi na o talafiafia mo tagata Pasifika o lo’oalala ma soifua Niu Silanei—this is more great news for our Pasifika communities.
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN Link to this
Pacific people make up 5.6 percent of all industry trainees, compared with the 4.3 percent share of the total workforce. I also add that 15.7 percent of Pacific people are now enrolled in tertiary education, compared with 14.2 percent for the general population. I congratulate my colleague the Hon Dr Michael Cullen, as Minister for Tertiary Education, on his sterling work in this area.
Judith CollinsIf everything is going so well for Pasifika New Zealanders—and I am sure we all hope it is—why does the Government’s Social Report 2006 show that 54 percent of Pasifika families live in poverty, which is an increase of 10 percent under her Government?
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN Link to this
To add a bit of context to that question, during the 1990s, when National was in Government and undertook major economic restructuring, the community that fared the worst in terms of unemployment, market rents, and psychological and emotional harm was the Pacific community. My response to the first question showed clearly that we have made enormous changes to the economic and social position of our people.
Darren HughesI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am trying to hear the Associate Minister’s answer at the back of the House, and it is impossible to hear her give this information on Pacific Island communities through the screaming and yelling of the National Opposition.
Madam SPEAKERI must say that there was screaming and yelling on both sides of the House. Would the Minister please continue with her answer.
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN Link to this
As I said before, the community that suffered the most from economic restructuring under the National Government of the 1990s was the Pacific community. Enormous progress has been made in the economic and social position of our peoples and our children, and our Labour-led Government will continue that good work.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
What is the total number of Pacific people reliant on an unemployment benefit?
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN Link to this
I can advise the House that at the end of February there were fewer than 2,900 Pacific people reliant on an unemployment benefit in the whole of New Zealand. This is an astounding 76 percent reduction from 12,300 in 1999, when National was last in Government. This Labour-led Government is clearly making real progress at improving outcomes for our Pacific families and communities. There is still much to be done, and we are committed to getting on and doing it.
Did this Minister not know that in 2000, 49 percent of Pasifika families lived in poverty, and in 2004, after 4 years of her Government, that figure had increased to 54 percent; if not, why not?
Hon LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN Link to this
As the member of Parliament for Mana also, I would like to share with members a story about the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) where Porirua College is leading NCEA. Eighty percent of the children are Pacific. They come from families where their parents are now in employment and they are receiving the Working for Families package, income-related rents, and affordable housing and health. That is why our children in Porirua are leading NCEA.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Minister did not address the question, which was “did she know”. All we got was something about NCEA. This question was about whether she knew that 54 percent of Pacific people are now living in poverty.
As the member knows, no member can, in fact, require a yes or no answer to a question. The Minister did address the question generally.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that the data used by Judith Collins is from 2004, before the introduction of the Working for Families package, that that package is reducing child poverty by 70 percent, that the last stage occurs on 1 April this year, and that the National Party voted against it?
I seek the leave of the House to table page 65 of the Government’s Social Report 2006, which has these figures in it.