Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

Today, I am opening the Community Patrols New Zealand Conference at the Tauranga Racecourse. As patron of the Tauranga South Community Patrols, I am aware of the important work that local community patrols do to assist the Police, reduce crime and build safer communities throughout New Zealand. Minister of Police Anne Tolley is also addressing the conference.

Tonight, I am attending the 2013 BNZ Bay of Plenty Export Awards. This event is always a great experience and an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements in the export sector from around the region.

Helping families

Families are the heart of our communities.

At the last election, National said we'd build a brighter future for Kiwi families. Halfway through this term in Government we're delivering on that promise.

Our responsible economic management is ensuring your taxes are spent wisely on the services families need; and we don't leave a heavy debt burden for the next generation to pay off.

We're building a more competitive and productive economy. More than 50,000 jobs have been created in the last two years, and unemployment is the lowest since March 2010. Meanwhile, household income is up 20 per cent since 2008 and mortgage rates are at 50-year lows.

Families need healthcare that's fast and convenient. Under National, more patients are getting elective operations and seeing hospital specialists sooner. People with injuries and illnesses are getting faster emergency treatment. And every cancer patient, ready for radiation treatment, is receiving it within the world gold standard of four weeks.

We're giving kids a better start. Ninety-three per cent of under-2s are now fully immunised. Nearly all under-6s can access free doctor visits, day or night. Nearly 80 per cent of four-year-olds are getting B4 School checks.

National is making sure kids get the skills they need. That means getting more pre-schoolers into early childhood education, focusing schools on achievement, and making sure tertiary providers give students the skills they need to succeed.

In 2013/14, the Government will spend nearly 75 per cent more on early childhood education than it did in 2007/08. We've set a target of 98 per cent of new entrants attending early childhood education before they start school.

Parents are now getting plain language reports on how their children are doing. Seventy per cent of students are achieving National Standards in reading, writing, and maths.

There are 22 new trades academies and 12,000 extra tertiary places. National is putting in place an ambitious trades-training programme, revamped apprenticeships, more tertiary places, and clear vocational pathways for our future workforce.

We're a Government that is delivering real jobs, real growth, and real progress for Kiwi families. National is continuing to build the brighter future our community and all New Zealanders deserve.