New Zealand is the best country for providing opportunities, opportunities for people to improve their position in life and get ahead.
In fact, New Zealand is ranked first for social progress in the 2014 Social Progress Index – a global measure.
The index rates 132 countries on 43 different measures, so I think we can be pretty proud of ourselves. Especially as we were pitted against a lot of larger, and in some cases wealthier, countries.
No, we didn’t get a perfect score across all areas, and yes, we can do much better in some.
Every day we are working hard to improve our health, welfare, and education systems to deliver better public services to hard-working Kiwis – one of our four priorities this term.
We are investing in new policies and services for children and families. Most of our under-6s have 24-hour access to free healthcare, we have fully funded the 24/7 PlunketLine, and immunisation rates are much higher under National. We have put social workers in hospitals, and expanded social workers in schools.
The Children’s Action Plan is also increasing funding and services for children in care, and we introduced Children’s Teams to work with at-risk children.
Last year we committed $27 million to education initiatives targeted at supporting children who aren’t being served by the current system.
We’ve always said we believe high-quality education is vitally important, as it provides the opportunity for any child from any background to get ahead and make the most of their life.
During tight fiscal times we have invested $9.7 billion in education – the highest it has ever been – and in the top 20 per cent in the OECD for spend as a percentage of GDP.
February’s Household Labour Force Survey showed the number of 15 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training, at its lowest point since December 2008.
In 2012, for the first time, the majority of New Zealanders had a degree or other tertiary qualification. And thanks to National’s welfare reforms, every week 1500 people are coming off a benefit.
Over the past year 66,000 more people got jobs, and unemployment is falling.
New Zealand really is leading the way forward, with our growing economy and our focus on improving public services for New Zealanders.