As we climb into a period of growth, our home just keeps getting better. With the Government's fourth Budget due next week, we can take stock of what it has delivered for the Wanganui electorate.
The Ruapehu-to-Wanganui cycle trail is almost complete, and operators tell us there have been more than 2000 cyclists on this trail so far this year. Our challenge is to ensure these cyclists carry on down the River Road and finish at Castlecliff.
There have been 18 extra doctors and more than 30 extra nurses for Whanganui and Taranaki DHBs, ensuring that we have top-quality healthcare. Over the last three years we've spent $150 million extra nationally on pharmaceuticals, helping people enjoy a better quality of life into their old age. About 2000 extra patients a year are now getting elective surgeries from the Taranaki and Whanganui DHBs - that's people not having to put up with pain in hips, knees and other joints, or in eyes that need cataract surgery.
More than $13 million has been spent to upgrade 49 schools in the Wanganui electorate. Recent studies show that our schools rank in the top seven internationally. Unfortunately, we also have disparity between ethnicities, with Pakeha students ranking second in the world but Maori 34th and Pacific Island children 44th. Our challenge is to raise the achievement level of all children, and the way we do this is with good leadership and good teachers, which is where this Government is focused.
We have been rolling out faster broadband to schools, hospitals and communities across Wanganui. This has been a $35 million investment into Wanganui City alone, with relative investment in South Taranaki. We can run business worldwide from our electorate. People can sit in their own homes and be connected to the biggest universities and the most prominent commentators in their chosen fields.
