Jami-Lee Ross – 
Happy 16th Birthday Indian Newslink, and all the very best wishes for another successful 16 years ahead.
The newspaper and www.indiannewslink.co.nz are important news and information carriers and popular with not only Indian New Zealanders but also others.
It has become an important player in the New Zealand media scene, providing essential diversity and variety of coverage and opinions.
I appreciate being asked to provide some thoughts on the topic “The expectations of the modern youth in media.”
Online moves
I am pleased to be able to represent such a young and multicultural community as the MP for Botany. With so many ethnic groups and a very strong local Indian community, ensuring that we have good quality news coverage is important.
This is also essential for young generations that are steering away from traditional media and moving online more and more.
What I believe is critical is that modern youth are informed about the world around them. Like all New Zealanders, they want to hear about how their country is faring on the world stage; whether there are jobs being created in the economy; how they and their children are going to gain an education, as well as whether their country is clean and safe.
Sadly, mainstream media can sometimes steer away from these issues and provide coverage that is more ‘infotainment’ rather than news. When I have an opportunity to talk to youth, I try to gain their views on important issues of the day. I also get asked about how we in Government are helping to improve their lives.
Family focus
We are a family-focused Government, committed to creating a brighter future through economic and social prosperity. We are determined to continue growing the economy, create more jobs, keep New Zealanders safe and secure, and provide world-class health care and education for our young people.
It has been very pleasing to achieve one of our long-held goals, to return the Government’s books into the black. The significant milestone of the $414 million surplus for the 2014-2015 year shows that our plans for building a more productive and diverse economy are working.
Annual economic growth is forecast to continue at 2.4%, while we have had 11 consecutive quarters of job growth, with 69,000 more jobs created in the past year.
The average annual wage has also increased to more than $57,000 for the first time.
Reducing crime
Being strong on law and order and making sure Kiwis feel safe and secure in their homes and communities, we are very encouraged at the falling rate of personal and household crime. It is at the lowest level since official records started in 1980-1981, while fewer adults and young people are appearing in courts on charges.
Spending on the public health system is at record levels, at $15.9 billion this year.
We are focusing our investment in the areas that matter most, while committed to reducing waiting times. An area which is assisting the quality of life for our older people is delivering more elective operations such as for knees and hips.
Boosting education
Giving young New Zealanders the best possible start in life means delivering an education system that helps them achieve their potential. We’re investing at record levels in education and that includes building new schools and classrooms and boosting Early Childhood Education.
Modern youth have a high need to hear about the country they live in and modern media have a responsibility to ensure our community and our future generation are informed.
I am pleased that Indian Newslink has provided high-quality news to Indian New Zealanders for the past 16 years.
I am sure that this tradition will continue long into the future.
Jami-Lee Ross has been an elected Member of Parliament from Botany Constituency in East Auckland since March 2011.
