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Parliament applauded Eleanor Catton winning the Man Booker Prize for her book ‘The Luminaries’.

Prime Minister John Key said the success should be celebrated by New Zealanders as much as they did sporting victories. Catton’s feat in becoming the youngest winner of the prize at 28, came as 16 year old Lorde topped the US charts with her music showing New Zealand was blessed with strong, creative young women.

A motion of congratulations was supported by all parties and passed on a voice vote.

The petition of Patricia Maich-Armstrong and 1,241 others was presented requesting the House legislate to enable paid study up to level four qualifications and psychiatric training for residential carers, increase the minimum number of staff in hospitals and rest homes, and set higher minimum pay for staff with qualifications in hospitals and rest homes.

Annual reports were presented from the Department of Conservation, Education Review Office, Land Information NZ, Ministry of Education, QE2 Trust and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Report of the Auditor General “Using the United Nations’ Madrid indicators to better understand our ageing population” was presented.

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