Clark offers election year vision 

Prime Minister Helen Clark has delivered her first speech to parliament for the year, with a vision statement on lifting economic performance and raising the standard of living.

Helen Clark's statement to the House on Tuesday highlighted lifting New Zealand's economic performance and living standards as the government's key priorities.

In a pitch to voters, she says the choice this year is straightforward - to stick with a government that is getting results or run the risk of a lurch back to what she describes as the nastiness of the 1990s.

Clark told parliament that key policy areas being worked on include lifting labour productivity, with an industry group being established. Initiatives to build a more highly skilled workforce include encouraging the return of expatriates, and weeding out low quality education and training providers.

The Prime Minister is reiterating her concern to see more women in the paid workforce, with improved parental leave and access to childcare up for consideration.

The statement kicked off a 14 hour debate in parliament that will end either on Thursday or next Tuesday.

Opposition parties react

National Party leader Don Brash attacked the Prime Minister's speech as "election year puffery".

After moving the traditional motion of no-confidence in the government following Clark's speech, he described it as full of "feel good phrases".

Brash reiterated some key National policies on lowering tax, law and order and "one law for all".

He said New Zealanders will choose between what is fair and unfair and what is right and what is wrong. Brash said it is wrong that different races are treated differently while it is right that violent and recidvist criminals serve their full sentence.

The Act Party also focused on tax and crime.

The Green Party hit out at the government in its first parliamentary speech for the year for failing to move to counter economic shocks that it says are on the way. Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons reiterated the party's views on dwindling oil supplies and the need for more policies on sustainable energy solutions.

New Zealand First said the country could do much better economically and United Future talked about the importance of nationhood.

Tsunami victims acknowledged

Parliament opened for the year with party leaders supporting a notice of motion to express their sorrow about the massive Boxing Day tsunami that killed thousands of people.

Clark moved the notice saying the Indian Ocean tsunami shattered many communities and its effects were felt around the world.

She said some New Zealanders caught in the catastrophe will never return home and many others who have returned are troubled by what they saw.

The tribute concluded with MPs standing in silence for one minute.