Valedictories Speeches Heavy On Party Loyalty

by Desk Editor on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 — 6:55 PM

Retiring MPs began their valedictory speech this afternoon with a number of National MPs saying farewell.

Party loyalty was the theme for the day with not even a cutting comment from those who had been shown the door. Amongst the revelations was Chris Tremain confessing he was the instigator of the infamous “walk the plank” photo opportunity for former National Leader Don Brash.

Cam Calder said he had come into Parliament six years ago with people asking needing whether it needed another doctor. He was now leaving with some saying that Parliament did not have enough doctors. Calder said he was leaving, but it was not due to Murray McCully having incriminating photographs.

He had been proud to stand for National and for what it had achieved. Calder said National was making real inroads in south Auckland and amongst ethnic communities.

John Hayes spoke of his time in the foreign service and in Parliament and emphasised the need to make the economy more competitive. Hayes said New Zealander had to realise the world did not owe them a living and those in provinces could not rely on Wellington to pay their way.

Chris Auchinvole referred to the culling of MPs in Britain recently as the removal of the “pale, male and stale”, but said he felt far from stale. Auchinvole spoke warmly of his time in Parliament and said he had come to serve the country and his party. Now he was 69 it was time to move on for the party so it could regenerate.

Colin King spoke about the need for sustainable management around the coastline and said he was proud the Kaikoura marinve reserves legislation would pass before he retired.

Chris Tremain said there were many definitions of success, he had entered parliament nine years ago with a bit of naivety. He had been told by Rodney Hide success was taking scalps, while Pete Hodgson said it was retaining one’s family.

Tremain said very few made it to the top of politics as there were very few people like John Key, Bill English, Helen Clark and Michael Cullen.

Tremain said National like all parties needed to rejuvenate and it was a good thing he was moving on with his family intact after becoming a minister

He confessed he had set up and suggested the photo opportunity of Don Brash walking a precarious gang way to a boat which set up the “Walk the plank” photograph and apologised for the political gaffe.

Kate Wilkinson said when she entered in Parliament it was as a list MP in a Labour seat and left it a sitting MP in a National seat and she would leave Parliament as an undefeated electorate MP.

Wilkinson said she had been privileged to serve as a Minister, it was like making the All Blacks “not everyone gets picked to be an All Black and not every All Black gets to play a 100 games” she said of her four years a minister,

She spoke of the Pike River tragedy which “happened on my watch… I was not responsible, but I was the responsible minister”.

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