Latest News Page 3 

Madam Speaker

I have had the privilege of actively participating in a fantastically exciting, and at times challenging journey during the 15 years I have been a member of parliament. I come from a family that has a history of political activity borne out a strong desire to improve the lives of those who are not among the most fortunate in society.

I started asking my mother Jean if I could go to political meetings with her while I was at primary school. Her instructions were "if you're quiet and sit up straight, you can come". As members will know I've continued to put her rules into practice here in Parliament. Oh well, okay, perhaps I've deviated from that path once or twice over the last 15 years especially the part about being quiet!

While my interest and political activity increased over the years I never contemplated becoming a Member of Parliament. I have never hungered for personal recognition but I have always been highly motivated by the need to make life better for those less able to advocate for themselves.

I contested the 1990 General Election, missing by a mere 409 votes. However, I was elected in 1993 and there began this incredible journey I have been on since.

I'm sure there are some who think they got elected to Parliament as a result of their charm and good looks! I know I am here because Labour principles are at the core of my being, because of the hard work and commitment of the Whanganui Labour team, my family, both past and present, and perhaps most importantly because the word Labour is beside my name on a voting form. I thank the voters who ticked my name and Labour during the six elections I contested. I worked hard to deliver on your expectations of me and hope that in most cases I succeeded.

Thank you is such a totally inadequate word to describe the depth of gratitude I feel towards the Whanganui Labour Team who has worked with me since 1989. We have had some great times together and my heartfelt thanks go to all of you. Politics isn't very glamorous when you're out in the freezing cold selling raffle tickets and holding garage sales to raise funds or delivering pamphlets along streets that seem to stretch for miles. It's the Labour Team who does the graft in the backrooms and on the streets passionate and committed in their desire for a fair New Zealand for all New Zealanders.

Members of Parliament could not function successfully with out the support of their secretarial staff both in our parliamentary offices and in the electorate. I have been extremely fortunate in the calibre of staff I have had working with me. My staff have all been incredibly loyal and hard working and I know I would not have achieved what I did without them. Thank you for being a partner in serving the people of the Whanganui electorate, for your humour and also for your strong belief in delivering social justice. As my long serving secretary Lyn Crossley and I used to frequently say when faced with yet another challenge,  "It's a great life if you don't weaken".

My husband Warren, and our children Trent and Megan, have continued to be "the wind beneath my wings" during my years in Parliament. I would not have been able to do the work I have done as an MP without you by my side. Through thick and thin you have been there and you have made many sacrifices to help me and the Labour Party. Your love has sustained me.

I have always had an interest in conservation and environmental issues and I was proud to have the opportunity to introduce the Wildlife (Penalties and Related Matters) Amendment Bill. The bill increased penalties for offences against native flora and fauna and affords greater protection for native species. The bill received unanimous support in Parliament. That doesn't happen every day around here!

I was not so successful with the Housing Responsibilities Bill where I sought to have income related rents restored for State house tenants. Unfortunately National MPs voted against the bill. However, when the Labour-led Government was elected in 1999 one of the first policies we passed was a return to income related rents. A lesson in time, patience and the privilege of being a member of a party that knows the benefits of social justice across many policy areas and who is prepared to put those beliefs into action.

While being an active participant in politics is not for the faint hearted, a day in government is definitely better than a thousand in opposition. I have had six years of being an Opposition MP and nine as a government MP. I know which I prefer. As we battle away in the political trenches much of our work is unseen and intangible but it is all part of the political process we must endure.

Saving the West Coast Forests is a real and tangible Labour policy and I look forward to the day I can take our grandchildren to see them. The political battle to save these forests was a new experience for me but I learned from it and went on to face others. The recently opened $30 million plus UCOL Whanganui (Polytechnic) Campus and the new $34 million Whanganui Hospital clinical services building are just some of the policies I have been delighted to see put in to action in the Whanganui electorate under a Labour-led government.

South Taranaki and large parts of rural Whanganui were included in the reconfigured Whanganui electorate following the introduction of an MMP electoral system in 1996. The Labour team got to work and started to bring new services and investment in these areas. We have seen a new hospital built in Hawera, the Heartland Centre opened, massive investment in roads including the Hawera railway sub-way the widening of the Tangahoe Bridge and the $7 million dollar investment that will improve the Whanganui River Road. I am descended, on the paternal side of my family, from Ngati Pamoana of Koriniti on the Whanganui River. Te Atihaunui A Paparangi is my Iwi. Facilitating economic development opportunities along the Whanganui River is important to me and I look forward to the expansion of farming, horticultural and tourism ventures improved road safety and access will bring to this part of the electorate.

New Zealand's relatively small population means we know quite a lot about each other. Some people know things about each of us that we don't even know ourselves. Here in Parliament we're inclined to tell each other so too! The small size of our population and our parliament, also means we have a unique relationship with the media. Before entering parliament I used to think the media was some lofty all knowing, all seeing group of people. Well I soon got that naïve idea knocked out of me. They're just the same as us politicians. They don't like criticism either and also like to have the last word. In most cases they do too!

In my early days here the press gallery were famous for their parties. We MPs looked forward to these events as we knew no one in attendance would suffer from dehydration or lack of sustenance. MPs from both sides of the House also knew we would spend some time during the next few days engaged in speculative conversation about what went on both during and after their parties. Well, that was then and this is now. Just like us the media are also under much greater scrutiny and have become uncharacteristically sedate. Perhaps it's time for renewal!

MPs are constantly being told by all manner of people they should improve their behaviour in the House. Some MPs also venture into this territory too. In my maiden speech I acknowledged that the debating chamber was a naturally combative place and that I would not remain silent and quietly accept legislation that would disadvantage the people who elected me to parliament. I have been known to utter the occasional interjection and a journalist once wrote something uncharitable about my voice and paint...or some such description. A cutting blow. I was so devastated I had to have a wee lie down. However, I quickly recovered and continued to point out the error of the ways of the National Party, and any other MP whose party was in opposition to Labour. I hope they realise I was just trying to be helpful!

While the general consensus among the public is that we politicians spend our whole time attacking each other, there have been moments of spontaneous humour that every MP has enjoyed. We will never see the likes of David Lange again. His "one liners" were brilliant. John Carter could always be relied upon for a joke for the bowling club. National's Gerry Brownlie has been known to make the occasional helpful interjection too. In June last year some of us were looking forward to directing some informative and helpful interjections, "sotto voce" of course, towards Gerry following a most interesting meeting he had had in his office.

Unfortunately we were thwarted in our cause by the Code of Conduct for MPs documents that were being tabled in the House that day. Not to be outdone by this temporary stay of required good behaviour, I had been making meaningful eye contact and intimations to Gerry, below the Speaker's radar of course. I have here the note Gerry wrote to me when he knew he was home free. "Jill, sharpen up your conduct and stop hassling and intimidating me in the House".  I've yet to witness Gerry being intimidated by anyone. This was an exchange conducted without rancour and with good humour from both of us.

Parliaments should, and hopefully always will be, places where people of strongly held opinions assemble and put their beliefs forward for public scrutiny. This is not a place for, as Ralph Chaplin wrote "the cowed and the meek. Who see the world's anguish and it's wrong. And dare not speak!"

I have had a variety of roles and responsibilities during the last fifteen years and appreciate the irony of being appointed as an Assistant Speaker. A bit like the fox minding the chicken coop. I have also been a Junior and Senior Government Whip. You learn a great deal about human nature in these roles. The work a Whip does is largely unseen. However, it's an exciting and challenging role with constant liaison between the executive, the back bench and with other parties. The government whips are often at the centre of what's going on in parliament and their organisational and management skills are tested every day.

More recently I have been chair of the New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development (NZPPD).This all-party parliamentary group views population and development issues, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender issues as central to the elimination of poverty. The group also promotes sustainable economic growth and environmental sustainability. Much of the group's work is focused on the Asian-Pacific region and we value the positive relationship we have with NZAID sharing a belief in delivering international aid and development effectively.

I love the atmosphere of the debating chamber, it's an exciting place even when the bills being debated may seem tedious and at times irrelevant to the wider public. I am always conscious of the fact that only about 120 of us have won the right to sit here at any one time and also of how precious our democratic system is. Too often those who criticise MPs and their behaviour would not have the intestinal fortitude to stand for election and be prepared to suffer the often unjustified criticisms MPs receive almost every day.

New Zealand MPs largely conduct themselves responsibly and care about their constituents, their electorates, their country and the rest of the world. Voters can choose to elect timid candidates who will never be heard of again once they enter this place but I suspect the electors would soon tire of that sort of character.

Fifteen minutes in which to cover fifteen years of parliamentary service requires some discipline. I have had experiences I never dreamed would be possible. I have met and talked with people I would have only read about if I had not been an MP. I have seen first hand how highly regarded and respected our country and the Helen Clark Labour-led government is internationally. It has been an immense privilege to work with Prime Minister Helen Clark. Whoever would have thought I could ring one of the most effective prime minister's this country has known and say, " Helen, Jill here. Ring me when you've got a moment, thanks." I am proud to be a New Zealander and I am privileged to have played a role in implementing Labour Party policies which have improved the quality of life for thousands of New Zealanders.

I have spent too little time with my family over the last fifteen years. Warren and I have two precious grandchildren, Isabella and Freddie whom we want to see more of. We are excited about our future. I leave this House comfortable in the knowledge that I tried to do my best. I will always value the truly wonderful range of experiences I have had and I sincerely thank all those who helped make it possible.

• OUR MPs | 
• FEATURES | 
• LATEST NEWS | 
• SPEECHES | 
• PORTFOLIOS | 
• POLICY | 
• MULTIMEDIA | 
• SEARCH | 
• CONTACT US