Luxon ChristopherCHRISTOPHER LUXON (Leader of the Opposition): It is a pleasure on behalf of the National Party to support this motion congratulating New Zealand's head of State His Majesty King Charles III on his coronation. Like the Prime Minister last Saturday I had the privilege and honour of attending the King's coronation in Westminster Abbey and it was a historic occasion in a very beautiful and ancient building. The coronation reminded me once again of that acknowledgment that New Zealanders so often make after watching a royal event and that is that no one can do it quite like the British. All of it was spectacular from the carriages and parades outside the abbey to the magnificent choristers and flowers inside and both inside and outside there was a real sense of joy and celebration. But I also agree with the sentiments of the Prince of Wales. Prince William said For all that celebrations are magnificent at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message: service." Almost all King Charles' life has been about service—first as Britain's longest-serving Prince of Wales giving support and strength to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II but he has been serving Britain and the Commonwealth for a long time. In 1952 at the age of three he became heir apparent the next in line to the throne. At 16 he undertook his first official royal duty and he has not stopped serving since. He has been patron or president of more than 800 causes that matter to him and the coronation also symbolised King Charles' role as head of the Church of England. His Christian faith is important to him but the coronation included roles for all major faiths and that message of religious acceptance and inclusion is so important. King Charles is also a conservationist an accomplished artist a musician and an equestrian and I'm sure all these interests will shape his regency. He is a husband a father and a grandfather and he has stepchildren and step-grandchildren. Like with every family everywhere things don't always run smoothly and his family has the added burden of being unrelentingly in the public eye. But throughout it all his service to his late mother the Queen and to Britain and to the Commonwealth which he now heads has been unwavering. He has made many visits to New Zealand and the royal family closely follow events here. I am sure the King understands the significance of the Crown's relationship with Māori as signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi. I have said publicly that I believe that at some point New Zealand will become a republic and should we step away from the monarchy it will not be a negative reflection of whoever is on the throne at that time; in fact it will be a sign of the monarchy's success in having helped shape the successful tolerant open and independent country that New Zealand is today. But that is not a here and now discussion. Here and now is the celebration of our new King. He is and will continue to be an important presence in all of our lives and I feel sure he will serve New Zealand Britain and the Commonwealth well as did his mother before him and her father before that. So on behalf of the National Party I offer my warmest and most sincere and heartfelt congratulations to King Charles and to Queen Camilla on their coronations. Long live the King. Debate interrupted."