Rich Katherine: Address to Her Excellency the Governor-General 
Rich Katherine: Address to Her Excellency the Governor-General 
[Volume:617;Page:13205] 
KATHERINE RICH (National) 
: 
 It is an honour and a privilege for me to take part in this debate to mark 150 years after the formation of the New Zealand Parliament. I am proud to be part of a tradition that granted women the vote in 1893 and it is my only regret that more women have not taken their place in this Chamber. I take this opportunity to challenge the women in this country to look afresh at the world around them to carve a path to Parliament and to participate in decision making in the interests of all our communities. I firmly believe that the quality of life of the people of this country would be greatly enhanced by having more women make this place their workplace. I get angry when I hear women proudly proclaim that they do not bother to vote. How can women or anyone for that matter justify such a negative stance when there are people around the world who have had to die for their right to vote—a right that women have enjoyed here for over a century and that some do not even bother to exercise. We have a place here—an important role to play—and our people and our society are poorer for our absence. 
Women each bring a unique perspective to any problem: the ability to see past the peripherals and get to the heart of the matter. Women are able to work cooperatively to achieve common goals. While often mistaken for the fairer sex women are prepared to wage war but only when it matters and particularly when their children or grandchildren are involved. I believe right now is the time for women in general and for this Parliament in particular to wage war on child abuse poverty poor education poor health drug use in our communities poor housing the loss of whole generations to welfare dependence and a loss of dreams of the future. 
 It is interesting to note that the first woman Prime Minister in the world was Mrs Bandaranaike of Ceylon in 1960. It took over 60 years after women first got the vote before a woman managed to get to that point. Since then 32 other women have been appointed as head of State in countries around the world from Peru to Lithuania from the Philippines to Canada and to Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark here in New Zealand. No mention of women heads of State would be complete without mention of Margaret Thatcher whose prime ministership of Great Britain changed the political landscape of a generation of Golda Meir an American-born grandmother who became head of the State of Israel a country that has been at war since its fiery birth in 1948 or of Indira Gandhi who led the largest democracy in the world India. She followed in her father’s footsteps and in turn was followed by her son and most recently by her daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi. 
I wish to pay tribute to some of the women who have graced the benches of this Parliament under the National Party banner since Mary Grigg first came here as a National member in 1942. Hilda Ross a National MP served from 1945 to 1959—a record of parliamentary service matched by Katherine O’Regan who was here from 1984 to 1989 by Jenny Shipley from 1987 to 2002 and by Ruth Richardson from 1981 to 1994. I note that Joy Quigley is present today in the House and I pay tribute to her contribution as another National woman member of Parliament. 
Today I pay tribute Mr Speaker to your contribution in making Parliament a more woman and family-friendly environment. While you have made major changes here in the House it is some of the little things like sending my son Jonathan a birthday card every year that I think are symbolic of your approach and interest in the pastoral care of the MPs in this House. I find it interesting to reflect on the fact that while you sought to assist me as I took care of my babies here in Parliament Ruth Richardson’s experience 20 years earlier was very different. At that time some women concurred when their whips withdrew the granting of a pair in the House which denied Ruth the ability to withdraw and breastfeed her baby without penalty to her party in any votes taken during that period. Only at lunchtime today Philippa Falloon mentioned to me that there was a time when family members were not allowed to bring their children to the gallery—changed days indeed. 
I pay tribute to Marilyn Waring who served between 1975 and 1984 and who survived what we are led to believe was a tough environment under the leadership of Sir Rob Muldoon. Marilyn was a stoic and determined woman with a clear vision. She achieved much for women in spite of the environment in which she served. Katherine O’Regan who had been her electorate agent stood when Marilyn left and won the Waipa seat as Marilyn’s successor. My current National Party colleagues the Hon Georgina te Heuheu Pansy Wong Judith Collins Sandra Goudie and Dr Lynda Scott bring a diversity and an experience that reflect New Zealand society and I pay tribute to them for the contribution that they make. 
Of course behind every great MP here in Parliament there is usually another great woman and some of our long-serving parliamentary staff like Margaret Hunter Pat Humphries Bridie Wilkinson Beryl Bright Faith Sarten Margaret Manning Alwyn Black and Margaret Traill deserve special recognition today. 
I am a sixth generation New Zealander of Scottish descent and my clan is Munro. I am the third member of my family to be a member of Parliament although I am the first one to be a member for National. When I came into Parliament I referred to Michael King’s book  
Being Pakeha Now 
 and admitted his writing mirrored my own thinking when he said that New Zealanders who are committed to this land and its people as my family have been are no less indigenous than Maori. A suitable commentary on this time in New Zealand political life is that that statement could currently be considered to be inflammatory. In fact it is meant to be inclusive of all who came to this country to make a life for themselves and succeeding generations. As Simon Upton once said: “We are all immigrants to this country after all.” I am proud to be a New Zealander. I feel no cultural cringe and no need to apologise for New Zealand books sculpture painting dance theatre or fashion most of which I enjoy and all of which clearly proclaim our unique identity as a people. 
We have come a long way in 150 years. This Parliament has witnessed some splendid speeches and some dramatic announcements. It has recorded the announcements to send New Zealanders to join others in two world wars. It has heard speeches of great sadness in announcing the loss of New Zealanders in war and in peace. It has recorded the joyful announcement of the end of major conflicts. It has witnessed the grandeur of State openings of Parliament. But the greatest attribute of this Parliament is I believe its accessibility to the people of New Zealand. Every day people come to this building and see their place. Te Papa may be our place but it is a museum—a record of the past. Parliament is the living heart of New Zealand. It ruled the past but it will also rule the future. New Zealanders and others come to sit in the gallery and listen to the proceedings each day. The accessibility of Parliament is a treasure—a taonga that we should guard jealously and maintain. My vision for this Parliament which I suspect I share on behalf of all my colleagues is that it survives as a democracy that it exercises equity and fairness in its judgments that it serves the people of New Zealand with truth and integrity and that it never forgets the fundamental basis of democracy and representation. Most of all I hope that this Parliament ups the participation of all women. It remains the challenge of each and every member to ensure that this remains a true House of Representatives. 
I would like to pay tribute to all women who have stood in this House past and present. I would like to pay tribute to some of the other women members in this House today who have made a huge contribution like Georgina Beyer Sue Bradford Deborah Coddington and Muriel Newman. I will even pay tribute to the Government member on the opposite side of the Chamber Ruth Dyson who I am sure really meant to call me an irresponsible tartan in reference to my Scottish heritage as I am proudly from Dunedin. We have some challenges that face us in the future but I often think that when we come to Parliament we must maintain the mutual respect that we have for one another. We may have different views and we may come here with different philosophies but we should never doubt one another’s integrity and one another’s desire to do the best for those whom we represent.