Little AndrewTUESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2016Mr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.OBITUARIESHelen KellyANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition): I seek leave to move a motion without notice on the death of Helen Kelly.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There is none.ANDREW LITTLE: I move That this House mourn the passing of Helen Kelly who was a champion for working people and who fought for a more just and fair New Zealand and express our condolences to her loved ones. Helen Kelly was raised in a household built on values principles convictions and immense determination. She knew what it was to believe in a cause to champion it and to be active in it. Helen's political and industrial leadership began with her championing the cause of early childhood teachers. At a young age she was involved in negotiating with senior education officials and with education Ministers to improve the terms and conditions for teaching staff dealing with what are now recognised as the crucial years for our young.Helen followed her achievements in the early childhood sector with a number of senior positions in unions until 2007 when she was elected to lead the union movement as president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions - Te Kauae Kaimahi. She brought immense spirit and energy and integrity to the movement. As president of the Council of Trade Unions Helen had no particular power to direct or instruct member unions on what they should do but she did not need formal authority to do so. She used her impressive powers of persuasion to unite and mobilise the union movement. She challenged many unions to modernise and union leaders to lead from the front. She embroiled herself in disputes when she saw that the weight of her office could make a difference.For example at the time of the global financial crisis and when this Government was freshly in office she lead the unions in negotiating with the Government and employers for a 9-day working fortnight scheme to assist some businesses and many workers. I still vividly recall sitting in a restaurant on Symonds Street one Thursday evening at the time of all of this and we were talking about how we could make this 9-day fortnight work and somebody came out with a brilliant idea and Helen said: Oh I'll text John." It turns out that John was the Prime Minister and we were very surprised to learn that. We were even more surprised when having texted the Prime Minister she got a reply from the Prime Minister. It turned out that he was two doors down the road at a different restaurant. We urged her to lead us down there so we could continue the discussions. She said: "No even Tory Prime Ministers need a night off."Helen Kelly led the way in many disputes involving meatworkers dairy workers and port workers. She led the fight for justice for the families of the victims of Pike River. But there are two fights that she took on that in my view stand out. The fight for better health and safety in the forestry industry; her efforts have saved and will continue to save lives. She stood up to an industry that had changed radically that had hundreds of little employers some big powerful vested corporate interests that had let standards in that industry deteriorate. We must never forget how that industry let worker health and safety get so bad.Perhaps the hardest fight Helen took on—at least until last year—was The Hobbit dispute. That was an ugly fight. Helen faced one of the most powerful industries—the might of Hollywood and its local associates. It was a dispute that would result in one of the most expedient unnecessary and unprincipled laws in this country which still breaches our international obligations and remains an embarrassment amongst the community of developed nations. But even after all that the tributes that flowed last Friday came from all quarters. Even amongst some of her fiercest opponents she had won their respect.On Friday we lost a great New Zealander. Faced with something more uncompromising more relentless and in the end unstoppable Helen was stopped. Helen Kelly did not see herself as a hero. She was a champion an advocate an agitator. She epitomised the best of New Zealand values. When she saw others in need she offered to help. When she saw injustice she strove to correct it. When she saw the opportunity to fight for progressive ideals she climbed in boots and all uncompromisingly relentlessly and with one goal: to make positive change. She moved between her roles of union leader colleague friend partner mother confidant and agitator effortlessly. Helen stood in no one's shadow and she will be missed.Waiata"