Rurawhe Adrian; Nash StuartVALEDICTORY STATEMENTSSPEAKER: In accordance with a decision of the Business Committee we'll come to valedictory statements. But members can I say—so that I don't have to interrupt at the end during inevitable celebrations at the conclusion of the valedictory statements—that the House will adjourn at the conclusion of Dr Clark's valedictory statement until 2 p.m. on Tuesday 22 August 2023. I'd now like to call the Hon Stuart Nash to make his valedictory statement.Hon STUART NASH (Labour—Napier): Nau mai haere mai. Tēnā koutou. Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou. Tēnā koutou katoa. On 16 December 2008 I was called to give my maiden statement. Now exactly 650 speeches later and 15 years on I rise to give my valedictory.During this time I have met and worked with the most amazing people had the pleasure and privilege of representing my home town of Napier as their member of Parliament been part of two extremely capable Cabinets added two more Nash children and married wonderful Sarah. The highs have been lofty and the lows—well forgotten already. By me anyway.It wasn't always this way. On the day after the 2011 election—just three years after delivering that maiden speech—I found myself out of Parliament and unemployed with a pregnant wife a large mortgage a big red-branded fire engine and an empty electorate office I owned in the middle of a global financial crisis.As an aside one of the major local issues during the 2011 campaign was the possible closure of the Taradale Police Station. The sitting National MP at the time had publicly said that if the Taradale Police Station closed he would resign. A week after the election I bumped into the police District Commander and he said Mate is there anything I can do to help?" I said "Yeah there actually there is. You can close down that Taradale Police Station." For the record this is the only time I have ever advocated for the closure of any police station and Taradale remains open to this day. Just to prove that my ability to influence police operational decisions—no matter what my seniority or where I sit in the hierarchy—has been pretty much zero.Back to 2011. Just four months after the election I sat down at Ujazi Cafe in Napier with great mate and political partner Rob Johnson and we reflected. One term as an Opposition list MP wasn't how it was supposed to end. It was over 2½ years to the 2014 election but we decided to go hard once more—and hard we did. We bought another fire engine went hell for leather for 30 months: street corner meetings door knocking hoardings and a highly effective anti-amalgamation campaign—and we raised the money required to fund all this.The truth is you can't run—let alone win—a political campaign without money. I have been extremely fortunate to have a group of exceptional mates who have simply supported their mate. Notably Ned Kelly and Troy Bowker were very generous over this time. Without their help the team wouldn't have achieved what we did during that campaign. But also great mates and lifelong friends like Phil McCaw Marty Verry Greg Loveridge and Bob Jones have funded me campaign after campaign and I thank you for supporting me and am forever grateful. As mentioned just mates backing a mate in a very Kiwi way.In 2014 we were the only Labour team to win an electorate off the Nats. In fact until 2020 great mate of mine Damien O'Connor and I were the only two Labour MPs to win and hold a seat off the Nats this century. A term of Opposition followed until 2017 when an amazing leader captured the imagination of the nation and—with the support of another person who I consider a very good friend Winston Peters—we found ourselves in Government.To Jacinda Ardern: thank you for providing me the opportunity to be the best I possibly could. I think most New Zealanders know Jacinda as a master communicator and respect her genuine empathy but very few saw the depth and breadth of her leadership and political skills. As chair of our Cabinet she held Ministers to account in a way that only a person with a fierce intellect a command of the detail a grasp of the big picture and a crystal-clear vision could.But to give credit where credit is due though in Grant Robertson Jacinda had the support of one of this nation's best ever finance Ministers. Grant's work ethic is legendary and his command of policy and finance—always with an informed but pragmatic overlay and sometimes a road to Damascus—is outstanding. I have an immense amount of admiration and respect for you Grant and the way you have worked so hard to transform our country to align with the Labour vision.Being in Cabinet means you get the opportunity to change the world. I like to think that I was a person who had a reputation for working incredibly hard across my portfolios and who got stuff done. To name just a few: firearms reform; legislating pill testing; rebuilding the police service; cameras on fishing boats; starting Digital Boost First Steps mental health programme for SME owners; e-invoicing; restarting the NZ Forest Service and driving forward the massive reforms required within the sector; the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund; changing the way—with Grant of course—that the Government partners with companies through debt and equity rather than simply grants; Industry Transformation Plans the space strategy and policy; Government procurement; economic strategy; freedom camping; all of the work done during 15 March and White Island as the Minister of Police; and of course COVID variously as Minister of Police Revenue Small Business fisheries Tourism Forestry and Regional and Economic Development. Even though it was a relentless and immense workload I loved being in Cabinet. And I would like to think that apart from the occasional slip-up—and mainly because I was speaking on behalf of hard-working Kiwis who were simply just trying to expedite process—I would love to think I was pretty good at my job. Thank you. Sometimes though it's the little things that stand out. In my early days as revenue Minister I received two letters from women who were forced to pay child support for children conceived as a result of rape. This was unjust and I asked the Inland Revenue Department to change this practice but was told it would take a law change so we changed the law. My message to the public is never underestimate the impact you can have by writing to your local MP or Minister advocating for change.Niccolo Machiavelli is attributed as saying re politics that you must keep your friends close but your enemies closer. This 500-year-old piece of advice belongs back in the dark ages from whence it came. Of course you need to know what your enemies are doing no matter what side of the House they are on but you also need a couple of best friends to be the closest in this place if you are going to survive let alone thrive. I'd like to think that I have and have had many friends right across the political spectrum but three people deserve a special mention as friends who kept me safe and sane. Peeni Henare elected at the same time as my return in 2014—and what a first caucus meeting that was mate. We clicked immediately and have been great mates ever since. Thank you my friend. Barbara Edmonds my amazing ministerial adviser who became an MP and now a Minister in her first term—love and respect you dearly. In fact in one trip away together Barb was no doubt bossing me around to the point where someone asked if we were married. Barb shot back "No wrong flavour." Finally Kelvin Davis. I can't look at Kelvin when I say this. Kelvin and I were elected in 2008 out in 2011 and won seats in 2014. Thank you. A better mate and confidant than a man could ask for. Thank you.All my successes and victories during my parliamentary career are because I have been part of a number of fantastic teams at home in Napier in Parliament and in Government. To name everyone who played a role large and small would carry me way past time but I know who you are and I will be thanking you personally over the coming months. However Cherry Taylor in my electoral office deserved a special mention. We've spent nearly nine years together and Cherry is a woman of immense integrity who always had my back. We worked incredibly well together in a way that I believe added value to the people of the Napier electorate. Cherry what we did to keep those two surgeons in the bay when they were so frustrated with the system that they were literally packing up to leave we would do again every single day to ensure our electorate was well served. The only reason I leveraged my networks to sort the situation was because the health and wellbeing of my constituents was always the major priority for Cherry and I and I'm proud of the work we did.People in my parliamentary and ministerial offices over the years—and there have been many—have all been exceptional. I have been blessed. But a special call-out to Barb my press secretaries Kathryn Street and Travis Mills who worked seven days a week for two months after the 15 March terrorist attack to get the firearms legislation sorted. It was a highly functional team with a clear vision of what we needed to achieve and how to achieve it and we did.Friends outside this place are also vital. In this game you lose a few but also learn who your true friends really are. Three amazing friends from years ago do deserve special recognition: Rob Lee Phil McCaw and Ned Kelly—or Andrew Kelly but everyone with the last name Kelly's called Ned right? Best friends before best friends during and best friends after. We've always celebrated each other's successes and triumphs and been there for each other during the inevitable missteps and mischief. And to my Napier team—a number whom have travelled to be here today—thank you so much; what a team. The best campaigners in the country—the results bear that out.I've read commentary about the State sector recently that I don't think is grounded in the reality. Let me say I have been extremely well served by exceptional State sector leaders who have built efficient and competent teams that do deliver. Carolyn Tremain who heads the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment; Ray Smith the Director General of Ministry for Primary Industries; Andy Coster and Mike Bush both Commissioners of Police during my time; Naomi Ferguson commissioner of Inland Revenue—all exceptional leaders who would shine in any large complex organisation public sector or private. Though not my direct portfolio but within my sphere of work Debbie Power from the Ministry of Social Development James Palmer from the Ministry for the Environment and Penny Nelson from the Department of Conservation are also exceptional leaders.All the State sector leaders I have had contact with and/or have worked with do in my opinion deliver innovative solutions and undertake comprehensive change programmes under the most trying of circumstances. My experience after five and a half years at the coalface is that by and large New Zealand is extremely well served by a highly confident capable and engaged State sector.A couple of observations: I love this country and I believe in its potential but the growing acceptance of mediocrity has become a disease that has crept into society in a way that is highly counter-productive. We need to banish the belief that it's not about winning but rather it's about participation: that's just bullshit. Play fair but always play to win. Fight for it. Be there to be the best. We must instil a passion and a pride in all New Zealanders—starting in the classroom with teachers and students based on principles and objectives of excellence and success.Secondly in this country we tend to put our judges on a pedestal. Of course they play a very important part in maintaining the social fabric of society but if a Minister whose name is on a piece of legislation can't comment on a decision that is so far outside the expectations of the community that both the Minister and the Judge serve; then who can? Well apart from Mike Hosking. Judges need to be as accountable for their performance as MPs are. Of course as a legislator I understand the principle of judicial independence—but as a legislator when I occasionally see members of the judiciary seemingly ignoring the very clear guidance Parliament's legislation has sent to both them and our communities then I think as an elected representative I have earnt the right to call that out. What's next? A welcome return to corporate life in a challenging role I am very much looking forward to for an organisation whose culture embraces excellence and whose values are totally aligned with mine—I can't wait. And of course more time with my wonderful family. Thank you Sarah Sophia Charlie Will and Isabella. This has been my passion and not yours; you've all paid a high price for my service. You know I showed a copy of my speech to Sarah my wife because not surprisingly she has built a better filter than I do re risk. But I deliberately left these words out because I wanted her to hear them for this first time today: You can't do this job without a loving supportive partner. They manage the house because we're never around and they protect our kids when cruel words are written and pick up the pieces when it turns to shit. No partner knows what they are getting themselves into when their man or woman becomes an MP and you can times that by ten when they become a Minister. It can be brutal and sometimes more so for our families than for us. And Sarah you've had my back in a way that's allowed me—I love you. If it seems I've taken this for granted believe me I never have. Thank you.Two final points. [Holds up printout] The best headline of my career: "I can't believe Stuart Nash was right". Could be referring to anything I suppose but it's about a bit I had with Mike Hosking and Mark Mitchell. We bet a case of fine Craggy Range wine on the fact we get to 90 percent fully vaxxed and we did now that's delivery for you; an amazing Government. Mike Hosking however still hasn't paid up. Come on Mike I know you're watching—tomorrow I dare you to announce on air that there's a case of Craggy Range heading my way and I'll collect from you too Mitch.Mr Speaker when I'm asked what my legacy will be I reply that I have no public legacy. I will be forgotten 10 minutes after I leave this place and that's the way it should be. But the Government I've been part of has left a strong legacy as a result of collective action and a drive and determination to do the right thing by a group of highly engaged people. And on that note I want to say it really has been a privilege and a pleasure to have served. Finally as an MP who has been here a while I am very aware there is actually one more time when a future speaker will formally call my name. May there been many many good years between this day and that one. Kia ora. [Applause hongi and harirū]SPEAKER: Members I think we'll just wait till the whānau of the next speaker comes into the Chamber."