Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): Well thank you very much Madam Speaker. It's an absolute pleasure to rise to speak on the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day Bill. I rise on behalf of the National Party and as the member of Parliament for North Shore.As has been articulated so far the National Party strongly support this bill in recognition of the significant service that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has made over a period of 70 years supporting not only as the Queen of the Commonwealth but also the Queen of the UK. I think the recognition of a memorial day to enable Kiwis across this country to stop reflect and remember the service and contribution of what can only be outlined as an amazing woman should occur and very much is supported on this side of the House. The reality right from the outset of the National Party back in the establishment in 1936 actually is that our values have included—and I quote our constitution in 1936—To unite all men and women of good will who are unswervingly loyal to His Majesty the King." And of course at that time that was the case. Our values now reflect—and first value: "Loyalty to our country its democratic principles and our Sovereign as Head of State." So I think there is no surprise on that basis in terms of where this side of the House sits in terms of the support for Queen Elizabeth II and her contribution.I want to articulate a few examples that I've had through my lifetime in terms of interaction with the royal family and their contribution and just to reflect on a little bit of that. But I think you know it is important to recognise that as many speakers have said before 70 years is a heck of a long time in order to serve and the longest of any monarch. And of course you know Queen Elizabeth II came into that role at the age of 25 which is very young and she was 96 when she passed. So for anyone with any experience of that that lifetime of contribution is absolutely so significant. I think we've seen as we've watched the outpouring of significant support and emotion and everything else—I was looking at the statistics in terms of how many viewers around the world actually watched the funeral on the TV last night—it's just unfathomable in terms of the scale of support. And so while there are a few that aren't in support they are the minority. Globally the recognition and acknowledgment of her service is very clear.As many or some may know Her Majesty became the Sovereign head of the Order of St John. I am a member of the Order of St John and St John Ambulance obviously operates here in New Zealand. She became the Sovereign head of that order in 1952 at her accession and has been a great supporter of the Order of St John and the services which they provide. I do want to recognise a number of my ex-colleagues as a prior member of St John in London—Putney district was my unit—and friends were part of the funeral support progression. I also acknowledge those members of London Ambulance Service the Metropolitan Police and the royal armed services as well for I think all of that support that goes from behind that significant I guess pageantry of what we saw yesterday. There is a huge amount of mechanics. And jeez don't the Brits do it well in terms of putting on such a demonstration? We know that the Queen played a significant role in terms of the planning of what occurred last evening and I think she can only be very proud. I know any of the volunteers relating to that would be very proud to have played their small part.When I was there in 2012 I actually was fortunate as a member of St John to work on the Mall at the time of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee the 60th anniversary. I guess at that point in time we thought "Coo that was a long period!" You look back and 2012 was what feels like a long time ago but I remember that fondly. I remember a number of Kiwi expats and friends and family having picnics on the Mall and the Union Jack flags down the Mall that leads to Buckingham Palace. My role was in regards to providing first aid support to the large and significant crowds that were there. The British street parties; I remember in our street in Putney we all celebrated the Diamond Jubilee for the Queen by having street parties. They closed the streets we put tables out in the middle of the street we had ticker tape across our trees neighbours brought out—it was sort of like "bring your own plate"—and we sat and we had a drink and everyone celebrated. I think those memories of recognition and also the important role that the Queen played are memories that I will never forget. But I think in a small way we're fortunate enough to see the impact of what the Queen has and did do over her period of time.The other aspect I recall of when we were in London was actually attending one of the Queen's garden parties. The Queen obviously hosts three to four garden parties a year in London at Buckingham Palace and I was lucky to go along to one of those with my wife Shannon along with a number of Kiwi expats I guess at the same time as well. I remember you know watching while having a cucumber sandwich and a cup of tea as you do—and very very nice china; I think for Kiwis we thought "Well this is a bit posh but you know let's get into it." But the Queen she literally—and I remember it from a distance—she'd just walk around and she'd interact with members of the public. She had her corgis and all the pageantry around that and she—well I never saw her but from afar—just looked so comfortable in terms of the way in which she interacted with people from all backgrounds. I think as a Kiwi living in London to be immersed in that period again reinforced the significant contribution and just the way in which she had the ability to simply interact with the average person and I think that can't be understated as well.I grew up in Cambridge—Cambridge in New Zealand that is—the home of the thoroughbred industry. I just lived down the road from Cambridge Stud. And so I do want to recognise that the Queen visited Cambridge in 1954 and then in 1990 she returned to Cambridge Stud which was owned and still owned at that time by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan. I know that Sir Patrick Hogan has been quoted in a number of papers in terms of what he recalls from the interactions with the Queen at that point—we know that she was an avid lover of the thoroughbred industry. And so having grown up in that part of the world and knowing that the Queen used to come to our small town was also something quite special and just showed the breadth and variation in terms of her background.I'm not just a New Zealand citizen; I'm actually a British citizen as well and so therefore as a dual citizen of both countries—I was Kiwi born and bred but because of the duration we spent in London both my children were born there—I think there is an acknowledgment in terms of the way in which our friends and our colleagues that we still keep in touch with have been impacted by the loss of Queen Elizabeth II and I think it is one that is also felt here. I think my community on the North Shore of Devonport has one of the highest proportion of British passport holders of any electorate in the country and I know as I walk around and talk with the many voices as I have over the last period of weeks that there is absolutely that acknowledgment and I think there is that appreciation. So while we are a small part of the Commonwealth and a small part at the bottom of the world down here we do have significant respect and honour for the role in which she has played.I want to finish by simply reflecting on the significant service—the significant sacrifice—that Queen Elizabeth II has made. The sheer weight of numbers I think that we've seen in terms of the last 12 24 hours and longer really adds up to show how much Queen Elizabeth was and is and remains respected and loved by those around the world. We will remember Her Majesty for her significant contribution and what she has done for our country. On that basis I commend this bill to the House."