Ririnui Mita: Valedictory Statements 
Ririnui Mita: Valedictory Statements 
[Volume:676;Page:21529] 
Hon MITA RIRINUI (Labour) 
: 
 Tena koe kai te Kaihautu. Otira hei timatanga korero ko te wehi ki a Ihowa tuauriuri whaioio hoki nei me te rangi me te whenua te nui o tana kororiatanga; me te tuku whakamoemiti whakawhetai ki a ia ki te wahi ngaro mo ana manaakitanga ki runga i a tatou katoa i nga ra ki muri tae noa mai nei ki te haora o tenei ra. Nga whakamoemiti nga whakawhetai kai te tu tonu i te ao i te po kai te tu tonu. Tatu atu ki a koe ki te Tumuaki o te Hahi inara te korero kua tae mai koe kua tae mai te Pa o nga Ariki te Temapara Tapu o Ihowa me ona manaakitanga katoa. No reira tena koe tena koe tena koe. 
Papaki tu ana nga tai ki Mauao i whakanukunukuhia i whakanekenekehia. I whiua reretia e Hotu a Wahinerua ki te wai ki tai wiwi ki tai wawa ki te whaiao ki te ao marama tihei mauri ora. 
Tatu atu ki a koutou kai taku iti kai taku rahi kua haere tawhiti mai ra mai i Te Moana-a-Toi i runga i te karanga o tenei ra ki te awhina tenei ta koutou mokai me tenei taku kauhau whakamutunga taku poroporoaki ki te Whare nei. Ngai Te Rangi Ngati Ranginui Ngati Pukenga nga papaka o Rangataua mai i Whareroa ki Maungatapu puta noa ki Te Rereatukahia Tauranga Moana Tauranga Tangata tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa. 
Whiti atu ki Te Arawa Waka mai i Maketu ki te tonga nga tini ahuatanga nga karangaranga maha kai waenganui i a koutou tenei ano te mokai e mihi ake nei ki a koutou tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa i te ahuatanga o wa tatou tini aitua kua hinga atu ra ki wa tatou marae kai te hau kainga. Me te mihi ano ki nga whanau pani na ratou koutou i whakawatea mai kia tae a-tinana mai ki te Whare nei ki te tautoko i ahau i tenei haora. No reira kare e kukume kia roa kai te haere te wa no reira tenei aku mihi ki a koutou tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. 
Hoki mai ki a koe kai te Kaihautu o te Whare nga mema honore katoa ahakoa ko wai ahakoa no hea ahakoa he aha te kaupapa i tae mai ai koutou otira tatou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. 
[ 
Thank you Mr Speaker. To begin with my respects to the Lord to the great void to the multitude to heaven and earth and the greatness of his glory; praises and gratefulness to the hidden place and the kindness it bestowed upon us all in days past right up to this hour today. Praises and thanks remain day and night. My gaze settles upon you the head of the Church and the saying is that your arrival here signifies that the courtyard of Ratana the sacred temple of the Lord and all its kindness are here as well. Fond greetings to you.  
The waves beat continuously against Mauao shifting and moving ever so endlessly forward and back. It was here that Wahineroa was cast by Hotu into the tide the swirling waters and roaring ocean to emerge into the light of day and the world of enlightenment; behold the breath of life. 
My gaze alight upon you my meek and mighty who have journeyed here from far off Bay of Plenty in response to today’s call to come and help this servant of yours in this final address and valedictory statement of mine to this House. To you the people of Ngai Te Rangi Ngati Ranginui Ngati Pukenga the crabs of Rangataua from Whareroa to Maungatapu and out to Te Rereatukahia to the sea and people of Tauranga fond greetings to you all. 
I cross now to the canoe of Te Arawa from Maketu to the south to the myriad of circumstances and the many callings among you; this servant of yours acknowledges and salutes you all as well in the light of our many deaths that have fallen on our courtyards back home. I thank the grieving families as well for allowing you to come here in person to this House to support me at this hour. So I will not prolong this any further as time is moving along but my fond acknowledgments to you all. 
So I come back to you Mr Speaker of the House and all honourable members regardless of whom they represent where they come from or what it is that brought you and each of us here. Greetings to all of us greetings greetings 
.] 
I came to Parliament as a new MP in 1999. During the time that has elapsed since then I have been part of the Government I have been a Minister I have been a constituency MP I have been a list MP and I have been part of the Opposition. One might say that I have experienced close to the full ambit of what the electoral system the party system and this Parliament itself have to offer. 
There have of course been the highs and the lows. In this review I will begin with the highs and leave it to the members of this House to judge whether these outweigh the lows. The point I should make from the outset however is that my experiences in the last 12 years for the most part have been personally enriching and rewarding. I appreciate the opportunities I had as an Associate Minister of Health to help shape policies designed to improve the health and well-being of Maori people across the country to progress the implementation of the Maori Health Strategy and to support Maori health providers operating at the local level. Features of the health sector that I find heartening are the growing numbers of Maori medical practitioners and other Maori health professionals. 
As the Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations I had the opportunity to assist in progressing many of the Treaty claims that were settled during the time of the fifth Labour Government. I am especially proud of my contribution towards the resolution of those claims lodged by iwi from within my former constituency of Waiariki. These include the Te Arawa Lakes affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu Ngati Awa and the central North Island settlement—the latter being the largest of the claims settled to date. I am also pleased to be associated with the settlement of the Nga Wairiki / Ngati Apa claim. This is an iwi that I have had a longstanding relationship with outside of this House. 
The portfolios of corrections and forestry were not as demanding or onerous but were no less important and rewarding. To the officials of each of the agencies—the Ministry of Health the Office of Treaty Settlements the Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry—who provided me with the information practical advice and wise counsel that I needed in order to do each job well I extend my heartfelt thanks. 
For me one of the real high points of my political career came with the passing of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001. The Act started out as a local bill which I introduced in my capacity as the member for Waiariki. It provides for Environment Bay of Plenty to have three Maori constituency seats thus enabling Maori on the Maori roll to vote for their own representatives. The bill to say the least had a rocky passage. There were numerous objections from local bodies as well as from other stakeholders and there was strong opposition from some of the most senior members in this House. Some of them are still here. It was a daunting experience for a relative newcomer; I described it in my third reading speech as my baptism of fire. To this day Environment Bay of Plenty remains the only local authority in New Zealand to have Maori constituencies. 
The other high point was being called upon to move the Address in Reply as part of my maiden speech. Going back to that speech however and reflecting on events since 2004 have left me with an uncomfortable sense of having dropped the ball. There were two main themes in my address that day in 2000. The first was a need to review and clarify the constitutional position of Maori under the Treaty of Waitangi. I even went as far as urging the early initiation of a process for seeking the views of the Maori people on how the constitutional talks recommended by the Royal Commission on the Electoral System in its 1986 report should proceed. An initial step towards this objective was taken in 2004-05 when the Constitutional Arrangements Committee sat to consider amongst other things New Zealand’s constitutional development since 1840 and the process that should be followed if reforms were to be considered in the future. The committee reported back to the House in 2005 but in the 2 to 3 years between then and the 2008 election little was done by me or anyone else to progress the review. 
The announcement by the current Government that as part of the confidence and supply agreement between the Maori Party and the National Party a full constitutional review is to be conducted over the next few years has reminded me of my original commitments. I welcome the fact that the Treaty and its place in our constitutional arrangements are to be included in that long conversation. I could not have asked for more than that and I assure every member in this House that I will do all I can as a private citizen with some knowledge and experience in this area to encourage Maori individuals and organisations in my own rohe of Tauranga Moana to participate fully in the review. 
The second theme of my maiden speech was my expectation that Maori generally—and iwi in my constituency of Waiariki in particular—be treated fairly and equally in any dealings they might have with the Government. It is when I assess myself against this particular measuring stick that I am left with a keen sense of regret. In spite of being deeply involved with and moved by the depth of the protests and resistance evident in the sheer size of the foreshore and seabed hikoi I gritted my teeth and held the ground that had been agreed to all the while being aware that the bill remained discriminatory unfair and unjust. 
And then there were the Tuhoe raids. Although I was not privy to the briefings given to senior Ministers by the Commissioner of Police and others and I acknowledge that my loyal colleague the Hon Parekura Horomia was very supportive at that time I feel in hindsight that I should have at least voiced my concern about the way in which the operation was carried out. That I did not speak out publicly at any time during this episode is something that I regret deeply. 
I recall a comment that Nandor Tanczos made in his valedictory speech. He said: “… most MPs enter”—into Parliament—“with honest intentions but we are compromised by this institution.” He told us that his mum like my dad believed that one had to get into the system to change it. But he warned that “… the system changes us as much as we change the system if not more.” I have finally come to understand the wisdom of his comments and now that I do it is time for me to leave. 
Maori society is changing. Old loyalties are fading and new ones are being forged. None of the longstanding social institutions or organisations that have held our allegiance in the past have come away unscathed. The New Zealand Maori Council the Maori Women’s Welfare League the Federation of Maori Authorities the Kingitanga and the Ratana movement have all felt the effects of change. 
Maori political allegiances are also changing. Over the years since MMP was introduced Maori constituency voting has swung sharply between elections and over time the vote for Labour has slowly eroded. The clean sweep of the Maori seats in 1996 by New Zealand First the loss of four of the seven Maori seats following the takutai moana episode and the loss of yet another after the Tuhoe raids suggest to me that Maori are using their votes for the seats as a means of censuring or endorsing political parties. I consider the changes to be positive. MMP seems to have brought competition. The Maori seats are getting more and more worth competing for. They are no longer a political backwater as the Royal Commission on the Electoral System described them in 1986. 
The emergence of a party whose main focus is on representing the interests of Maori is also positive. Its presence provides the necessary incentive for all parties to compete strongly for the Maori vote. It is difficult to tell how the Maori vote will pan out over the next few years but there can be little doubt that the Maori vote can no longer be taken for granted. 
As I said earlier on my life certainly has been enriched in the time I have been in this House—three terms over 12 years. There are particular people who make one’s life not only enriching but bearable while we are here. I had the pleasure of working alongside some very very committed Labour Maori members—we were known as the Maori caucus—with the leadership of our senior member the Hon Parekura Horomia. We had diverse personalities: some were very calm and some were not so calm. Some were reliable and others were unreliable but the point was that we all had a common purpose and that was to serve the best interests of our people. I believe we did that to the best of our ability and that was one enriching experience that I will take away with me. 
I also acknowledge the camaraderie within the Labour caucus. As its members approach this year’s election they have a huge task ahead of them. I wish them all the best and I will be doing my best in the Waiariki electorate to support the local Labour candidate my whanaunga te whakaotinga Louis Te Kani. And we are committed to the purpose. 
I make one statement very very clear: I admire people who work hard and are committed to their beliefs. In saying that I acknowledge the commitment of the Labour leader the Hon Phil Goff in the way he has led his party leading up to this election. But I have to say that I am very disappointed—very disappointed—with the Maori media. We as Maori members put our trust and faith in people of like minds—like us. I have wondered from time to time where the point of difference is between mainstream media and Maori media but the deliberate mistranslation and misrepresentation of my comments over the last few days tell me that there is no point of difference. I say to the Maori media: “Get your act together because your whanaunga are watching you every day just as they are watching us. In time you will understand what I mean.” 
Once again I go back to acknowledging those who make this institution a great place. There are people who walk the corridors and who have tasks at hand: the messengers parliamentary security the Parliamentary Service staff ministerial staff VIP transport—there are just so many groups within this institution to name that I am afraid I might miss a few out and I apologise in advance. 
I acknowledge in particular the camaraderie and whanaungatanga that we have had as Labour Maori caucus members with other Maori members in this House; there are no barriers to our whanaungatanga. We debate rigorously and that upsets a lot of people but that is the people we are. We examine issues thoroughly; we debate them thoroughly as our people do on the marae. But at the end of the day we are still whanaunga—we still go home and we still enjoy each other’s company regardless of the political divides that often separate us. So those acknowledgments are really really important. 
I acknowledge the support and confidence I have had from the people from home—from Mataatua Te Arawa and Takitimu. They are here today in the gallery and I am humbled by their presence. 
I had the privilege of having great mentors in years gone by. One of those mentors was a member of this House and a representative of Eastern Maori from 1969 up to 1981. He taught me some great lessons about this place. I had the privilege of sitting with the Hon Peter Tapsell and also enjoying his mentorship. But those of the current generation are the ones I really want to acknowledge today: my uncles my aunties. When they are not happy they do not say anything; when they are happy they say a lot. So when they are silent I know I am in trouble. It sounds unusual but that is how they are. I take this opportunity to thank them especially. 
In the time I have left I thank those who have worked alongside me: my electorate staff and parliamentary staff. I say a special thankyou to my executive assistant Angela Bray. She multitasks. She can do a whole lot of things at the same time: manage the family manage the office and get me a cup of tea—all those sorts of things—without a complaint. That is something I have had the privilege of enjoying. 
And my family—I came here in November 1999 after a rigorous campaign on the road with my dad every day; unfortunately he did not make it here with me in the body. But in spirit he did. My mum: when I got in trouble I knew I was going to get a call—and I did. But especially my wife Lindy and our children. Once again Lindy is chief cook and chief dishwasher and she does everything that is necessary to keep the house running well while I am down here doing the best I can. When I came here I had no mokopuna and I used to get a bit worried that I might go through life not having had the experience. Twelve years later I have four so I am breathing a sigh of relief that I am having this experience with them. My life after politics will still be a busy life but everything I do will include them. So I look forward to going back to my whenua in Tauranga enjoying the company of my family and friends and also observing and supporting—from a distance—my Labour colleagues here in the House. 
Finally Mr Speaker I acknowledge you. I came into the House this afternoon not wearing a tie and my colleagues panicked: “Oh my God!”—they said as they all reached for their ties—“Have mine. Have mine.” I never told them that I had been granted a waiver by you Mr Speaker. I like surprises—pleasant surprises. But there is a reason for this. I remember Nandor Tanczos standing over there taking off his watch getting out a hammer and smashing his watch saying that he would never look at it again. It was an indication of a more relaxed lifestyle. Dover Samuels tried to do the same but he thought about the consequences of bashing up a Rolex watch—when he got home. So as a substitute he sang us his version of “Pokare Kare Ana”. The reason I am not wearing a tie is that I intend to live a much more relaxed life post Parliament and enjoy every day as it comes. So thank you Mr Speaker for that waiver and thank you for upholding the dignity of this institution which is very important to us all. 
No reira e hoa ma toku rangatira korua tahi me koutou ra o te hau kainga koia nei mihi whakamutunga taku nei ki te Whare nei otira me ona ahuatanga katoa no reira na runga i tena nga manaakitanga o Te Runga Rawa ki a koutou ki a tatou katoa tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. 
[ 
So to you my fellow members my leaders both of you and all of you from back home this then is my final tribute to this House and everything that goes with it. May the tidings of the Great One Above be upon you collectively and all of us. Greetings greetings 
.] 
Waiata; haka