Coates BarryBARRY COATES (Green): Tēnā koe e Te Māngai. Tēnā koutou e ngā mema Pāremata. Through the 2 short months of my time in Parliament I keep on getting the question: So what's it like being in Parliament?". There are wonderful moments like supporting the Pike River families coming to Parliament asking for compassion and the opportunity to recover the bodies of their loved ones. They deserve justice and it is a privilege to serve their cause and people like them who have legitimate grievances.But there are also frustrations. Question time is bad enough on TV but it is even worse close up. We need better politics—we need more honesty more integrity and more accountability. We need to restore public trust in our democratic institutions. So much of the useful work in Parliament is hidden from public view. Funding has not been allocated to allow TV coverage of select committees. The public could watch MPs engaging constructively across political boundaries to make better laws.I have been pleased to be part of that cooperative effort to make better legislation but with one big regret. I missed out on the big one: that acclaimed bill that would have allowed airports to avoid telling the public about left luggage. Talk about transformational legislation! We look forward to many more of these important initiatives from National Party MPs. Who said third-term Governments run out of ideas?I have also been pleased to contribute to parliamentary debates. I gave three speeches in a row on my first full day in Parliament. These were on bills I had seen only on the previous day so thanks very much to my colleagues for that one. I should say that my Green Party colleagues have been very supportive. I really appreciate the group hugs we have every morning and the spirulina smoothies.As we come to the end of this year I want to acknowledge the people who make Parliament work: Parliamentary Service the Office of the Clerk the Parliamentary Library Hansard committee clerks cleaners and many others. Thank you from us all and thank you personally. You have helped me find my feet in Parliament.This year we have seen big changes: Brexit Trump and now Bill English. It really is game on. Bill English returning to the National Party leadership is déjà vu all over again. There is something about Bill English that reminds me of that great political orator John Major the former Prime Minister of the UK. When he was faced with ambitious Cabinet colleagues he responded "When your back's against the wall all you can do is turn around and fight."—at least some people get it. There may well be fighting in the new National caucus. There is blood in the water and the sharks are circling. The fires of ambition have been ignited and I suspect they will continue to burn.But after a short stint on the backbench John Key will be gone. He will be hawking his CV around the IMF or some big corporates looking for directorships. He can point to all the ways that he has helped them. Foreign companies should be grateful this year. They have bought up our land our agricultural supply chains shares in energy companies and are running our prisons. Overseas buyers have piled into residential property and they have got rich from inflated house prices. Even most of our massive $500 billion debt is held offshore. Multinationals will be very disappointed they did not get the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement but even so they have enjoyed another year of low taxation. John Key could also approach fossil fuel companies for a directorship. They have had tax breaks for oil exploration in the midst of a climate crisis. They have had a toothless emissions trading scheme roads roads and more roads.John Key's future employers will not be interested in who lost out as a result of these policies. The 90000 kids suffering from severe poverty and denied a decent start in life—we think of them especially at this time of year. There are dirty polluted rivers the loss of Māui's dolphins and other endangered species and the majority of New Zealanders who work longer and longer hours to pay the bills but still cannot afford a deposit on a home.So it is time for a break. When we return we will be ready for an election. New Zealanders can expect another campaign of trivia and platitudes dirty politics and Crosby/Textor. But when you are ready for positive policies that will take us forward to better politics and a better New Zealand come see the Green Party. The year 2017 will be a crucial year. It will be a year you can give this tired self-serving Government an even longer break. Join with us to create a fairer greener richer New Zealand. I wish you all a peaceful and happy New Year."