Smith Lockwood: Adjournment — Sittings of the House 
Smith Lockwood: Adjournment — Sittings of the House 
[Volume:651;Page:1037] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I acknowledge the kind thanks that members have extended to the many people who make the efficient functioning of Parliament possible. I also pay a brief tribute to them myself. First I offer my real appreciation to my Deputy Speaker and Assistant Speakers—Lindsay Tisch the Hon Rick Barker and Eric Roy—for their commitment to the job. I think that they are making a pretty darned good team. I offer our thanks to Madam Clerk and her office for all the services they provide for the sittings of this House and here at the Table and for the processing of the bills passed by the House. I thank the compilers of  
Hansard 
 and the interpreters who assist us. As I mention the interpreters I acknowledge our late kaumatua John Tahuparae who sadly passed away before the opening of this Parliament. To the radio and TV technicians who produce the radio and television coverage for all sittings of the House I offer our thanks. To the clerks of the select committees and the other committee support staff I offer our thanks. They do a great job for all of us. 
To the Parliamentary Service—to General Manager Geoff Thorn and his team—I offer our thanks. They had a huge job to do following the election. The new members’ induction as has been mentioned by other colleagues was a massive logistical exercise of shifting almost every member I think in the complex to new offices. To the security staff to the Serjeant-at-Arms Brent Smith and his team and to the Chamber and gallery officers—especially to our Serjeant-at-Arms team for helping to facilitate the access of guests to the gallery during the maiden statements of new members—I say that I appreciated the way the effort was made to find room in the galleries for the guests who had come so far to hear those many fine maiden statements from our new members. With regard to the Parliamentary Library staff I just acknowledge their ongoing brilliance. The Parliamentary Library is a gem. 
I offer our thanks to members’ support staff to the reception and visitor services and to the telephonists and travel staff. Today I was told that the average number of times a single travel plan is altered in this House before the member travels is eight times. To those long-suffering travel office staff I offer our thanks for the work they do. To the Bellamy’s staff I offer our thanks for looking after us. To my own office staff—to Beryl Trish and the incomparable Roland—I extend my sincere thanks. Beryl is in her 23rd year of working with me which is an extraordinary commitment. Sometimes I wonder— 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: Don’t ask. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I accept the member’s oral advice. 
I also thank the Leader of the House the Hon Gerry Brownlee and the shadow Leader of the House the Hon Dr Michael Cullen whose knowledge of process and procedure—not to mention the Standing Orders—contributes very significantly to facilitating the business of Parliament. To all whips and leaders of the other parties I say that the public often does not see the cooperation and work that goes on behind the scenes to facilitate the work of this Parliament. 
Honourable members may I say it is a very real privilege to serve as your Speaker. I thank you most sincerely for the generous respect you all have accorded me in my new role as Speaker. Although the debates have been at times robust and—as I think we have seen this afternoon—quite impassioned they have at all times been of very high quality. At a time when things can get quite testy and ill humoured during urgency I thank the House for the good-humoured way that it has conducted itself over these past 2 weeks. I think it brings credit to you all. To you and all your families have a very happy Christmas an enjoyable and safe holiday season and go well—but not just yet. 
Motion agreed to.