Brownlee GerryHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam): I rise on behalf of the National Party to join with the Prime Minister and others in this House in paying tribute to our former member Jim Anderton. I first met Jim Anderton as the National Party hopeful standing in the seat of Sydenham in 1993. I have to concede it was not an embracing encounter but it was one that I did learn a great deal from. Jim was standing for NewLabour at the time having won the seat as an independent in 1990 after making what must have been a very difficult decision for him. The people of Wigram most certainly appreciated the fact that he stood on his principles and stood very much for the things that mattered to them. It was I think that palpable respect for the man and for his principles that saw him so well regarded throughout those 30 years in both Sydenham and Wigram. On that campaign trail one of the shared campaign events that we had was a school fair. We had the opportunity to put our heads through a board and have $2 punters throw large wet sponges at our faces. I'd have to say it remains a mystery to me how many of those local punters had simply fantastic accuracy when it was my turn but completely lost their arm when Jim was in that position. Afterwards I was totally drenched—soaking wet—and standing there and Jim just turned to me and said You should have stood on the left side."That makes the point I think that in politics the method the philosophy or the activity of political engagement I think will see anyone choose a political party that best fits them but so often the principles that drive them are similar and the outcomes that people want are similar. And Jim I think did have quite an appreciation of that. I must say that over time I came to have a great deal of respect for him particularly post the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch. Initially as a local member he was willing and keen to work alongside those who were in the reconstruction to do whatever he could. In particular I would point out the way that he embraced the difficulties that small businesses had in meeting their obligations at the time. In 2011 when there were some moves made to support those businesses Jim was one of the first to phone up and endorse what a good idea it was. Through all that time he was also willing to phone up and give you—or give me in many cases—an opinion about what should be happening and he was typically firm but also not in a screaming sort of way but in a smart and well-thought-out way. I very much came to appreciate that.He also willingly accepted the chair of the temporary stadium arrangements that we have in Christchurch and has for the last six years presided over a body that's actually kept its head above water—quite unique in New Zealand. He did that without any recompense whatsoever but simply because he deeply believed that it was something that the city and as he put it the people need.His work to save the Christ Church Cathedral is well known and there will be various views on that but you cannot help but admire the man's tenacity and his determination to see through an idea that he thought was worthwhile. So he made his mark on New Zealand. He made his mark in this House. I would like on behalf of the National Party to acknowledge Carole his wife and the family and to make the comment that I think the tributes that were paid to him at his funeral by his family despite everything else he achieved in life were perhaps the greatest mark of the man he was."