Reti ShaneDr SHANE RETI (Deputy Leader—National): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure to speak in the adjournment debate as we bring the parliamentary year to an end. I also want to thank staff on precinct who have been noted here already today and maybe add to that list the sign language interpreters. I say to them thank you. Thank you all for the very distinct contributions that they've made and to the many other silent workers who diligently keep the Wellington infrastructure together for us all so that we do what we're able to do. To our out-of-office staff who are at the coalface of our electorates we thank them for their often equally important but less visible important roles.This year has been a rollercoaster in more than one way and will probably be defined as the coronavirus year—a challenge of biblical proportions that will sit alongside reflections of Where were you on 9/11?"—"Where were you during coronavirus 2020?" In my view the challenge of coronavirus and especially the first lockdown at level 4 also substantiated the absolute privilege of being an MP. Could there be a better form of representation than directly helping people in immediate need with travel exemptions for example to attend funerals? The magic here was around three things: (1) a trusted representative (2) timeliness of actions and (3) local knowledge. My own personal observation is that in times of urgency such as a pandemic MPs should be used more and be authorised to manage more tools such as the ability to offer travel exemptions. I do believe as an Opposition that we have contributed this year in a positive way to coronavirus outcomes. In my view it was this Opposition that carried the voice of the public this year to close the border albeit conjecturally several days earlier than it was—Kieran McAnulty: Not true.Dr SHANE RETI: Very true. Personal protective equipment in the right place at the right time was harried by the Opposition and confirmed with an independent report. Contact tracing that failed to contact people in a timely manner was improved under parliamentary scrutiny and further reports. Testing that was either absent using throat swabs instead of nasal swabs or case definitions that were simply too high were all raised by the Opposition and improved. Across many areas then our constructive role as an Opposition this year has improved our collective safety. In this respect I'm particularly proud of the work done by the Epidemic Response Committee a committee formed in April as a construct agreed by this House for the purpose of replacing the scrutiny that was removed under lockdown. The magic here I believe was having the Opposition both as the majority and as the chair. In keeping with the finance Minister's mood of Christmas spirit that befits an adjournment debate it's not infrequent for an adjournment speaker to use the framework of the 12 days of Christmas to demonstrate how the opposite side mirrors a fictitious 12 items. In fact in most adjournment debates I've heard something to this effect. I too considered this but thought maybe a more interesting parody might arise from this exact day in history 40 years ago and the television programming guide on 9 December 1980 and to consider how the programming that day might mirror the Government in front of us today. I was not to be disappointed. The very first programme on 9 December 1980 at 11.35 was Play School a fantasy programme where everyone was kind especially to pretend people Big Ted and Jemima—Hon Member: Jacqui Dean.Dr SHANE RETI: As someone comments how fortuitous: I'm sitting beside a Play School presenter here today. Amazingly the very first line of the Play School theme song is strangely prophetic— SPEAKER: The world goes in circles.Dr SHANE RETI: —in describing a Government failure of today. Remember the theme song to Play School? It starts like this: "Da da da da da. Here's a house." No there's not—not in your hands. So we can see programming is giving us some insight. At 12.40 it's Beauty and the Beast starring agony aunt Grant Robertson as Selwyn Toogood—a show where New Zealanders' problems are aired but rarely fixed but a good dose of kindness is dispensed. Finally at 3 p.m. it's Electric Company led by Willie Jackson as Morgan Freeman and the Labour Māori caucus as puppets entertaining children with no clear theme strategy benefits or outcomes—clearly an early version of Mana in Mahi. So I think programming from 1980 is somewhat prophetic and descriptive of the previous Government.But again in keeping with an adjournment debate I want to conclude by saying this side of the House is very much looking forward to recess to time with our families and we wish exactly the same to every single member across the House. Merry Christmas to all. Kia ora mai tātou."