Lu NancyNANCY LU (National): Mr Speaker congratulations to you and I thank you for your contribution and your leadership as our Speaker. I stand here before you today with a deep sense of honour and responsibility as a newly elected member of Parliament for New Zealand. Serving our great nation is both a privilege and a solemn duty and I am committed to making a positive impact during my tenure. Being part of the National-led Government under the leadership of the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon is very significant to me. I am grateful for the trust that voters have placed in our team and I am dedicated to delivering real changes in New Zealand to bring our country back on track.While it is impossible to individually acknowledge everyone I wish to express my gratitude to the National Party leadership team board members MPs members and volunteers Young Nats and candidates regional chairs and special interest groups chairs and most importantly my campaign team for giving me your unwavering support and belief. I ask for your continued guidance and support as I strive to be a true and humble National Party member.I am also deeply thankful to those people who took the time to engage in meaningful conversations with me during the campaign. I extend a warm welcome to all my family friends and supporters who have joined us today both in person and online from across the country. To all of you sitting in this Chamber today who have travelled from all parts of the country to offer your support and witness this moment I am deeply appreciative. For most of you this marks your first visit to your Parliament and I emphasise the words your Parliament" because discussions in this Chamber shape decisions and these decisions will have a direct impact on your lives. So thank you for voting in our democracy and thank you for entrusting me to represent you in your Parliament. I want to say a big thankyou to all my schools teachers and principals who have played a vital role in shaping the person I am today. From Avondale Primary to Pakuranga Intermediate Macleans College University of Auckland and finally Harvard University I have been privileged to receive an education that instilled in me the values of authenticity and compassion.Finally I take this opportunity to sincerely say thank you—谢谢你们—to all Chinese Kiwis in New Zealand. 感谢每一位感谢每一位新西兰华人为新西兰的文化和历史所做出的贡献。多谢大家的支持同努力。我们一定会让新西兰重回正轨。[Applause] This is eating into my time! Our nation's history is woven in with the contributions of Chinese Kiwis who have and will continue to play a vital role in shaping the modern New Zealand we cherish today. From the Otago gold rush days to when Chinese miners ventured into New Zealand in pursuit of opportunities; to early Chinese migrants contributing to various sectors of our economy such as vegetable growers and dairy product exporters; to Chinese entrepreneurs who established small medium and large businesses that drive innovation and create jobs; to bilateral traders international students skilled migrants investors families and children the list goes on. The impact of Chinese Kiwis extends far beyond our numbers. The presence of Chinese Kiwis fosters cross-cultural exchanges opening minds and broadening horizons for all New Zealanders. The hard work and determination of Chinese Kiwis have contributed to our economy and made New Zealand a more prosperous and dynamic nation. Our society thrives on the rich and beautiful cultures that call this land home. As I embark on this journey I take this opportunity to share my personal story my time capsule a narrative that has shaped my values beliefs and my deep commitment to serve our country. My journey in New Zealand began in 1997 when my family chose this beautiful country as our home. There were very few Chinese migrants in the 1990s. I still vividly recall my first day of school at Avondale Primary where I was one of only three Asian children. My classmates were very curious about my Chinese look and my very poor English but I quickly became known as "the little magician" for my ability to use little wooden sticks to pick food up—now commonly known as chopsticks. [Applause] SPEAKER: Hang on. Excuse me Nancy can I just ask the gallery to hold the applause until the end. We have to work to a time and while you're applauding Nancy's losing time. So if you wouldn't mind—we all think it's a wonderful speech we're very happy but we'll all go mad at the end OK?NANCY LU: Little did I know then these small moments would lay the foundation for my unique opportunity and skills in connecting two worlds bridging cultures and fostering understanding. I take the opportunity now to express my heartfelt gratitude to my parents for making the decision to call New Zealand home. New Zealand as our Prime Minister Christopher Luxon aptly put it is the best country on planet Earth. My parents former engineers in their rising career in China consciously chose to migrate to New Zealand to give their only child me the opportunity of knowledge to navigate through differences find similarities and bring people together to work on common goals. So thank you Mum and Dad. I wanted to say I am deliberately wearing my blue jacket again because it's my mum's jacket.I am also immensely grateful to mentors managers colleagues and staff that I had the privilege to work with in my pre-politics career. Each of you has left a lasting impact on me collectively making me a better person. My journey through various roles and responsibilities has been a tremendous source of my learning and growth. At the age of 15 I delivered newspapers in Botany as my first ever paid job—rain or shine I delivered pun intended—a job that taught me the values of commitment and responsibility. Since then I worked as a checkout operator at Pak 'N Save and McDonald's—and by the way McDonald's seems to be a good training ground for some of us—where I served customers. Although the work was repetitive and sometimes boring these roles taught me the importance of teamwork and optimal processes. During my university years and my involvement in AIESEC the world's largest student-run organisation I gained useful problem-solving and leadership skills and a global mind-set. At 19 I embarked on a journey to travel to Ukraine to teach English for three months—an experience that exposed me to profound culture shock but also highlighted humanity's innate desire to learn and to give back. While studying my undergrad my employment at ASB Botany underscored the significance of financial literacy and personal financial responsibility. My experiences at Fonterra in Auckland and also in Beijing when I was 20 showed me the substantial impact that the largest company in New Zealand can have on our nation and its people. It also showcased the immense corporate social responsibility that comes with such a position. Working at Ernst & Young at 22 taught me a comprehensive understanding of New Zealand's tax system and the IRD's crucial role and responsibility to all Kiwis. My time at PricewaterhouseCoopers at 24 when I officially became a chartered accountant delved deep into the world of audit revealing the profound significance of scrutiny integrity teamwork and organisational skills. Joining COSCO Shipping at 28 as a finance manager provided me insights into New Zealand's place in international trade and our global positioning.At the age of 33 however a significant personal failure shook me to my core. After realising I was unsuccessful to become a MP on election night in 2020 I held my 10-month-old baby girl Amber in my arms—I felt I had let her down. My dedication to public service originates from a deep sense of duty to improve New Zealand for both our current generation and the many generations to come and yet I know I failed badly. I also know that I'd let down volunteers members and voters. After some time of self-reflection and going back to my drawing board I was determined to find opportunities to grow through working and studying and to do better services for our community. So later during my time in Auckland Council as a financial strategist I worked closely and directly on the fundamentals of affordable and sustainable public service.As I applied for options to study while working to my joy and to my surprise I was accepted by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government to study for my Master's degree in public administration. My time at Harvard at 35 was particularly transformative. I learnt a deeper understanding of public leadership and gained many useful tools for public service further solidifying my commitment to the betterment of our society.My journey at Harvard was full of learning but also of guilt. I had to leave my family and my two young children in New Zealand. Amber was 2½ and Harper was 7 months. I am for ever grateful to my husband Keven and my family for their unconditional support and encouragement to go do what's best for me. So to my daughters Amber and Harper you didn't choose to have a mum that will be absent from more than half of your daily lives but I promise you that I will be present in every way that I can and to make sure I contribute to growing life with you and learn from you.The various roles that I had gifted me the invaluable lessons and experiences that shaped who I am today: appreciative humble hungry for knowledge and above all recognising that it's people who make the world go round. So I'm holding humility close to my heart always striving to be a human above all else. I promise to work collaboratively and ensure that our collective work efforts serve the best interests of New Zealand and its people.Now that you have a glimpse into my life before politics I hope my personal story is a testament to the power of opportunity diversity and the collective wisdom of those who have guided me along the way. I am here to serve to connect and to be a bridge between our diverse communities. I am a proud New Zealander. I am one voice of millions of New Zealanders. I am also a voice of millions of Kiwi women and Kiwi mums. I am also a voice of many many Chinese Kiwis. But to be a voice that can represent in this House I need to first listen. I have an instinct to connect with people and I firmly believe in the power of active listening regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.During my campaign I knocked on doors in neighbourhoods across New Zealand meeting hard-working families from diverse backgrounds. I knocked on doors of homes and shops in Auckland suburbs like Panmure-Ōtāhuhu Mount Albert Te Atatū North Shore Botany Pakuranga and Port Waikato. I also knocked on doors in Hamilton Cambridge Rotorua Remutaka Wellington City and Christchurch. I met everyday New Zealanders and I strongly believe that it is our responsibility altogether to listen to their needs and understand their hopes for New Zealand. Our Parliament should reflect the rich tapestry of our society and I'm deeply committed to advocating for those who differ from me ensuring that their voices are not just heard but that their rights are protected and their future is improved. So I promise the debates I will have in this House are not just about today but also about shaping tomorrow for all of us and for our future generations. I am eager to work collaboratively with my fellow MPs across party lines to turn these passions into actionable policies that will benefit every New Zealander.I'm deeply passionate about three areas that I believe are crucial for the wellbeing and future prosperity of our nation. First and foremost I need to emphasise the paramount importance of our economy and finances. Our economic stability forms the very foundation and backbone of the quality of daily lives. It is not merely numbers on spreadsheets but it is the lifeline that sustains our communities ensures access to healthcare education infrastructure and ultimately shapes the future of our country. So I am determined to champion financial responsibility and accountability drawing on my background in financial and auditing experiences and making sure that our economic policies benefit every New Zealander.My second passion is to enhance the quality in education of our tamariki because my personal journey has shown me the transformative power of a strong educational foundation. I firmly believe that the access to consistent and high-quality education is key to unlocking life-changing opportunities. So as a result I am dedicated to ensuring every New Zealand child receives a strong educational foundation that empowers them to compete effectively in the modern world.Lastly I want to underscore the importance of upholding and enhancing New Zealand's reputation on the global stage. Our nation is renowned for its natural beauty; sustainability efforts; and the incredible energy intelligence and creativity of our people. Despite our small population and geographical distance we stand tall as pioneers explorers and market leaders. Our size and unique geography should not be seen as limitations but rather as opportunities to think outside the box. So let us grow our ambition and ask for more for our future.In closing I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities and support that have led me to this moment but this is just the beginning. To all my parliamentary colleagues and parliamentary staff who make this big building work I look forward to working with you to make our Parliament better. Together let us shape a better New Zealand—a place where individuals can thrive diversity is celebrated and unity prevails. Together we can build a brighter future for our nation where economic prosperity quality education and our unique identity as New Zealanders are celebrated and safeguarded. In the words of the Māori proverb he aha te mea nui o te ao? Māku e ki atu he tangata he tangata he tangata—what is the most important thing in the world? Well let me tell you it is people it is people it is people. 世间最重要的是人是人是人. When I give my valedictory speech in many years' time I aspire to be remembered not as an idealised figure but as a decent human who worked tirelessly to deliver a better New Zealand for all its people. So thank you Mr Speaker and thank you to the people of New Zealand for entrusting me with this important responsibility. So now let's get our country back on track.[Applause]SPEAKER: OK. I think we're about ready. To make a maiden speech to the House I call on David MacLeod."