McAnulty KieranKIERAN McANULTY (Labour—Wairarapa): The previous speaker might want to be careful what she wished for. There are other MPs in this House that wanted to get rid of Simon Bridges and now they want him back. So I wouldn't wish for that too quickly Ms Ngarewa-Packer. But I do know that the tone for this speech is supposed to be light-hearted given that it is the last of the year so I wish also to start with some thankyous. We here in this House not just on this side but across the House are very grateful for the support that we get across the precinct. Many of those that dedicate their working lives to supporting us would in many instances outside this be considered an essential worker and for many many years they have been on appalling pay and I acknowledge the work that you have done Mr Speaker to try and address that where it is appropriate and possible. Of course we are in a unique position in this House to make things happen for those that deserve it and make fundamental changes in people's lives and I am proud to be a member of Parliament a member of the Labour Party part of this Government that is making those fundamental changes for people's lives—people that have worked hard and for years for too long have never seen their due rewards.I also want to take the opportunity to thank those that supported us those that put their trust in the Labour Party but also put their trust in Labour candidates to represent them in electorates. I'm a proud and dedicated advocate of regional New Zealand and I am absolutely delighted that voters across the country have taken the opportunity to elect a Labour member to represent them in regional seats like Northland like the East Coast electorate like New Plymouth like Tukituki Whanganui Wairarapa Ōtaki and Rangitata. I also want to acknowledge those voters that elected a Labour MP in the seats of Hamilton East Whangārei Ilam Hutt South and Nelson. I also want to acknowledge the honourable member the Hon Dr Nick Smith because he has to be one of this House's ultimate survivors. He has seen off challenges for 30 years and even when the good people of Nelson chose the wonderful electorate MP of Rachel Boyack he still managed to make his way back and I admire him for that.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Ain't going nowhere!KIERAN McANULTY: Christopher Luxon just yells out Ain't going—" or sorry that's Dr Nick Smith or was it Matt Doocey or was it Ian McKelvie or David Bennett; I cannot tell. But perhaps they would like to go together to the barber and get a group discount on haircuts. But here we are after what has been a terrible year for many—certainly a challenging year for all—and we think back to the time when COVID first hit and the lockdown first was established. We were facing predictions of 20 percent unemployment in this country. We were facing a level of uncertainty that no one alive had ever faced and yet together we got through it. We got through it to the point where we are now in many respects the envy of the world. We are one of the most open economies. I know that we are not supposed to get political but I will point out that the Hon Judith Collins' claim in her contribution to this debate that they called for the borders to be closed earlier than they happened was false. The day that they issued the press release calling for the borders to be closed was the day that the borders were closed. It might have been there for half an hour an hour beforehand—but it's hardly screaming from the rooftops calling for the borders to be closed.Like many members around this House I have friends and family around the world and they have been in contact on a regular basis and they have all said a similar thing: "We wish the leaders in our country took the same approach as the leaders in yours." I think of my old rugby mates in Ireland who continue to face hundreds of cases a day and yet some say that the only reason that we have achieved what we have achieved is because we are an island nation. Well I would point those people to Ireland—similar population to us similar population density and yet they continue to see hundreds of cases a day. We are incredibly fortunate to be in this country. It all comes down in addition to strong leadership to acting hard and acting early—but it comes down to the contribution of every single New Zealander. We see what's happened overseas: when there is a lockdown there are protests. But here we got on with it and now we are reaping the benefits and I think that is something that all of us regardless of our political party can reflect on with pride as we head into this holiday season."