Rich Katherine: Valedictory Statements 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Rich Katherine: Valedictory Statements 
[Sitting date: 23 September 2008. Volume:650;Page:19029. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
KATHERINE RICH (National) 
: 
 When I announced my retirement one of the first emails received said: “Good riddance you’ve said nothing done nothing and stood for nothing.” Harsh I thought but typical of many political letters to MPs. The funny thing was that a week later I received another email from the same man. It said: “Mrs Rich my heartfelt apologies. Comments from your colleagues the media and even your opponents seem to have been uniformly positive. I can only conclude that I got you mixed up with someone else. Sorry about that. Mistaken from Petone.” It was a strange exchange but somehow it sums up politics. Criticism is fulsome and sometimes unwarranted but every so often we get the right messages across and we can change minds.  
It has been an honour and a privilege to have taken my seat in this Chamber as a National member for 9 years. It is an experience that few New Zealanders ever have and I will remember it for the rest of my life. I would like to acknowledge Madam Speaker our first woman Speaker and say how proud I was as a woman in New Zealand to attend her swearing-in. The perfect rugby pass of a handbag to the surprised Darren Hughes as she strode up the aisle to meet the Prime Minister and Governor-General was also impressive.  
Mr Deputy Speaker you have been a good friend to me during my 9 years and I am honoured that you are in the Chair. I also acknowledge former Speaker Sir Robin Gray. His support over the years has been invaluable. When I was cleaning out my office I found a card from Sir Robin received when I first became an MP. He said: “The delivery of one’s maiden speech and valedictory are the only two times when a member is free to say exactly what they want to say.” That is very true.  
Leaving here is hard at such an exciting time and after the hard graft of Opposition but it is the right decision for me. Being an MP is not a job; it is a life. Political service is all-consuming and the New Zealand public deserves nothing less. In preparation for my valedictory I read my maiden speech. Nine years later my beliefs have not changed and I have done exactly what I said I would do. I will not pretend that I am unaffected by the experience—I have a thicker skin; I can deliver a better speech—but the things I believed in before I came to politics are the same. In some ways I am fortunate. I leave at a time of my own choosing positive about Parliament my party and our democracy.  
I do not agree with some who leave Parliament and say that little can be achieved through such public service. An MP can make a difference every day if he or she chooses to. I have taken a Ralph Waldo Emerson approach to politics and always thought that if even one life is breathed easier as a result of the work we have done then that is success. That is why I have found constituency work satisfying particularly its harder edges—cases like the inmate mother handcuffed during childbirth; the woman who could not get her teacher’s registration because she had the same name as a Christchurch criminal; the boy who absconded for 3 months before officials looked for him; and many others. These are not big cases to the public but I can say they were for those individuals involved.  
I would like to thank the journalists with whom I have worked closely. I would not have had such success in solving the tougher cases from Opposition without their stories. There is nothing like a front-page lead to galvanise the authorities into action after all other approaches have failed. Some of the Child Youth and Family cases still haunt me. I recall the shock of realising that a 9 kilogram 2-year-old left to eat toothpaste was the same weight as my son Jonathan at 6 months.  
There were the scandals—grants for hip-hop tours and other questionable spending. One day my erstwhile opponent Steve Maharey might tell me whether I was effective but it is a fact that many of the schemes I pilloried do not exist now. At this point I would like to acknowledge the impact that political life can have on family because my mother and sister both worked for the Community Employment Group—one of the organisations that I had criticised. In my defence I can say that my aim was to get better financial management. I never imagined that the whole department would get shut down.  
Many in my family are dedicated public servants. I say that the Public Service cannot be that politicised because at one point there were five of them working in Ministers’ offices or departments. Such is their professionalism I can proudly say they have been no help to my political career whatsoever. I could not even ask how their day was going during Budget time.  
I have added to my family since becoming an MP. I could not have received more support from my National colleagues. Parliament is not a great place for families but it is the worst place to be pregnant. Simple things like taking a call in the House prove difficult. Although it breached the Standing Orders I was thankful that Jonathan Hunt allowed me to perch on the arm of my chair so I could stand quickly enough to take a call. It was probably vanity as the cameras were certainly not there to see me but I did not enjoy the walk to caucus each Tuesday. Years later I had to ring TV3 to ask them to stop using the footage of Simon Power who was at that time slim and myself the size of the Goodyear blimp waddling along the corridor. I was starting to get mail asking why I had been pregnant for 5 years.  
I am proud that my son Jonathan is a Southlander but it was not my ambition to have him 5 weeks early at the 2001 National Party conference in Invercargill. When my daughter Georgia grows up I hope she will be proud that she was the first baby to sit in this Chamber. She sat with me quietly here one evening and no one called “stranger in the House”. She was born after the 2002 election. Members may recall that for nearly 3 weeks it looked as if I was not going to make it back to Parliament. Even my office had been reallocated. I returned on the equivalent of three party votes per electorate. Whether members think that is a good thing or a bad thing is up to them but it does demonstrate the importance of the party vote in MMP.  
One of my most satisfying political memories is playing a part in the section 59 debate although it was not an easy time. For months one would think the sky was falling in for all the bleating of some opposed to losing the right to hit children. Some said parenting would become illegal Child Youth and Family would steal our children and good parents would end up in jail. Well it has not happened. In the years to come I think most people will wonder what all the fuss was about. I believe the Bradford law will be another chapter in our gradual move to social enlightenment alongside other seminal pieces of legislation that brought women’s suffrage homosexual law reform and the recognition of civil unions.  
Initially I supported Sue’s bill because I wanted to close the legal loophole that allowed some parents to batter their children and escape conviction. By the end of the debate I supported the message that hitting children for any reason was not OK. A turning point was listening to another MP talking of the loving smack and the merits of using an instrument to beat children. With referenda pending any politician who thinks that electoral glory comes from the promotion of hitting kids needs to take a reality check.  
Much has been made of the solitude of my position within the National Party caucus on this issue. The day John Key brokered the deal I recall walking to Copperfields and passing the press gallery chairman Vernon Small who quipped that I was the last totara standing although given that I am short and pale a slightly smaller and less indigenous analogy might have been more appropriate. He looked at me with disbelief when I mumbled: “Might be a forest by the end of today.” In truth I was never the lone totara of the centre right. I had the support and friendship of Doug Woolerton and Brian Donnelly brave and inspiring men hardly the wet-sook liberals that Sue Bradford and I had been accused of being.  
National’s concern was making the law work in practice and ensuring that good parents were not punished. So once John Key had found a way through that deadlock National supported the legislation—the totara had become a forest after all. It is frequently said that Katherine Rich voted against the party. That is not correct. I leave Parliament having never crossed the floor and publicly supporting every caucus decision. What I have done is voted according to my conscience and thankfully National has a strong tradition of protecting the rights of its MPs to do so.  
Commentators who have questioned my place in the National Party I think fail to understand our party’s history. I know exactly where I stand in National’s history of a liberal tradition following names that include Ralph Hanan Tom Shand Katherine O’Regan Marilyn Waring Roger Sowry Clem Simich and I have added Simon Power to that list! The last five have very much inspired me as an MP.  
Liberal conservatives have always had a role not only in tempering the harder edges of conservative politics and encouraging change but also in acting as a cautionary voice in times of upheaval. One of my colleagues calls me the “um hang on a minute” person because of my propensity to bring up the possibility of less-charitable interpretations by the news media of some of our ideas.  
I am proud of my voting record. Some agonise over conscience votes but I have never struggled because essentially most are about human rights and whether one believes that all New Zealanders should have the same rights. I have never been lobbied by caucus to change my vote but there have been occasions when party members have taken issue. In each case I have reminded them of the National Party principles that I hold dear—equal citizenship and equal opportunity individual freedom and choice and personal responsibility.  
Every MP has their annus horribilis and mine would have to be 2005. Members might recall I had a slight difference of opinion over a welfare speech. Looking back I think I got into trouble more for what I did not say rather than what I did but it surprised me that few read that speech closely or understood it. Demotion clearly was not a career highlight but it was preferable to trying to explain why I a well-paid mother with all the supports in the world intended telling a DPB mum to leave her baby in childcare in order to net probably less than half the minimum wage. That time was not much fun but I was determined to leave here feeling positive because over the years I have realised that politics can deliver to our doorsteps hundreds of reasons to be bitter but it is up to us to decide how we react to those situations. I found that most things could be survived as long as there was family friends and Flying Nun—a good dose of Flying Nun I have to say.  
Politics can also deliver small kindnesses. When I announced my plan to step down I was really touched by the press releases issued by the Maori Party. I will miss regular Chamber chats with Pita about family and parliamentary life. The surprise farewell that our president Judy Kirk and the women in National held for me is a wonderful memory; I thank them for that. I will miss the regular parliamentary exchanges—hearing about Maurice’s latest cellphone or gadget inappropriate jokes from John Carter critiquing fashion with Paula Bennett that wonderful poetic marae-speak from Shane Jones Mr McCully’s hospitality and infinite wine supply and teasing Mahara Okeroa that we Nats indeed have a secret agenda and it is to make him our first ambassador to Namibia!  
But now I would like to make some comments about future policy. I know that under John’s leadership the economy and other major portfolios will be taken care of so I want to pick a couple of smaller issues for comment. I hope that support for Kiwi music is continued and boosted. Kiwi music brings us together. It is one of the glues of our society. The market will never support local music sufficiently given the size of our country. Reading-recovery programmes are particularly dear to my heart and I would appreciate improved support for them. Those programmes and others save many Kiwis from lives of illiteracy. I would like to see the Office of the Children’s Commissioner retain its independence as a strong voice and social conscience for our nearly 900000 children who do not vote.  
And now for some specific people I would like to thank. To John Key: I have enjoyed my time on National’s front bench and working for you. I respect you because of your beliefs and your way with people and I know that under your leadership National will not forget those less fortunate. To Bill English the man with a brain the size of a small planet: thank you for giving me the welfare portfolio. You could have walked away from politics years ago but I think New Zealand is fortunate that you decided to stay and fight. To Gerry: I fail to put this into words properly but thank you for your humour. In some of our darkest moments in Opposition I have seen you lift our combined spirits with a clever one-liner and positive attitude and that is quite a gift. To my best political friend Simon Power: the people of Rangitikei are very fortunate indeed. Stay staunch over the coming years. I know you will uphold National’s liberal tradition and play a strong “hang on a minute” role in Cabinet debates—PS please introduce some decent rehabilitation to the women’s prisons because next time I visit my constituent I want to know she has more to do than just play ping-pong.  
I would like to thank John Slater and Jenny Shipley. Had it not been for their faith I never would have taken my seat. To my colleagues from the “class of ‘99” that has met almost every Tuesday for 9 years: thank you for your support and your friendship. Likewise I am grateful to party officials Craig Myles Roger Bridge and Kate Hazlett and all my electorate chairs. I would like to thank my loyal secretaries Pat Humphries and Robyn Broughton and my driver Roy Bremner.  
To my husband children and parents who are here: thanks just does not cover it in particular Andrew. Campaigning in Dunedin is never easy but Andrew’s intimidating use of balloons and bodyguard approach to campaigning has kept most opponents at bay. I could not have lasted through 9 years in politics and two babies without his support.  
Regrets well I have had a few. Speaking with Don Brash last week we shared the regret that we did not make more progress with the Christchurch civic crèche case. As a circuit-breaker Rob Muldoon got an Australian judge to look at the Arthur Allan Thomas case. That might be an option for this one. I regret not being able to implement my strategy for welfare but I am confident National has good policy for the future. Compassionate and practical welfare provision will always get better results than condemnation. I regret that there are not more hours in the day to achieve the most illusive of conjuring tricks—the mythical work-life balance.  
But I do not wish to dwell on my regrets. They are more than outnumbered by positive memories I will take from this place; also the satisfaction of having done my job to the best of my ability. I leave positive about New Zealand and our parliamentary process. We live in a robust democracy in one of the least corrupt societies in the world and I think we should remember that when the daily small scandals threaten to distract us.  
I issue one final plea to my fellow parliamentarians and the gallery. We all belong to political parties but we are not clones. National and Labour are broad-based parties which means that each will have members who sit on different parts of the political spectrum. We back party policies but it is not a scandal to privately hold a different view. In the last year I have seen too many stories that run the line that this is somehow a crime. Regarding conscience issues we all have a conscience and we must remain free to exercise it on those issues that go to the heart of our belief systems. I urge all party whips to ensure that this most vital of parliamentary freedoms is never forgotten.  
Looking back on many valedictories delivered in this Chamber I find a popular choice for retiring MPs is to quote Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”. Well anybody who knows me knows that I cannot abide crooning; I have always preferred the Sid Vicious version. I have done things my way but I have done them within a National team and Parliament as a whole. I wish you all the best for the coming election and I say thank you and goodbye.