Stewart BarbaraBARBARA STEWART(NZ First): It is an honour to deliver a valedictory speech; so many MPs do not have that opportunity. Some of my favourite words have always been possibilities opportunities and curiosity. If one is curious it is possible to create opportunities and then if the door is opened further possibilities are created; that is how I have viewed my time in this House. So today is not just another day for me; it is a new opportunity and a new beginning. For me personally 2017 has been a very challenging year; a year that without the support of many of you would have created so many more challenges.So I am going to begin with my thanks to the many people who have been at my side during this journey. Mr Speaker thank you for your patience tolerance and understanding. It is very much appreciated. It was not easy when my husband became ill. Eventually I was needed elsewhere. Likewise with my own medical challenges unfortunately my health became the priority and the district health board dictates my activities. I think back to my former colleagues Helen Duncan from the North Shore electorate and the late Parekura Horomia coming to sit in this House when they were so ill. I count myself very fortunate that I am able to attend the numerous hospital appointments and ongoing treatments that are necessary and will continue to be for some time.To my leader the Rt Hon Winston Peters thank you for your support and for allowing me to follow this course of action. It has meant a lot to me and my family. It has been a privilege and an honour to have worked with you and for you. I am sure that history will portray you as one of the greatest political leaders in recent New Zealand history which I know you definitely are.To my colleagues within New Zealand First thank you for your support in covering my various duties. Election years are notoriously frantic and I appreciate all that you have done. I have followed you in the House. I have kept the TV on for question time which as a whip you no doubt expected.To my colleagues across the House thank you for your kind messages of support. Your messages of support were and are appreciated and it ensured that I did not feel alone. I feel very humbled because I know that you are all very busy people so thank you.I would also like to take this opportunity to give thanks to my fellow members of the Health Committee ably chaired by Simon O'Connor. Though we have not always agreed on all issues it is a very productive committee and we have always worked towards a common goal: improving the health outcomes of all New Zealanders.I would like to thank the New Zealand First Party all of its members the staff and the volunteers for the wonderful opportunity to become a member of this House and for your support and encouragement. It is a demanding role and a true privilege to participate in the democratic process on your behalf.The New Zealand First parliamentary team has been outstanding and I want to thank those who have worked for me: Anne Moore Philip Wakefield Api Dawson Elizabeth Miles Carol Braganza and Maree Myers. You have all ensured that my office has worked as perfectly as possible and you have done all of the hard work. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and I have appreciated your support.To my out-of-Parliament staff Kelly Hunt and Laura Hopkins thank you for all of the outstanding work that you have done. I know that I could not have managed or completed the number of constituent inquiries without your input. These inquiries were never easy particularly when New Zealand First was often the last port of call. Clients wanted a miracle and Kelly and Laura you gave them hope and you delivered some miracles too. So thank you both for managing under extremely difficult circumstances. It is much appreciated.I am very appreciative of the fantastic support that I have enjoyed from the Parliamentary Service team from the Office of the Clerk the security team the Copperfields and the Bellamy's team and the cleaners. Roland thank you for your oversight of the House. I would particularly like to thank the team at the library without whom life as a list MP would be extremely difficult. You all do an outstanding and wonderful job sometimes working to very tight deadlines which can be very trying for us as MPs and no doubt for you as well. Priorities can change. Never underestimate the work that you all do. It would be an uphill struggle without your expertise.Some very important people in our lives are the Chamber and gallery team. It would be totally impossible for me to count the number of glasses of water that you have brought to me over the years. One can get amazingly thirsty in this Chamber. Service with a smile and a kind word is appreciated so thank you very much for your focus and dedication.To my son Alister thank you for your patience and tolerance. I have been away from home for many years and we have delayed celebrating important events on the day so thank you. I remember only too well when I first came into Parliament in 2002 and you were in year 7 telling me not to mess up because one day you would be here and you did not want to live down any mistakes that I had made. I remember being quite astonished. I had had a relatively successful career in the corporate world and I had not messed up. I could only think to say to you that the reverse also applied: I did not want to read anything about you in the newspapers. I believe that we have each lived up to our side of the bargain and I believe that that will carry on. Thank you for all the help and assistance you so willingly gave to me particularly at election time. I can only hope that someday I can return the favour.Thanks must also go to the various family members who have helped me out—particularly at election time. Loreen your assistance on the North Shore was invaluable. Diane your focus on the well-being of children helped enormously and ensured that I retain a similar passion. Thank you for your ideas and assistance which definitely provided great direction. Our families pay a huge price to enable us to do this work and I extend my thanks to you all. To my friends I appreciate your understanding and thank you for your support. I have often been a challenging guest arriving late and leaving early. To Milan my friend thank you for your support over the years; your reliability is second to none. I was always in the right place at the right time—likewise with Ross in Hamilton.I would like to thank the members of the press gallery past and present. I believe that I have had fair treatment from you. I did not come into Parliament to be a headline act but rather to assist people to receive fair and just treatment from the various Government departments that are a part of the lives of so many. It was basically an extension of the various human resource roles that I have previously held and I was able to do that along with my outstanding out-of-Parliament staff.Last but not least I want to thank all of the wonderful voluntary organisations that I have met with for their time and knowledge. It was always a humbling experience to hear about the great work that you were doing out in the community. It has sparked a passion.Nine years in Opposition and 3 years being a part of the Labour-New Zealand First confidence and supply agreement has meant that I did have some wins in some areas. The greatest achievement was to ensure that free medical care for the under-sixes was to continue as a part of life. The Hon Pete Hodgson worked hard with me to ensure that this really did become a reality. We would have liked to have extended this policy to the under-13s but just could not at this time. However we were totally delighted to see the National Government eventually put this policy into action.Rt Hon WinstonPeters: Very wise.BARBARA STEWART: Very wise indeed.Oral health care for children is an area that I am passionate about as I believe what gets measured gets done. My select committee colleagues can attest to that. Children who have had their front teeth extracted in their early years have so many challenges. It is very difficult to speak and read so many do not reach their potential. Unfortunately the permanent teeth do not have a guide so often require orthodontic work that is unaffordable. So these children are basically wanting until they can do something about it themselves which many cannot and do not. I am hoping that someone else on the Health Committee will take an interest in this very important area. We all talk about child poverty and this is an area that is indicative of poverty but it is absolutely essential for a child's well-being. I would like to acknowledge the Hon Annette King for her unending support on this issue. Children need the very best start in life if they are to become the best that they can be. To unleash that potential is essential. Children are our future.Over the years that I have been in Parliament I have believed—and still do—that a preventative approach to health problems must be followed. Pressure has to be taken off the public health system. The bottom line is that our nurses and our doctors are frantically busy always looking after the patients. There is rarely a quiet time and unfortunately I have personally seen and experienced this. The reality is that people cannot work at maximum output all of the time for every shift and that is what is currently occurring. Our doctors and our nurses do an absolutely wonderful job despite the many challenges and they do need some hope that this constant pressure is not going to result in burnout.I believe that it is time to consider other approaches to health because despite increases in health spending our population is both increasing and ageing. There are few winners. Two of my members' bills drawn from the ballot attempted to relieve this pressure on the public health system. Unfortunately both bills never proceeded past the first reading but I live in hope that the Minister and the Government will eventually have to consider these courses of action.To ensure that SuperGold card members can visit their GPs three times annually for free was an attempt to keep this special group of citizens well and out of hospital. We know that small ailments can be treated before they become debilitating illnesses as many do and result in the person being in hospital. It makes common sense to prevent the necessity of a hospital stay. Preventative measures such as this will benefit everyone and save our health system some much-needed dollars in the future. Likewise encouraging employers to take out private medical insurance for their employees and getting some recognition for doing this was also an attempt to relieve pressure on the public health system. The public health system is essential. We need it but it does need to be sustainable.Now another area that I have enjoyed working on has been that of petitions. In Opposition that is the only way that one can make a difference. We always need to be aware of the matters that affect the lives of others and attempt to get those matters aired in Parliament if possible to get some action and hope for sufferers. Surgical mesh is one of those issues. The Health Committee made some recommendations that we believe outline a way forward. Lives have been ruined and potential has been taken away. I can only applaud MeshDownUnder for the superb work that it has done in raising this issue. I hope that there is eventually a positive outcome. One should not have to live in pain after a medical procedure. However it does go against the grain to leave work unfinished but unfortunately I will not see this project completed. However I will keep an eye on it and I know my colleagues will continue to seek positive action for those affected.So for me it has always been a goal to try to work issues out and serve the many people who have approached us for assistance. Petitions have become an important avenue for me. When I entered Parliament in 2002 I said that I wanted to help people. I know that I have achieved this for many; not always with the most-wanted outcome but usually an outcome.On the subject of children's health I would like to see a stronger focus on education in schools for children to learn about healthy eating and nutrition. This is an important factor in the fight against obesity. I have had the privilege of seeing Project Energise in action at a primary school in Hamilton and was impressed at the results. Children often bring that knowledge home to their mum and dad which can change the habits of an entire family. This programme is something that should be celebrated and rolled out across as many schools as possible.I cannot leave this House without mentioning the urgent need for an independent review of our mental health service. We have all seen that the system is under immense pressure and changes do need to be made. Our unacceptably high suicide rate demands urgent action. I know that those who come after me in New Zealand First will bring new knowledge and new skills to build a strong team and pick up on some of those issues that I have not completed.The next chapter of my life is about to begin. I will be fit again and as soon as possible I will be contributing to the voluntary sector. There is so much that can be done. I believe that I have done my best in this House and I go with my integrity intact which is important to me. I wish all of my colleagues across the House the very best for the upcoming election and thank you for your friendship and I hope that our paths will cross again. I know that all of us come to work each day with the aim of improving the lives of all New Zealanders despite our different ways of going about it. So thank you for all of your support over the years. Take care and go well.[Applause]Waiata