Mallard Trevor; Faafoi KrisVALEDICTORY STATEMENTSSPEAKER: Members I'll indicate now that at the conclusion of the Hon Kris Faafoi's valedictory the House will adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday 28 June 2022 so I don't have to interrupt the commiserations or the celebrations that occur when his speech ends. I call on the Hon Kris Faafoi to make his valedictory statement.Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Labour): Mālō ni Mr Speaker. The beginning they say is a very good place to start and there was a moment in the Mana by-election back in late 2010 when I knew that politics was going to be a great mixture of challenge and fun. My National Party opponent was the Hon Hekia Parata—and can I acknowledge her and the late Sir Wira Gardiner. During that campaign Hekia and I were being labelled as carpetbaggers—outsiders being choppered in to run in an electorate. It was not unfair!To make this point during a debate in Cannons Creek some clever bastard decided to ask every candidate How much time have you actually spent investing in our community?" I fluffed through an answer that would have the current Kris Faafoi with his face in his hands. Then the microphone was passed to the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis candidate Julian Crawford who gave one of the best answers I have seen at a local debate: "Well actually" he said "with certainty I've invested 120 hours of my life in this community."And what a community Mana is now in the hands of my friend the amazing and talented Barbara Edmonds who has a long future in that seat and I am sure she will make a massive contribution to the country during her tenure. From Linden in the south encompassing all of Porirua and stretching north to take in the southern part of Kāpiti I was honoured to spend 10 years representing the people of Mana. I love and miss seeing those people on a daily basis.Can I thank those people who sat on our local electorate committee during my time: Lynne Renouf; John Grundy; Jenny Dawson and her husband Jim McAloon; Ken Douglas; Phil Major; Sheryn Elborn; Mark James; and many more. I also want to thank those who helped me at the very outset: Shane Laulu Litea Ah Hoi the late Murdo MacMillan our Wellington power-broker Paul Tolich and John Ryall. John I know you're going through health challenges; the Labour whānau sends our love to you and yours.I also want to mark a very special community leader in Porirua East: the late Reverend Perema Leasi. He was a staunch supporter for more quality social housing especially on a piece of land that stood vacant for nearly a decade on what is known locally as the Castor Loop. I'm proud that a Labour Government delivered that but also sad that Perema was not there to see those families move into those homes. His daughter Brenda is with us today. To Brenda and family: you know how much we loved your dad. He has left a legacy.Politics is a funny business. I never thought when I first walked on to this precinct as a junior journalist running errands for Duncan Garner and Mark Sainsbury that I'd be an MP let alone sit around the Cabinet table. So I want to acknowledge Phil Goff our former leader who hired me in his media team. I also served a short stint as his chief press secretary. When preparing for a media interview Phil without fail would ask "Yeah—now what I really need is everything on that topic."On one occasion The Herald on Sunday wanted to do a colour piece on Phil. True to form the words came: "Yeah—now what I need is everything on …" and I cheekily fired back "Phil Goff?" There was a moment of silence some awkwardness and as everyone who knows Phil raucous laughter. I survived that. Who knows what would've happened if I hadn't. Some of my friends from that office are still around: the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Raj Nahna; Richard Trow; our pollster David Talbot; and Philippa Bell just to name a few. And I can't not thank my friend Gordon Jon Thompson. Before the meeting when Phil and Annette sounded me out about running for Parliament I asked GJ what the meeting was about. With a shrewd grin he told me "I don't know but whatever they ask say no." Also to John Harvey I haven't seen you in a while Harv but I think of you lots. Thanks for supporting me.That brings me to John's old boss and co-conspirator the Hon Dame Annette King. Annette's role in keeping this party together needs recognition. In Opposition there was no better camp mother than Annette King. She would dish out political financial relationship career and dental advice to those who did and did not seek it. I spent many an occasion receiving wisdom from her as she read Official Information Act requests wrote written questions prepared oral questions and played Candy Crush all at same time. Annette and Ray thank you; you've given my family so much love. On behalf of Mae and I and the boys we love you.Friends away from politics also need to be thanked for letting me know when my head needed to be removed from my backside after spending too much time around this place. My mates Ricky Winter Vincent Foleni and Joseph Tulia and their wonderful partners are in the gallery today. Thanks lads and to all the boys from Christchurch: go the Crusaders. We are Rowley for life. I can say that now!To Eleisha McNeill Andrew and Jenny Frazer also our old St Austell Close neighbours—Adam Nadia Mitch Phil Deano and the crew—thanks for keeping an eye on Mae and the boys especially when Theo was young and not well. Mischa and Dixon thanks for your friendship in Greytown. And in Tītahi Bay the Dawsons Glen Timihou the crew at the RSA the bowling club the surf club—which all had bars—and Kerry Delaney all need thanking.Politics is hard and it's not the easiest place to make friends but by osmosis that does happen. Some special mentions need to be made: first to my mate Clayton Cosgrove. You're as loyal as the day is long. You don't suffer fools and we've passed judgment together on a number of them. As whip I could never find you when you were on House roster so it's wonderful to see you in the House today. I apologise for spreading that rumour that you were going into business with a certain former colleague of ours but Woodsy put me up to it.To Grant Robertson I struggle to put into words how much I've appreciated your wealth of wisdom compassion intelligence and judgment. I will miss having you in my life on a regular basis. You are our Cullen. To my office neighbour for the last few years Damien O'Connor thanks for your direct and friendly wisdom and advice. Same to you Stu—love to you and Sarah. And to the Rt Rev Hon Dr David Clark you've been a great and true friend.To Andrew Little you rebuilt our caucus after 2014. It was not in a good way and history needs to know that while that rebuild may not have shown in the polls you need credit for getting the party to where it needed to be. To other friends who went through those tough times—Carmel Chippy Peeni Kelvin Jenny Parker yourself Mr Speaker and others—go well. McAnulty it's good to see you in a ministry.To my mates to my right. Megan I will miss our chat times. You have kept me sane and grounded in this weird and wonderful place. I will not miss your constant jibes and willingness to tell anyone that I am the only Pacific Islander alive that is allergic to seafood. You've been my best mate and the friendship I know will endure.To my Pacific caucus colleagues fakafetai lahi lele. Our Pacific caucus shows the connection that Labour has to our Pacific community. I'm not sure when we'll get another Tokelauan but we will and I'm sure Anahila will be there to take a selfie.Prime Minister can I thank you. You are world class. While many of us were part of the Government that implemented our response to COVID you led it. You stayed ahead of its curve understood its threat and took the country with us. We are unfortunately seeing every day families suffering loss from Omicron. However there are people alive today because of you Prime Minister. You took in expert advice trusted the science and led brave and difficult decisions. Prime Minister I have had one outstanding issue though since Pasifika in 2012. I know you remember. I said I'd donate $500 to your campaign if you got up and danced on stage with a group. I never thought you'd do it and you did. Prime Minister I know it's been 10 years but earlier this week I donated $500 to the Mt Albert Labour electorate committee. That's the receipt. I thought about adjusting it for inflation but—ha ha! PM my final note to you is to say it was a deep honour to accompany you on our visit to Tokelau. It meant so much to the people on the islands and here at home. The time on the HMNZS Otago will have to go down as a highlight of my last five years. Prime Minister the experience of going back to the place my mother and father were born and raised meant so much and to do it accompanying you as our PM was next level. You took the climate change concerns of young children in Tokelau and amplified them in the United Nations General Assembly. Jacinda I will miss being part of your team. Lots of love to you and to Clarke. It's obvious that being a Minister is massive privilege but it's a responsibility that arrives with a force. Back in 2017 I was still sitting amongst moving boxes in the first 24 hours of Government when then Civil Defence Director Sarah Stuart-Black—or Norm as we know her—and the ever ready Civil Defence Private Secretary Stefan Weir arrived and—excuse my French Mr Speaker—scared the shit out of me. One minute I was stressing about cardboard boxes the next minute two strangers calling me Minister were telling me that "if the 'big one' happens we're coming to get you wherever you are whatever you're doing." I want to acknowledge the emergency management sector—you are all great people. I'm proud of the work this Government has done to reform and resource emergency management. The changes and responses that the Government made in the commerce space I am also proud of. From introducing market studies cracking down on loan sharks and better ensuring financial advice suits consumers. I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with everyone in that sector especially as we all banded together when COVID hit. Immigration at the best of times is always a challenging portfolio. I don't wish the circumstances of the last two years on any other immigration Minister. Closing our border was the right thing to do; it kept New Zealand safe. But it created difficulties and very few if any levers that didn't pose heightened COVID risk. I am proud of the 2021 residence visa our rebalance and our response to the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan and in the Ukraine. I'd also like to thank the hort sector for the way we have engaged over the last two years. Yes it was difficult at times but it was also respectful. I want to wish my colleague Willie Jackson all the best as he steers a new public media entity towards its new journey. It's been a piece of work that I am proud of and must be done. To the naysayers on both left and right: you need to get with times. You also need to realise that public media is for all the public and not just those who like to listen to the conundrum. The real conundrum is this: if public media doesn't change the very people who need trusted sources of news information and their identity won't have it available to them as previous generations have. We know that right now those audiences are not engaging with public media. In the new future the orchestra the opera Ōtara and Oxford will all be at home on the platforms of the new media entity. One of my favourite experiences in that broadcasting portfolio was a Friday afternoon visit to offices of New Zealand Media and Entertainment in Auckland. I was given a tour of the newsroom and then found myself in the Radio Hauraki office at happy hour. After obliging an offer of an ice-cold Wakachangi beer I was invited into the studio and offered another ice-cold beer which I must admit was going down very well after a busy week. They gave me a guitar to take part in an on-air competition which unbeknown to me was won by an old school friend in Christchurch. But my most vivid memory was of the immense unease of my broadcasting private secretary feeling like she was losing control of the situation and of her Minister. I left after the second Wakachangi despite being offered a third.Right. The final stretch—more thankyous. To all my former electorate office staff: special mention to Geoff Hayward Naomi Siania Brenda Leasi Maryke Barnard. To all the amazing private secretaries who we've had the pleasure of working with over the last five years: we have been blessed with the Public Service's best—you are all amazing. To the political staff past and present—to Esther Lindsay Peter Stevens Kurt McLauchlan somehow snuck on to the list as has Sally Page Maryke Barnard again and more recently the talented Tabitha McMaster Alexi Grimstrupp and Jo Ramsay. Thank you and sorry for when I forgot to or wilfully didn't take your wise counsel. To my long-serving electorate office extraordinaire and senior private secretary Miranda Livapulu. Miranda you've put up for me for 10 years and I think I saw a hint of relief last Monday when I announced my resignation. Love to you and to Don and your amazing kids. To Matt Swann and James Baigent two of the best men an MP could ever hope for. From young members campaign powerhouses MP's support and then ministerial advisers—your enthusiasm during street corner meetings sign waving putting up election signs and sausage sizzles was epic. On one day of campaigning I recall there being at least a dozen sausage sizzles that we had come into close contact with. As the day wore on we had dutifully and increasingly reluctantly purchased the small goods in support of good causes. Early that evening we thought we were done until we pulled up to Pak 'N Save Porirua and right in front of our carpark was sausage sizzle No. 13. What happened next was pure campaign farce as I looked back at them and said "Which one of you BASTARDS is eating this sausage?" Matt you were a great executive assistant and James the last three years having you as my ministerial adviser has been one of the pleasures of being a Minister.To my family to my siblings Lance Jason and Maria and your amazing families your children Charlie and Jess your partner Denzel and your beautiful daughter my grand-niece Lauryn you've always been there to support me—thank you. To Mum I love you. My mum is a habitual watcher of Parliament TV. If I was absent from the House during question time it would be not uncommon to get a text from Mum: "Where are you?" And if I got told off by the Speaker Mum might message: "What did you say?"—sorry Mum. We lost Dad in 2013. We miss him every day. It would have been great to lean on him for advice especially in the last five years.To my hopefully soon to be in-laws Chris and Christine Emma and George Sam and Maggie thank you for being so loving and supportive of us. George and Emma you are a wonderful uncle and auntie and Chris and Christine you are a wonderful Nannee and Tramps to the boys. Your home in Pohangina has been an awesome place to get away from politics and we look forward to spending more time on the farm.To George Fred and Theo three young men I love so much I hope the excitement of being around me doesn't rub off too quickly—I don't hold out much hope. I am so proud of you. George you're an amazing young man. George wrote me a note the day after the 2017 election. It said "Hard luck Dad—you still have the specials." George was right—the specials came through. Thank you George. Fred I love you so much. You were the first person to text when the PM announced my leaving politics. You said "Congratulations Dad. Love you". Fred your dad was so nervous at that moment but you cut through all of that. You reinforced that I'd made the right decision—thank you. To Theo happy birthday for yesterday! You are five. School is cool and so are you. I have threatened that I will come to school every day with you as my new job but I promise I won't do that. George Fred and Theo you are a wonderful reason to make this hard decision to leave politics. To Mae you are an amazing and wonderful mum to Theo and step-mum to George and Fred. Your support over the last eight years has been massive. This year we were meant to get married; COVID got in the way. Let's do that soon. I'll be home more now and I'm worried that you will change your mind. If you marry me I promise I will stop calling our joint account "the flat account".Well that is it. A few final thanks. To VIP thank you so much for looking after us. You see every side of the ministerial life but especially you look after our families. That has meant so much. I've enjoyed our journeys and chats to escape politics. To everyone in this building that make things tick who protect us feed us and fix the things we break; to the Clerk's Office the House staff and the Cabinet office. To our parliamentary rugby team and cricket team thanks for the good times—Bish good luck for the next couple of days. To all MPs in this House thank you. It's been fun fierce and fair. To all my Labour colleagues you are my tribe and I wish you all the best. It has been a roller coaster ride an honour and a privilege and I look forward to new beginnings and am thankful for the experiences of serving in New Zealand's Parliament.I'm not sure if my mate from the Legalise Cannabis Party has done any more community service. But as I finish today I have calculated that I served 105233 hours in this House and to the Labour Party and during that time even the bad times were good. To all have a Happy Matariki. Fakafetai fakafetai fakafetai lahi lele. Thank you.WaiataThe House adjourned at 4.58 p.m."