McClay ToddHon TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua): I rise to follow our leader Judith to also accept our part in the National Party for the role that we played in what is a tragic and such a disappointing part of New Zealand's history. Today is not about blame; it is about recognition. If we go to our schools and talk to our young people so many of them are proud of the country that they live in. They are taught that the largest Polynesian city in New Zealand is Auckland and they're taught about what that means to us. Many of them will have role models who play sport who do so very many other things. But as with every story you can be proud of the journey to get there is something that also needs to be known.We know that two major Governments in the history of this country had a role to play in this and it's right that those two parties are here today together to offer an apology and to offer recognition. There are many ways this could be done but actually a House of the people of every person of New Zealand—for us to stand here collectively today united about what we are so disappointed about but what we want for New Zealand I think sends a very clear message.For my part—and this is a very brief part of what I want to say—I have the privilege of being one of a very small group of people that was made an honorary Cook Islander many many years ago for my work with the Cook Islands community. That work is less important than the things I learnt and that I was taught in my engagement with Cook Islanders and people from Fiji and Niue and Tonga and all of the Pacific and the things we were trying to do in Europe. I must stand here and say very clearly very proudly that if not for that work for the opportunity that was offered to me for how welcomed I was in every single part of life that I was engaged in in the Pacific then I don't know that I would be standing here today and would not be doing the job that I am able to.To hear from members in this House about what it has meant to them and their families in what is not that long ago is more than distressing; it's something that every single New Zealander should know about should be concerned about shouldn't be ashamed of—because it's not them that was there—but needs to work hard to make sure that people know about it and that it can never happen again. The last speaker talking about what happened to families when they said what they had to do with their children if there was a knock on the door is more than traumatic; it will live in the memories of those families.I want to say to every single person of Pasifika descent in New Zealand or the Pacific Islands that you can be very proud of who you are of your heritage of your culture. There is nothing at all to hide. It is rich it is vibrant and it makes New Zealand a better place because you too are New Zealanders. You are Pasifika New Zealanders but you are New Zealanders. We often hear about rugby and everybody celebrates that. To make an example of the game over the weekend if not for Pasifika people in the Australia team and the New Zealand team it might have been a very very boring game. But actually it's not just about sport. There are people we should be very very proud of. I have a list here that's very long. I want to mention a couple. Ida Malosi—daughter of Tusi who worked on the wharves and Jane who was a hospital cleaner—is New Zealand's first Pasifika judge. All New Zealanders must be proud of that. David Eggleton a European Tongan Rotuman descent current New Zealand Poet Laureate—we should all be proud of that. Tupou Neiufi is a New Zealand Paralympic and silver medallist in the 100-metre backstroke in the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships on behalf of New Zealand.In the National Party I am so proud that over this last weekend when we were in our conference and 700 members of the National Party were asked to vote on who they wanted to be on our board they elected Jannita Pilisi in her own right because she is a strong woman of values who spoke up and moved 700 people to vote for her and she will continue to do the job that all New Zealanders must do and particularly Pasifika New Zealanders.On behalf of my party following my leader I offer a humble apology to all those that were harmed by the tragedy of what was done for whatever reason. May it never happen again and may you know that you are valued members of our community. Kia ora.