SpeechHon POTO WILLIAMS (Labour—Christchurch East): Kia orana tatou katoatoa. Kia orana tatou katoatoa na roto i te aroa ma'ata o te Atua.Thank you Mr Speaker. I have written various iterations of this speech starting a cathartic process and realising that over those weeks what I wanted to do is leave this place paying respect for my time acknowledging those who have helped and giving thanks and love. So that is what I am going to do also quoting former Deputy Speaker the late Hon Chester Borrows who said—he admonished me with this line—The kūmara does not speak of its own sweetness." So in his honour I shall add a healthy dose of self-deprecation.I was a community worker before coming to Parliament saying once that my lived experience and my extensive work history in family violence meant I could survive anything. Then I joined the caucus of the Labour Party under the leadership of David Cunliffe.My first words uttered in this House were "Thank you Mr Speecher." Like this time it caused Grant Robertson to guffaw out loud me to blush to my hairline and take a deep breath and calmly continue. The ability to "Keep Calm and Carry On" is my superpower and the trait that members who know me know me for that. It has stood me in good stead as Assistant Speaker and been a valuable tool as Minister but mostly it is a reminder not to take oneself too seriously.I came to this House with two clear agendas. The first to be a good local electorate MP: to advocate strongly for my community impacted by the most significant natural disaster of that time. We worked so hard while the ground continued to shake to get fair rebuild and repair strategies or adequate payouts so that my community could get on with their lives. I hope for my community that I have filled that brief.When I look back I see the tears that flowed in my office from the 2628 households—let me repeat that the 2628 households—that came to me for help with their Earthquake Commission insurance and earthquake issues and the tears that flowed when months or even years later they were back in the homes that they cherished and the community that they loved and those issues were finally behind them. We all thought "If only I can get my house repaired I will be fine."Nobody knew that more than the tremendous team of dedicated staff in my office in Christchurch. These women held what seemed like therapy sessions: consoling cajoling and encouraging; photocopying; filing for Official Information Act requests; taking photos; speaking in a vocabulary that seems foreign today of sub-floor pack and jack and levelling strategies; making tea; holding hands; and getting into battle against the big guys with the big money and getting results. Hours weeks months of tireless work so that our people got what was right with their homes repaired and rebuilt as stated in their insurance contracts. When the unfairness of Government policy or status quo got in the way they fought tooth and nail to get this changed. It is truly humbling work to be trusted with the most difficult issues that your community faces but rewarding when we make a difference.When the opportunity to propose shovel-ready projects came about like a good advocate for my community I literally stalked the Minister of Finance chased him down hallways and stood guard at the entrance to the Chamber to secure the $7 million for the New Brighton collective of nine community projects that would not be there in New Brighton today without the Provincial Growth Fund. Whilst we technically didn't qualify I added a dose of Aupito's cunning to my plan to secure the funds and learnt a valuable lesson in shameless hustling for my community.Which brings me to the second part of my agenda. Each year on the anniversary of becoming an MP I review my maiden speech and I reconfirm my commitment to James Whakaruru: to end family harm and bring voice to the experiences of children living and experiencing the trauma of family violence in their homes. As Associate Minister for social development and then Minister of Police I had direct influence on the development of Te Aorerekura.Others have felt the need to judge me and I came under the most blistering scrutiny on social media but also mainstream media. One particularly cruel incident was Jenna Lynch's Newshub poll on whether I was the worst police Minister. If only the press gallery were subject to the same scrutiny as Ministers such as proactive diary release and disclosure of conflicts of interest. The irony is not lost on me that in my life as an advocate for those bullied harassed and abused I should be the subject of bullying.But I know what I have achieved and what I am proud of: the largest increase to the police budget ever; significant investment in the enhanced safety programmes for front-line police so that we keep our police safe and as a mother I know that Di Hunt mother of Matt Hunt would have wished for this to be in place to prevent what happened to her and the families of police killed in the service of our country; Te Pae Oranga and working alongside its patron Kīngi Tūheitia; working with the Minister for Pike River re-entry to secure further boreholes to provide the evidence to hopefully secure a prosecution; working with the families of the victims of the mosque attack and putting in place the recommendations of the royal inquiry; the first ever Minister of Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People and the first ministry of its kind; working to continue the arms register and despite misinformation from the ACT Party this register will significantly dampen the ability for firearms to find their way into the hands of those who would do us harm; getting kicked out of the House with the other Opposition MPs who stood up to John Key and his minimising of domestic and sexual violence; doing the haka on Willie Jackson—soz not soz bro but sometimes you just need to be told!—and sublimely approving the lights on Hagley Oval. Whilst Mark Mitchell and Stuart Nash continued to do their arm wrestle and bench press competitions I secured the ratio of one police officer to every 480 Kiwis a gold standard—[Interruption]—oh thanks Sally Page—that means we will always have sufficient police to do their extraordinary work to keep us safe.To Commissioner Coster and your amazing team Penny Nelson and the wonderful Department of Conservation team Paula Tesoriero and the Whaikaha team John Snead and the building and construction team the Department of Internal Affairs and the community and voluntary sector team Chappie Te Kani and the Oranga Tamariki team Andrew McKenzie and the Kāinga Ora team Anne Shaw and the Christchurch recovery team Debbie Power and the Ministry of Social Development Team and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment teams across many portfolios especially immigration—ka nui te aroha ki a koutou katoa. As I have told all of you you are my favourite officials but only John Snead and Amy Moorhouse know the truth. It has been my greatest honour to serve in Jacinda Ardern's executive and Cabinet. It's been a true privilege and I want to thank Jacinda for her belief in me her kindness to me and my family when I went through some of the toughest times in my political life. You gave me the strength to face the day every day because what we were doing was right. My words are humble but they are true: Jacinda thank you.In my time as Assistant Speaker which I really enjoyed—from the front of the Chamber you can see a lot of things playing out such as when the National Party are running the numbers for their coups. I have always loved the processes of the House and the privilege that comes with this role but mostly the ability to sit people down and to shut them up and to deliver the death stare. I would've liked the ability to use the occasional cattle prod especially on David Seymour—just jokes!But I also recall the power of the Treaty bills the passion of the debate the gallery filled with iwi and waiata and whaikōrero the arduous urgency—sorry people—and the endless extended sittings where I once spent 15 hours in the Chamber in one day. But I also recall the important debates on legislation that made history and made it better for our most vulnerable and marginalised. The Clerks are like the secret society: the elves that work their magic overnight and like magic everything operates smoothly like a well-oiled machine.The hours are long there's lots of wine therapy and colleagues have become my work family because we see more of them than we do our real families. I have two work families: the amazing Canterbury caucus and the stellar Pacific caucus. Megan Woods you are one feisty and amazing woman. Over the last 10 years we have had the most sensitive and the most robust conversations sometimes within the same conversation and I thank you Megan wholeheartedly for all the support the rev ups and the friendship. And Duncan you are welcome to help me spill red wine on my carpet anytime. You are great colleagues wonderful local MPs and I promise to be helpful in a "stay out of your hair" kind of way.My other family my aiga Pasifika includes my ex - bench-mate Aupito. I think they split us up because you are a bad influence Aupito—you are so cheeky. When I first arrived here there was Kris Faafoi and Aupito as the Pacific caucus and I like to think I was the thorn between the roses. Aupito you have worked hard for the Pacific people. You built Pacific capacity in the Parliament and in the party. I'm so proud of what you have achieved for Pacific people and how you built our caucus strength and the numbers and the triumph of the Dawn Raids apology. Anahila you picked up the mantle and you made sure we engaged widely and we built our knowledge and our networks. And to the first Pasifika to be Deputy Prime Minister: Carmel we have shared lots over the years and I'm truly humbled and honoured to call you friend.To the Pasifika caucus we have been on the eight-week challenge for three years now and the only one to benefit is KFC. Remember the principles of Pacific world domination as designed by my cousin Caren Rangi—the importance of having Pacific people in key decision-making positions. Also remember to mention Pacific world domination often especially in front of Willie Jackson because it really makes him mad.Chippy—Prime Minister—thank you for your advice and your guidance over the years and for your quiet encouragement when you would sit on my couch and play coach before question time. The best piece of advice you ever gave me was to take your chance at every opportunity to speak at committee stage. I took that and ran with it and when I asked you about what happens if I run out of things to say you said "Just start again from the top." You said "It doesn't really matter because no one is listening anyway."Prime Minister you have always been a steadying influence. You keep it real and you keep it simple for the people of Aotearoa. It's an easy option for New Zealanders come October: steady trustworthy competent and hard-working; relatable to Kiwis up and down the country; and building on the amazing work we have already accomplished. I admire you greatly. I know you and the team will fight hard and win this election. Prime Minister you are the bomb or in the words of my grandson Fletcher "the bom".This mahi is not for me on my own to claim but we do not do this work by ourselves so I need to acknowledge the tribe. My first thanks goes to Heather Mannix Leeann Apps Kath Hamilton Laura Price Cameron Taylor Donna Burr Emma Williams Moana Fuli Bronwyn Presland Paul McMahon Tiarne Gush Danye Whitmore Sera Benseman Matt Swann Georgina O'Reilly Paddy Greig Sally Paige and Ryan Jones—you are my Xena warrior princes and princesses. But all of my team members advisors press secretaries administrators and department private secretaries: you make us all look good and you take a lot of flak for that. So for that reason all of you in the gallery who have worked in my office please stand up so we can applaud you. My Christchurch Labour Electorate Committee: special mentions to Tim Baker David Close and David Lawrence; the late John Chirnside and Marie Rean; Sarah Whitcombe Dobbs; Kevin Brett; Peter Crop; Peter Parsons; Liam Bateman; Toupili Pamatangi; Sandra Sim; Alex Hewison; Jenny Hughey; and my dear friends Hugh and Raewyn Perry. All the volunteers over the years who knocked on doors delivered pamphlets and helped out during campaigns—arohanui to you all. You are heartbeat Labour and strong in your convictions and I am humbled by your efforts that have supported me over the years. Reuben Davidson it is with confidence and relief that I pass the mantle to your very capable hands; please look after them they are taonga.Thanks to the party; the president Jill Day; and the former presidents Claire Szabó Nigel Haworth and especially Moira Coatsworth who was responsible for bringing some extraordinary women into Parliament in her time. To all the VPs the sector leads the policy boffins and the hard-working Labour on-the-ground volunteers: thank you and keep it up. Let's all redouble our efforts to keep our country on this path.Thanks to my long-suffering family starting with my sisters Tokerau Margaret and Rere—the backup singers and dancers on the street corner meetings in Shirley and Aranui the chief cooks and hostesses of campaign time—thank you for being there to pick up the pieces but mostly for being ignored!To my beautiful daughter Terai I agree with your husband: you are the mother of the family. You are the sweetest kindest person I know and such a good mum to Bodhi Reid Thomson and Fletcher Jeffrey Thomson your boys. I can't wait to have more time to help out and to hang out with you. And thank you Tomo for being such an awesome son-in-law so that I never have to worry about my family because I know you have it covered. And to my boyfriend Stephen Hughes your loyalty and how passionately you have stuck up for me is really humbling. It's been a rough couple of years but you always make me feel so safe at home. Whether you like it or not there's heaps more time for the illusive art called fishing and for dancing.You don't spend 10 years in an institution without gathering a few stories like the New Zealand parliamentary netball team bumping into David Bennett at Sydney Airport carrying the gear bag for the Australian parliamentary netball team; or the night Mr Speaker shared with you and Winston Peters and a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label; or kava in Vanuatu—and yes it is as potent as they say. Or a certain away-caucus at Brackenridge with euchre too much wine the musings from a certain senior Labour Party icon and flavoured olive oil.I cannot leave without heartfelt thanks to our cleaners maintenance teams our security team—thank you for all you have done to keep us safe for your banter and your chat your friendly good mornings and especially for the difficult time we had when the mad music festival called "the convoy" landed on our front lawn. Thank you to chamber staff Serjeants-at-Arms and messengers and a special mention to the dancing Jenny and a previous member of the staff who shall remain nameless who on his last day of service may or may not have served gin to you and me Mr Speaker in our water glasses—you may or may not recall that yourself Mr Speaker.To you Mr Speaker my dear friend I am so proud to have served alongside you as a presiding officer and so proud that you are our Speaker. Your dignity your mana and your commitment to this institution and upholding good parliamentary practice are enhanced by who you are as a person. A special mihi to you my friend.As they say "You do the crime you have to do the time"; I must have been really really bad. I have wrung out every ounce and sometimes found ounces I didn't know I had. This place is a privilege but it is hard. It is a workout on your stress levels and your intellect but service is the most important and rewarding work one can do.This House will remember my name and my work when I have passed; the words I uttered in this House for ever recorded in Hansard; and my photo is on a shield in the Speaker's corridor. So to end I quote New Zealand's most-famous poet Sir Buck Shelford: "I have left everything on the field and actually I've left some parts of myself on the field."Mr Speaker it has been the privilege and honour of my life and I leave you with nothing but love. [Applause]Waiata—Tongareva The House adjourned at 6.20 p.m. (Thursday)"