Brownlee Gerry: Obituaries — Rt Hon David Russell Lange ONZ CH John Finlay Luxton QSO Hon John Howard Falloon CNZM Rod David Donald 
Brownlee Gerry: Obituaries — Rt Hon David Russell Lange ONZ CH John Finlay Luxton QSO Hon John Howard Falloon CNZM Rod David Donald 
[Volume:628;Page:62] 
GERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader—National) 
: 
 I did not have the opportunity to serve in Parliament with Jack Luxton or the Hon John Falloon but I am very much moved by the tributes paid to them today by colleagues from other parties. The fine qualities they have recognised in those gentlemen are very much part of the heritage of the National Party. We deeply appreciate those comments and on behalf of their families thank you for them. I did not have the opportunity either to serve with the Rt Hon David Lange but a couple of years ago I was invited by Bob Jones to say a few words on a tape that was being sent to David at a time when he was particularly unwell. I will not repeat those words now. I will simply say that the comments I made directly to him on that tape were heartfelt and genuinely meant. He was a great New Zealander and his legacy will live long in this country. 
I first met Rod Donald some 25 years ago and we were friends. From his youngest days Rod was always a very colourful character. I can remember when I was serving my time as a carpenter one particular day taking a truckload of rubbish to the tip. I was accosted just inside the gate by Rod Donald who was a similar age asking me to stop and participate in a survey he was doing trying to work out what on people’s trucks or trailers could be recycled. I thought he was a bit of a sad character hanging around at a rubbish dump looking very much as he did like a hippy. I participated with some reluctance and when we got to the end of it I duly drove the truck on and tipped the lot into the landfill. So although Rod and I were as different as chalk and cheese I think it is fair that we all recognise that he had a great warmth towards people and an empathy for people. 
We spent many occasions together over a number of years and typical of that warmth I think was that Rod was delighted to be able to say to people that we had a family connection. The truth of it is that my best mate’s wife has a sister who is married to the brother of Rod’s partner Nicola. For Rod that was close enough for us to have a lot in common and for us to share many enjoyable occasions and conversations. Rod and I were on opposite sides of the barricades when this country endured the turmoil of the 1981 Springbok tour. We both took part in a television documentary that looked at people from either side and followed us around for about 4 days before the Christchurch test. On the Sunday morning after the test they got us in to do an interview. I had watched that test from the No. 4 stand; Rod invaded the pitch from the No. 5 stand. When we met the following day I think the poignancy of the turmoil and trauma that that tour caused was made very real to us. There will be many friends in New Zealand who will understand just that same experience. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons mentioned that Rod campaigned to save the trees on the West Coast. My family were sawmillers. We cut them down. So there were many many differences. In 1996 we both entered Parliament. I came through a long series of selections in the National Party over a long number of years to finally get a seat that gave me a chance. Rod simply as we all know went out and changed the electoral system so he could simply walk in here! He was a guy who constantly looked to make a difference. If there were anything I could say to him now I would say: “Rod we now sort our rubbish at home. I don’t want to see the county go through the turmoil of 1981 again and my family no longer cuts down trees.” 
It is always difficult in these circumstances to find words that adequately describe someone like Rod but I would refer the House to the article written by Chris Trotter in today’s  
Independent 
. Although Mr Trotter is definitely not someone who has similar political views to my own his expressions of Rod’s many qualities could not I think be more articulately described. Others have talked today about the changes Rod brought to New Zealand. I am sure that for any politician the accolade of being a change-maker is a good one. I know that Rod only ever took up his many crusades—and to call him a crusader from Canterbury is an accolade—because he wanted things to be better for people in their lives as he saw it. We will miss him in Christchurch. We will miss him in this House. I will miss our all-too-infrequent discussions on what are important matters for this country. 
I reflect on the last discussion I had with Rod. It was on the matter of seating in this House. Rod was concerned that New Zealand First members were wanting to sit where the Greens are now and wanted the Greens to sit roughly where United Future is now. Rod was not keen at all on that idea and we indicated we would support him in whatever he chose to do by way of making a change there. His final comment to me was: “Oh well Gerry this could be the start of a beautiful political friendship as well.” I doubt it Rod but I am sorry that we will never find out. 
His greatest pride was his family. He spoke of them often and as others have said he had a great love for and commitment to them. So I offer to Nicola Holly Emma and Zoe deepest sympathy from all of us in the National Party at your great loss. 
Rod was also a guy who I know had a great sense of humour. So I am sure he will not mind my offering this particular reflection. As I said before we were very different. He was very fit and as for me—well members can make up their own minds. But if I had been told on Sunday afternoon that a Christchurch MP in his late 40s with three kids had died overnight I would have had to pinch myself to make sure it was not me. Rather when I heard it was Rod I received that news with the deepest of sadness that will not easily pass. May he rest in peace.