Hughes GarethGARETH HUGHES (Green): I've started almost every single speech in this house in Te Reo Māori and for a last time kia ora ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa.Hon Members: Kia ora.GARETH HUGHES: Kia ora. It's been such a privilege to serve here. Growing up in Gisborne politics seemed distant. I never ever would have dreamt that I'd be an MP one day let alone be one here for more than a decade. I arrived here dead broke. I'd been living on an NGO salary and I even had to borrow money off Jeanette Fitzsimons to buy my first suit. Embarrassingly I could tie knots to climb tall buildings but I didn't know how to tie a tie. I entered at the age of 28 taking Jacinda Ardern's place as the baby of the House. The next year Jacinda and I shared the award of the New Zealand Herald's backbencher of the year. If politics was a race though I think she's lapped me a couple of dozen times since then. I am so proud though as a New Zealander at such a time of global uncertainty that she is the one leading us and inspiring the world.I love our country our beaches our rivers our forests and our mountains and protecting our beautiful but fragile planet has motivated my life's work. Coming from the activist world I described my previous career at Greenpeace as banging on the outside of this place. I like to think I've spent the last 10 years banging on about the environment from the inside. In my maiden speech I was a little bit critical about the previous Labour Government's environmental track record—I acknowledge you Helen Clark and Michael Cullen—and I actually remember there was a member Trevor Mallard who actually walked out in the middle of it with a loud Harrumph!". Mr Speaker I hope you'll stay for this one. Can I thank you can I thank the presiding officers like Ruth Dyson the Parliamentary Service the cleaners the security and the Clerk's Office for their amazing support. But I'd like to especially single out the Parliamentary Library. I consider their research the greatest perk a politician can have.Sir Geoffrey Palmer once said that being a member of Parliament was the best education you could have into your country and it's true. I've been welcomed into people's schools farms factories. I've learnt about people's lives their struggles sitting around their kitchen tables. Thank you very much for this education. Across my career I've been party spokesperson for and thrown myself into researching energy and resources; climate change; transport; housing; tertiary education; economic development; ICT; oceans; fishing; animal welfare; biosecurity; agriculture; forestry; food; commerce and consumer affairs; broadcasting; tourism; building and construction; science research and development—sorry it goes on—libraries and archives; and Wellington issues. It feels like I've studied multiple degrees. I didn't come here just to eat my lunch. The Parliamentary Library advises me I've asked 512 oral questions; thank God only a few of them were patsies.To try and show the Greens weren't anti-rugby at the time of the 2011 Rugby World Cup I even played on the parliamentary rugby team. In my first game I cracked a rib. In my second game I broke my nose. There wasn't a third. As part of my campaigns I've swum with sharks designed and launched a video game crowd-sourced internet rights legislation worked with an artist to paint a two storey - high mural sent thousands of citizen-made origami whales to Japan to oppose their whaling and organised rallies at Parliament and protests at the Russian Embassy. I scuba dived to launch an election policy and protested under water. I even rather ambitiously once put in a formal bid for all 189000 square kilometres of oil permits on offer with 14000 supporters. Simon Bridges didn't give them to me. I remember passing the Red Peak bill in all stages under urgency then literally after my speech hopping on a plane bound for the hipster capital of the world Portland Oregon. I've tenpin bowled in the White House basement when Obama wasn't home as part of a young political leaders programme and danced off against Kawarau's hip hop dance champion; I lost. I've had a blast and I leave here with a treasure trove of memories but most importantly my values intact. I've stuck to my principles I've spoken my mind and I can look at myself in the mirror knowing I haven't sold out.Something I've tried hard to do here is always play the ball not the person. I came here to protect the environment not to play petty politics. I've given speeches that have gone viral but I'm proud I've never resorted to name calling or cheap blows or insults. For 20 years now I've campaigned for climate action because this danger is the greatest challenge of our age. I focused here on keeping fossil fuels in the ground and encouraging clean energy. My proudest achievement was after years of work being part of the historic ban on offshore oil exploration. I helped negotiate the ends of tens of millions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies and alongside who I call New Zealand's Erin Brockovich—Taranaki farmer Sarah Roberts—we uncovered scandalously light-handed fracking rules and bringing that to the light of day led to serious improvements.In our confidence and supply agreement I've had responsibility for working on the massive sustainable farming fund school energy project and home insulation scheme. Achieving the 100 percent renewable electricity goal by 2035 was deeply satisfying and sets us up for a cleaner cheaper smarter energy future. After 16 years it was great to finally pass Sue and Steffan's country of origin food labelling Act. Something new I learnt this term was the power of drafting amendments and rather than waving them about sending them privately to the Minister saying I was soon going to be waving them about. It's because of this and the mahi of others we got climate change in the Resource Management Act and interest rate caps in law.I love our oceans I love to scuba dive and I love to sail. Protecting marine mammals and stopping seabed mining have been priorities for me. In opposition I led the campaign that ended shark finning in New Zealand I persuaded the previous Government to become a party to the successful International Court of Justice illegal whaling case and working with Pew I launched the campaign to create the Kermadec Marine Reserve—but that one's still a work in progress.History is a passion of mine and I remember one day sitting in here sort of daydreaming and listening to some dreary debate. I was looking around the walls at the 33 memorials to famous battles where New Zealanders have fought. I noticed though that one was missing—our foundational conflict: the New Zealand Wars. I researched I wrote I lobbied and worked through committees and I'm so glad that one now sits in pride of place above the main door. It's part of the movement to redress our collective amnesia and for me remind us that sovereignty wasn't ceded in a treaty; it was taken at the point of a musket. So in terms of my impact on this place history will judge if I've left a mark but at least I can tell my kids I left a plaque.Any credit I have is shared with an amazing team. I'd like to thank my executive assistants Holly Donald Jessie Dennis Simon Tapp Jeremy Short Gina Lockyer Jonathan Martin as well as key advisers Babs Lake Robin Campbell Hamish Clark and—hey Clint. You've got to be around here a while to know that one. I want to thank party members for their support. I've tried to repay their confidence with hard work and scrapping for every win. I joined the party in the year 2000 as an 18-year-old inspired by the breath of fresh air represented by MPs like Nandor Tanczos. Sue Kedgley in particular is a wonderful person and I wouldn't be here without her. They say you shouldn't meet your heroes but I was lucky enough to work up close with mine Jeanette Fitzsimons and she became a true friend. My parting message to the Green Party is: constantly ask are we inspiring a new generation with a bold vision? Are our ambitions and work matching the scale of the environmental crisis? And are we following Jeanette's courageous example to challenge sacred cows like capitalism colonialism and well frankly too many cows. Marama James "JAG" Eugenie Jan Chlöe and Golriz I'm so proud of what us eight have achieved this term.It was a hard decision to leave now when I believe we will be back in Government pushing further and faster next term. But I'm going because all I want to do is spend time with my family and be closer to nature. I lost my mum and my brother-in-law Stephen Nicholls last year. They were both big supports and having loved ones pass makes one re-evaluate your life. As a family we have moved to Kamau Taurua / Quarantine Island. In the midst of a global pandemic Quarantine Island does sound pretty appealing. It's a taonga in the middle of the Otago Harbour and we're the only permanent residents there on this amazing ecological reserve. I plan to do some research some writing and take a more hands-on approach to environmental protection.My beautiful wife Meghan is the new island keeper and my new boss. We've been together 20 years and I'm so glad I get to share my life with her now on an island far far away from this place. She's been such a support a rock a counsellor a speech writer a critic. Thank you for stopping me from sending so many bad tweets over the years. Kids I love you so much and I am so proud of you. Thank you Dad Jill Mark and Kerry. Arlo and Zoe have spent their entire lives only knowing Dad as an MP always working often travelling and if I'm honest invariably distracted. Whenever I'd leave home before they were awake or came home when they were asleep my heart broke another little piece. We had our fun times too though. I used to have inflatable little pool toys in my office to play with the kids in the parliamentary pool. I remember once Barry Soper walking in while I was riding an inflatable killer whale with my son Arlo. He just walked in and he just walked out.Another time I arrived at work with my office surrounded by security guards investigating what looked like a break-in. There was stuff all over the floor files scattered everywhere paper all over the show. No it wasn't a modern day Bowen House - gate; it was a few minutes of a toddler unsupervised. It's funny though because hardly anyone ever has asked me what it's like to be a father and an MP. I never saw parenthood or domestic duties as my wife's job. We purposely moved to Wellington when I was elected and I often took the kids to school and I tried to go home every night that I could to help put them to bed. I used to put a smile on and pretend that being an equal parent made me a better MP. But in all honesty it's been hard to balance fatherhood and politics and it's gotten even harder as I've gotten older. This job is all-consuming especially for our partners who don't get any of the kudos. I hope this place can seriously consider how we can make it more family-friendly.For most of my time here I've been the Green Party musterer—"whip" is too much of a violent term for the Greens. I loved being part of the inner workings of Parliament and supporting my team. I've worked hard across numerous committees to try and modernise Parliament and improve democratic engagement. Nikki Kaye Clare Curran and I we worked together on a trial of live streaming of select committees. I'm glad that it's just business as usual now. People no longer have to fly to Wellington to attend hearings. The public can see MPs working outside the theatre of the Chamber. As we saw over the lockdown we had the technology to continue functioning.This term I've enjoyed chairing the Social Services and Community Committee. I thank the members and the staff. I think we've had an amazing atmosphere. After so many long long long Green Party meetings trying to find consensus I think it helped me a little bit to be a fair and constructive chair. I am disappointed though that we couldn't get the numbers for a full inquiry into forced adoption. I believe New Zealand's lack of an inquiry and apology and counselling support for the tens of thousands of mothers and children does slow the healing.Across my career I've had failures and setbacks along the way but I've always tried to approach this job positively energetically ethically while always focusing on the issues. I now honestly reflect after two decades campaigning for progressive change that a lot of this has been diligently fighting the symptoms not the source. I've protested petitioned organised and lobbied. I've got myself arrested and got myself elected and sometimes I've won and changed a policy or law. But after 20 years of campaigning it feels like I've been fighting the Hydra. Often in this House we spend our time debating if it should be a State-run a corporate or an electric ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. We need to think deeper into the systemic reasons behind growing homelessness child poverty the mental health crisis plastic oceans vanishing species and unswimmable rivers. I believe these things aren't designed bugs; they're actually designed features arising from the neo-liberal operating system installed in the 1980s.My challenge to the country the Greens and the wider progressive movement is that if we aren't focusing on transformational change we are simply arranging deckchairs on the Titanic. Our wealth health and survival are imperilled if we continue with a system that encourages greed corporate power and excessive consumption. Fortunately for us in Aotearoa we have an alternative value system focused on collective wellbeing long-term thinking and a strong connection to nature in mātauranga Māori. I believe if we truly became a Te Tiriti o Waitangi - respecting nation we could escape the fatal embrace of short-term individualistic environmentally damaging thinking that has dominated our politics.I'm optimistic about our future. I believe we can restore our environment heal our society and grow a richer Aotearoa. Kia ora koutou.[Applause]SPEAKER: Order! While this process is occurring can I ask the supporters of Gareth Hughes to move out of the galleries moving to your right to allow for the supporters of Clare Curran to take your places. Thank you.Waiata"