Shearer David: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Corporal Luke Tamatea Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker and Private Richard Harris in Afghanistan 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Shearer David: Motions — New Zealand Defence Force—Deaths of Corporal Luke Tamatea Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker and Private Richard Harris in Afghanistan 
[Sitting date: 21 August 2012. Volume:683;Page:4528. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 A week ago today at this very moment we stood to remember the lives of Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer and Lance Corporal Rory Malone. We paid tribute to their commitment their dedication and the sacrifice they made for their country. We celebrated their achievements in life and we mourned their loss in death. We never imagined that we would be standing here today to pay our respects to three of their colleagues who have also had their lives cut brutally short in the service of their country. It is not right or fair but we must put those feelings aside to come together to express our sorrow at the loss of three young Kiwis who will never get the chance to fulfil the promise and the potential that their lives offered. 
At the age of 31 Corporal Luke Tamatea had already given so much. He had a long history of serving his country in Timor-Leste and the Solomons and he had helped with the tsunami recovery in Sumatra. He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan. He was a relaxed easygoing guy who is remembered fondly in his home town of Te Teko near Kawerau as a mountain of a man and of course as a father. 
Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker joined the army as a medic. She was in Afghanistan to take care of others and was doing just that when she died. She had already received a commendation in 2008 for her professionalism and courage. Jacinda Baker is the first female Kiwi soldier to be killed in action since we entered Afghanistan and the first New Zealand woman to die in conflict since the Viet Nam War. 
Private Richard Harris was just 21. He had already served one stint in Afghanistan. He was a keen sporty guy who enjoyed his life in the army and had a bright future ahead of him. He was far too young to die. Our thoughts and prayers are today with their families and friends. 
We have lost five of our soldiers in just 2 weeks. The lives of 10 Kiwi military personnel have been ended by violence in Afghanistan during our 9 years’ commitment there. The loss is so great it is difficult for families friends colleagues and our nation to bear. We ask ourselves whether it is too high a price. It is the price that we ask the members of our armed forces to be prepared to pay whenever they enter a conflict zone. Their courage and willingness to risk their lives doing their duty in the service of our country is an inspiration to us all. 
We should not forget that our efforts in Afghanistan have made a real difference to the lives of the people there. Children safely attend school they are vaccinated against disease wells and village water supplies have been hooked up and bridges and hospitals rebuilt. Hundreds—perhaps thousands—of Afghan people would not be alive today if not for our presence. That is all thanks to the efforts of our soldiers. That contribution will never be forgotten. 
We have done all that has been asked of us by the international community and as a small nation we have now done all we can. It is time to hand the country back to its own people and its own police forces and security forces. It must be an orderly transition and it will take months to complete the handover to the Afghan National Police and to withdraw our forces and our equipment but it is right after almost a decade that the end of our commitment in Afghanistan be firmly in sight. We should leave the Afghans with the best possible start. 
We thank all of the New Zealanders who have served there on our behalf and who have helped rebuild that fragile country in their many different roles. We recognise their bravery and their willingness to do their best to give others a better life. 
But today we stand with the families and friends of Luke Tamatea Jacinda Baker and Richard Harris as they come to terms with the shock of losing their loved ones. We cannot comprehend the depth of your grief but all New Zealanders want you to know that you are not alone at this most difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers. May your loved ones rest in peace.