Muller ToddTODD MULLER (National—Bay of Plenty): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to support this bill and acknowledge actually the very impressive words and contribution of my colleague Scott Simpson. If I have one critique of the conversation that we've had thus far it is that the Government has been entirely silent on the implications that this has for businesses who certainly under this Government have felt hugely put upon in terms of more compliance more cost more annual leave more sick leave more holidays. It was not even really part of the Minister's introductory comments that there was any acknowledgment that there is a cost associated with this bill. I think that's a mistake and it's a disappointment actually. It shows a lack of respect for those who actually create the wealth and income in this community that the Minister was entirely silent on the implication for them and their businesses.However I think others in this House who have decided to take that to the point of view of opposing this have missed the significance of what we are reflecting on here this evening: that is a life of remarkable service and contribution to the world but particularly as the Sovereign to this fantastic country; 70 years of service—selfless service. A paradox really when you are born into such privilege yet are remembered at the end of your life as someone who has given selfless service as a queen. I think it is absolutely appropriate for us as a country to reflect quietly in our own ways—individually as whānau as family—in response and reflecting on a remarkable 70 years of service. That is why the National Party so strongly supports this one-off public holiday on Monday.Everyone immediately reflects on their own particular relationship with our late Queen. For me it was a personal meeting on 1 November 1995. It was a Government House function. I was working for the Prime Minister Jim Bolger at the time. I was there with a huge number of other people and did not expect to find myself in a queue only a handful of people away from Her Majesty. I quickly saw the opportunity to stand at attention as she was moving along the line. I had a Heineken in one hand and was not particularly well briefed as to what I should do. So as she approached I put out my hand and shook it and said Your Majesty my name's Todd Muller. I work for Jim Bolger." and she said "That's lovely." But in all seriousness she immediately said—and I think this just talks to the millions of experiences that have been shared in public lately—"And how was Bill Rowling's funeral?" Because she knew that the Prime Minister was at Bill Rowling's funeral that day. So hearing that I worked for Jim Bolger the first thing she asks of is how did the farewell of a former Prime Minister go—how was his family and was it an appropriate send off? You know I thought that that in its little glimpse for me talked to someone who immediately is focused on other people. We had a further conversation around what it was like working in a Prime Minister's office and then she moved on to the next person in the line. I have to admit looking at the queue that then followed and reflecting that was probably the third or fourth function that she did that day—and she did that for 70 years; connecting with people and being interested in them—I find just breathtaking.I think it is absolutely right that we do spend time in the hurly-burly of our life to actually pause and reflect. I don't think at times we do enough of it you know when we have a public holiday to actually just reflect on the purpose of it. I would hope that on Monday we do take time as individuals and as families just to reflect not only on the Queen's service but on the nature of service and the nature of selfless service. I often wonder what she thinks and thought of subsequent generations to her own that she always called the "greatest generation" the generation that she was most closest to in age that had seen their fathers and uncles fall in the trenches of World War I but went again to defend freedom and democracy into that fire when they were young. She was young at the same time and you could tell that there was such an immense bond between her and that generation—that despite what they knew they were walking towards they did it anyway because the values of decency and democracy needed to be upheld. And if not them then who? So they walked towards the fire and in many cases death.I wonder what she thinks or thought of the generations that have come since: obsessing on our phones reflecting on curing our image on Instagram and other social media environments. I wonder what she would think of that in terms of the focus of selfless service versus a society which perhaps is becoming more focused on self as opposed to selfless service. So that's what I will be reflecting on.Now I appreciate that my personal reflections are only valid for me and not necessarily for anyone either on this side or on the other side of the House. But I think it is valuable to reflect on the nature of service—what it means to have a Sovereign for someone to have been so connected to this place this institution for 70 years this country for 70 years and so focused on the individual journeys that she was connected with over those 70 years. A remarkable lady—someone that I was very moved when I heard she had died; more moved than I expected to be. I had seen the photo of her meeting Liz Truss and I noted "Gosh she's really looking frail." But when I got the message as we all did that she had passed I was deeply moved. I've reflected since: why is that? Partly it's her service; partly I think she reminds me and reminded me of that generation that has passed. My great uncle who lost control of his RAF fighter jet and pulled it down before a school and lost his life in 1940; my grandparents who then went on to serve their community in the 1950s 1960s and 1970s. I think part of the reason I have been so deeply moved is she reflected a core part of who I am and my family's connection with this country and my family's connection with service and that great generation. So let's spend some time on this public holiday on Monday individually reflecting on what service sacrifice means in the context of this country as we look forward to the next five years or 10 years. Thank you Madam Speaker."