Carter David: AdjournmentText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCarter David: Adjournment[Sitting date: 31 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19838. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members as we close the 50th New Zealand Parliament I want to thank you all for giving me the privilege of being its Speaker. Since I assumed the role 19 months ago I have strived to referee the proceedings of this House in a way that has treated all members fairly in a non-partisan way. Although some of my decisions have been questioned I leave with an absolutely clear conscience. The 50th Parliament has sat for 227 days—a total of 1058 hours—and what is pleasing to note is the limited use of urgency at 79 hours and the increased use of extended sittings at 110 hours. This reflects the very successful changes made to the Standing Orders after the last Parliament.I also want to note the extraordinary commitment of my team of presiding officers. To the two retiring referees Eric Roy and H V Ross Robertson you will be sorely missed and I wish you both well in your lives after Parliament. To my other presiding officer Lindsay Tisch depending on the election and the will of the House it is possible that we may have the opportunity to work together again and I look forward to that.Other members have noted and I also want to acknowledge all the staff who make this place work. The recent performance improvement framework reviews of both the Parliamentary Service and the Office of the Clerk highlighted the very unique nature of both organisations. It noted the special dedication of the staff to this complex and to the way democracy actually functions in New Zealand. So to all the security staff building services staff travel office staff Bellamy’s staff telephonists receptionists VIP drivers and all the others a huge thank you to you all. To my office staff of Lisa Kinloch Oliver Whitehead and Roland Todd thank you for making my job possible. We handled our challenges smoothly. To the Serjeant-at-Arms Brent Smith thank you to your team for maintaining the traditions and the dignity of this House.I particularly want to acknowledge our Clerk of the House Mary Harris. My job would be near impossible without her wise counsel on a daily basis. The strategic intentions for the Office of the Clerk were tabled in the House yesterday. Those directions set four key core values for the organisation which are impartiality accuracy integrity and expertise in parliamentary matters. These are the values that are indeed the values of Mary Harris herself. She is an exceptional Clerk recognised throughout the Commonwealth and honoured this year with a Queen’s Service Medal for services to Parliament. Mary has signalled her intention to retire in May next year. She will leave a huge gap. To her assistant Andie Lindsay your enthusiasm and hard work are second to none. You serve your office and this Parliament with distinction. I also note the retirement today of Fay Paterson after 25 years of service to the Clerk’s Office and her direct involvement with the Table of the House. Fay deserves to be recognised and we wish her well with her future.The other person I have been privileged to work with over the last year is David Stevenson General Manager of the Parliamentary Service. He has done a wonderful job of guiding Parliamentary Service through a challenging time following the release of personal information to the Henry inquiry. I value his work and that of all of his staff both within this building and in our electorate offices. To my parliamentary colleagues on the Business Committee the Officers of Parliament Committee and the Standing Orders Committee thank you. On all those committees we have worked together as we have progressed agendas if somewhat hastily due to the earlier than anticipated election date. The new Standing Orders are an acknowledgment of the way this Parliament continues to change and to adjust our democracy which I can assure you is respected and in fact renowned throughout the world.Although we now all wait nervously for voters to determine our fate if I am fortunate enough to continue this role I intend to progress three particular challenges. First is modernising the daily prayer in a manner that is acceptable to the vast majority of members of Parliament but with strongly held views this may not be as easy as it sounds. Second is to change the way Parliament interacts with Māori protocols. I was embarrassed that two of our women members of Parliament were offended at a traditional pōwhiri held at our last Youth Parliament. I hope to modernise Parliament’s Māori protocols so that all MPs are treated with respect regardless of gender. A third issue that I mentioned earlier today is members taking photographs within this Chamber. There are very strict rules for the press gallery which they must abide by and I think it will become increasingly difficult for me to enforce those rules if there are different rules set for members of Parliament. That will probably be a job for the Privileges Committee as it makes further progress on some of those social media issues.To all retiring members of Parliament thank you for your services to New Zealand. Your valedictories have been varied and interesting and I wish you well as you chart your new directions. To the rest of you embarking on an election campaign that will determine your future direction good luck. Finally in the words of Speaker Sir Richard Harrison in closing the 39th Parliament in 1981: “I wish those of you who are standing for re-election the success they deserve. In that way I am being entirely impartial.”Motion agreed to.