Henare asks MPs to rebuild trust in Parliament

Kia ora, I'm Louis Collins, Nomo Kedifati, welcome to the house.

With the election approaching in November, many MPs will be tightening their ropes and setting

sail into the storm of an election campaign.

Others, particularly the more seasoned ones, may be reflecting on whether they still have

the appetite for another race, or whether it's time to turn their boats towards the sunset

and retire from politics.

When MPs do choose to retire, it's customary for them to deliver a velodictory speech.

Many speeches give departing members a chance to say goodbye to Parliament and reflect

on their careers in politics.

This week's velodictorian was Labour's Penny Henari.

If you churned in part way through though, you may have thought that you were listening

to a retiring all-black, rather than a politician.

As Henari shared memories of playing for the Parliament, rugby team.

I got a phone call from Dame Jacinda Ardern, who said Penny, if there is a hair out of place

on Ashley Bloomfield's head, you will pay the price.

Mr Speaker, a little did I know that he was playing Openside Flanker that day, the hardest

working position on the field.

As many in this room will know, despite not admitting it, the knees at this age aren't

meant for stepping.

So Mr Speaker, the call was one in two cut, I'm the stick-in-five, and my job was to run

straight.

I ran straight, and as I looked up, I saw Ashley Bloomfield quickly pulled the handbrake

and stepped off my left foot, only to be cut in half by former all-black Rodney Sawayala.

Mr Speaker, I dare say, part of me was left on the field that day.

But it was one of those occasions that reminded us that, despite our political affiliations,

sport, and in this case, rugby was one of those things that brought us together.

To the forged on the footy field or through his generally-friendly approach to politics,

Hennerley spoke about the relationships he built with MPs across the house.

Myself and Dr Shane Reti, who I acknowledge, not just as my former family doctor, but

of course, my dueling buddy that day, went toe-to-toe in this house in rigorous debate

on the matter of Māori health.

And as a testament to the good nature of the man, we walked across the hall, across the

floor here, after a tough debate and days of debate, gave each other a hungry and a hug,

and said we have work to do for Māori health.

He also reflected on some of the more challenging and even harrowing moments of his ministerial

career, including his time as Minister for Civil Defence and the response to Fikari White Island.

For images and the work that we got through on that day will forever be burned in my memory.

It was a particularly tough time, and it's a time that when I reflect upon

it will be something no doubt that we will continue to talk about long into the future.

There are lots I can say about the Civil Defence portfolio,

but one thing I know is sure, our first responders in this country are amazing people.

As well as losing one of its more experienced MPs,

Labour will also miss Hennerley's gift for speaking, particularly his archery in today Māori.

Throughout the speech, he moved comfortably between serious reflections and lighter comic relief,

something that's been a consistent feature of his time in Parliament.

In 2017, I found myself the Minister for Fānau Ora. It was a tough initiation.

You can imagine that my auntie, Dame Neda Glavish, my other auntie, Dame Eritana,

my other auntie Dame Tariana, and my other auntie Dame Arita, all of us are in,

didn't talk to me anymore. In fact, they were quite explicit.

They rang in the Prime Minister and said, we want a meeting.

And the meeting sort of went like this, I don't know, I wasn't invited,

but I certainly heard about it afterwards.

And said, we don't want Penny, as the Minister, he's not good enough.

And then they came out and had a cup of tea with me and said, how's the Fānau, boy?

Like many departing MPs, Hennerley also offered some wisdom,

encouraging those still in the house to work towards rebuilding trust,

and institutions like Parliament.

In my maiden speech, I called Parliament an August institution.

With all of my heart, I still believe that to be true.

I have seen this place work hard for the benefit of this country.

I see it as a true mechanism of change and we must protect it as a bastion

of representative democracy when the world is turning against it.

I'm not surprised to see however the waning of trust and belief in this institution.

We have a role and a responsibility each and every one of us to rebuild that trust.

A Terry I, Hennerley, concluded by acknowledging his Fānau,

sharing a few statistics from his time in Parliament, and true to form,

finishing with a light-hearted quip about last year's dealings with the Privileges Committee.

I made 545 speeches and uttered 716,675 words in this house.

All of huge mana and integrity.

Mr Speaker, I have been asked to withdraw and apologise once

by Speaker Rudolfi, and I'll be taking that up with him.

And of course, the wee matter of Haka that was addressed by the Privileges Committee.

Mr Speaker, as I have done many times in this house and indeed around Moray across the country,

I say, Mr Speaker, thank you for the support and support of our people.

Moving to the House, a programme made with funding from Parliament's Office of the Clock,

Matua.