Parliamentary Debate

ELECTION OF SPEAKER

Hon. ROBIN GRAY (Clutha): No, I decline the nomination.

CLERK OF THE HOUSE: In that case, the member for Eastern Maori is elected as Speaker.

[The House then having called Hon. Peter Tapsell to the chair, he was taken out of his place and conducted to the chair by his proposer and his seconder.]

Mr SPEAKER-ELECT: Mr Prime Minister, Ministers, and fellow members of Parliament, I know that members will forgive me if I speak first, and briefly, in Maori.

No reira, e te tuakana e Koro, korua ko Whetu---ka huri nga whakaaro ki te tau 1981, takuna tae mai nei ki konei, na korua i awhi mai, i tautoko mai, i manaaki mai, tenei to korua taina. No reira, tena korua, tena korua, tena korua. Tena ra koe e te tuakana, ara, me te moko puna o te motu*** e noho mai ra i runga i te ahurewa tapu o ona matua, ona tipuna.

E nga karanga maha i waenga nui i a koutou, e Tau, koutou ko te tu mai i te wa tuatahi ki tenei Whare---ko tenei te mihi, te aroha rawa atu. Mauria mai, a, kawea mai nga mate kei runga i a koutou. Mauria mai te aroha me te mana i waihotia e ratau. No reira tena koutou, tena nga mata waka, koutou e whakarongo mai na i o koutou kainga, i o koutou marae---ko tenei te mihi te aroha rawa i runga i te ahuatanga, ki o tatau tini mate. Ko nga mate o ia whanau, o ia hapu, o ia iwi me ki---haere koutou, haere koutou, haere koutou.

No reira kaua e riri mai---e mutu ake nga korero i konei, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ano tatau.

[Subsequent authorised translation: Therefore to the elder colleague, Koro, to both you and Whetu, thoughts go back to the year 1981, to the year when I first arrived here. It was you two who embraced, supported, and took care of me, your youngest colleague. Therefore, I acknowledge and greet you two. Greetings my elder colleague, and indeed Dame Te Ata-I-Rangi-Kaahu, occupier of the sacred role bestowed upon her by her elders and ancestors.

To the many callings in your midst, Tau, to you and all those standing in this House for the first time, a special welcome and gratitude to you all. Bring forth the bereavements that are upon you. Bring forth the respect and prestige that the departed ones have left. Therefore greetings to you. To all the numerous callings, to those of you listening from your homes and courtyards---this special greeting and affection to you in respect of our many bereavements. Let us say to the bereavements upon each family, subtribe, and tribe---depart, farewell, journey on.

Therefore bear with me as I conclude this greeting with the words: salutations to us all.]

I want first to thank all members---well, at least most members---who have supported my appointment to this post. In due course I will learn to forgive those who opposed it! The Speakership is an important, honourable, and historic office---one we have inherited from England, that country to which we owe so much. But the tradition in the United Kingdom is somewhat different from our own. The Speaker, first of all, enjoys the concept of continuity. We may come to that. As well, he---or, as at present, she---formally resigns formal affiliation with his or her party. We have not yet come to continuity in this country, and successive Speakers, without exception, have remained members of their parties. I will continue in that tradition.

I am mindful of the honour all members do me, and I am mindful that we have an opportunity to demonstrate that we are prepared to function according to our new parliamentary resolve. Equally, of course, I am aware that the situation is somewhat different. My appointment, as an Opposition member, is not unique but it is different from any other occasion, and no doubt that will at times bring some difficulties that we will have to work through at the time.

I want to set out, however, the policy that I will follow; it has been set out by some of my predecessors, notably Sir Richard Harrison. It is this: that in the progress of a measure through the House, with the exception of the last decision, the Speaker's office will neither impede nor defeat any measure before the House. In the ultimate, if the decision is dependent on the Speaker, the Speaker's office will preserve the status quo.

I want to make the point clear that all that I have said up till now is subject to this one proviso, and that is that in the event of any extraordinary circumstance occurring, or in the event of a measure being presented to the House that could reasonably be described as a conscience issue, I reserve the right to use my judgment at that time.

I want particularly to pay my regards to my immediate predecessor, the member for Clutha, who held the office with honour and esteem, and, I think, the unanimous support of members on both sides of the House. I pay my respects to him. [Applause.]

I want particularly to thank the mover and the seconder of the motion that I be appointed, and to thank all members. I ask now for support in the time that I will be Speaker. I have nothing to offer members but my industry and my integrity, and I will do that.

Prime Minister, it is customary to have a waiata after a Maori speech. It is usual to call upon the ladies in the audience to sing the waiata for one, but I shall not do that; I shall sing it myself. E rere ra te matangi I waho Maketu Kei reira ra koe---e hine Noho wairangi ai e Mauria mai to aroha Ki i tawhiti e Waiho au i muri nei Tangitangi hotu ai e.

Na reira tena ano tatau katoa.

[Subsequent authorised translation: Fly the wind yonder To Maketu Where you, oh beloved, Reside in infatuation. Bring forth your love To this distance Where I remain Grieving in despair.

Therefore greetings once more to us all.]