Kia ora koutou katoa, e kui ma, e koro ma, e te whänau, ngä iwi o te motu. Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tätou katoa.

It is with tremendous pride and a great sense of responsibility that I rise as the new Member of Parliament for Rimutaka. As a genuine ‘Hutt boy’ I feel deeply honored to have this opportunity to serve and represent the community that has given so much to me throughout my life.

My speech is notable in at least the sense that maiden speeches from my part of the country are reasonably infrequent events.

Read the rest of this entry »