Tuesday, 5 December 2023 - Volume 772 TUESDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2023 CHIEF COMMISSIONER (Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelman): E te Whare Pāremata e tū nei E ōna rangatira katoa Kia tahuri mai ō koutou taringa Members of the House of Representatives: Her Excellency the Governor-General, not thinking fit to be present here in person, has caused Letters Patent to be passed under the Seal of New Zealand appointing me and my fellow Commissioners to open this Parliament of New Zealand. This is more fully set out in the Letters Patent which I ask that the Clerk of the House now read. Letters Patent CLERK: CINDY KIRO Charles The Third, by the Grace of God King of New Zealand and His Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith: To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting! Whereas, by a Proclamation made on the 27th day of November 2023, Our Governor-General of New Zealand, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, proclaimed that the Parliament of New Zealand should meet in the parliamentary precincts in the City of Wellington at 11.00 am, on the 5th day of December 2023: And Whereas Our said Governor-General does not think fit to be present at the opening of the said session: Now, know that We, trusting in the discretion, fidelity, and care of Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor The Right Honourable Dame Helen Diana Winkelmann, Dame Grand Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit and Our Trusty and Well-beloved The Honourable Mark Leslie Smith Cooper, and The Honourable Susan Elizabeth Thomas do by these presents give and grant unto them, or any two of them, full power in Our name to open the said Parliament in Our behalf, and to do all things necessary to be done in Our name, or in the name of Our Governor-General of New Zealand, in and about the opening of the said Parliament, commanding also all whom it concerns to meet in the said Parliament, and that the said The Right Honourable Dame Helen Diana Winkelmann The Honourable Mark Leslie Smith Cooper, and The Honourable Susan Elizabeth Thomas or any two of them diligently attend in the premises, at the opening of the said Parliament. In Testimony Whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent, and issued under the Seal of New Zealand, at Wellington on the 27th day of November in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty Three and in the 2nd Year of Our Reign. Witness Our Trusty and Well-beloved The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, Chancellor and Dame Grand Companion of Our New Zealand Order of Merit, Principal Companion of Our Service Order, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Realm of New Zealand. Christopher Luxon By Her Excellency's Command. The Proclamation summoning Parliament was then read by the Chief Commissioner as follows: Proclamation CHIEF COMMISSIONER (Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann): DAME CINDY KIRO, Governor-General A PROCLAMATION Whereas by Proclamation published on 8 September,2023 the Parliament of New Zealand was summoned to meet on 21 December 2023: And whereas I have thought fit to summon it to meet on an earlier day: Now, therefore, pursuant to section 18 of the Constitution Act 1986, I, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand, summon the Parliament of New Zealand to meet in the parliamentary precincts in the City of Wellington, at 11.00 a.m. on 5 December 2023. Given under the hand of Her Excellency the Governor-General, and issued under the Seal of New Zealand, on 27 November 2023. CHRISTOPHER LUXON, Prime Minister. GOD SAVE THE KING! E ngā rangatira o te Whare e tū nei: Members of the House of Representatives: We have it in command from Her Excellency the Governor-General to inform you that on 6 December 2023 at 10.30 a.m., Her Excellency the Governor-General will declare to you in person the cause of her summoning this Parliament to meet. But since it is necessary that a Speaker of the House of Representatives be first chosen, Her Excellency requests that you, members of Parliament, now proceed to choose one of your members to fill that high and important office, and that having chosen that person, you present that person at 1.45 p.m., today, 5 December 2023 at Government House at Wellington for Her Excellency's confirmation. E te Whare, koinei te kupu a Te Kāwana Turuturu ō whiti whakamaua kia tina! Tina! Haumi e, hui e! The Commissioners then withdrew. AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER OATH CLERK: Honourable members, I will now read the Commission authorising me to administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance required by law to be taken or made by members. In accordance with section 11 of the Constitution Act 1986 I, the Rt Hon Dame Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand, authorise you, David Martin Wilson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, to administer to members of Parliament the Oath or Affirmation of allegiance to His Majesty the King, required to be taken or made by every such member before that member shall be permitted to sit or vote in the House of Representatives. Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister, Authorised CINDY KARO Governor-General 27 November 2023 RETURN OF WRIT CLERK: Honourable members, I've received from the Electoral Commission a writ endorsed with the names of those members elected to represent electoral districts, and a return listing the names of members elected from party lists. I lay these documents on the Table. MEMBERS SWORN CLERK: I'll now call each member in alphabetical order to come to the left of the Table and make the oath or take the affirmation of allegiance. After taking the oath or making the affirmation, would members please take their parchment and go around the Hansard table to the right, to the Clerk, to sign your parchment with the pen provided. STEVE ABEL (Green): Ko ahau, ko Stephen George Bremner Abel, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Stephen George Bremner Abel, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] Hon GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour): Ko ahau, ko Virginia Ruby Andersen, e kī i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi, me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Virginia Ruby Andersen, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] MILES ANDERSON (National—Waitaki): I, Miles John Anderson, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to the law. So help me God. JAMIE ARBUCKLE (NZ First): I, Jamie Arthur Arbuckle, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. CARL BATES (National—Whanganui): I, Carl Michael Bates, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. ANDREW BAYLY (National): I, Andrew Henry Bayly, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. DAN BIDOIS (National—Northcote): I, Daniel Michael Bidois, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon CHRIS BISHOP (Leader of the House): I, Christopher John Stewart Bishop, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. RACHEL BOYACK (Labour—Nelson): Ko ahau, ko Rachel Elizabeth Boyack-Mayer, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Rachel Elizabeth Boyack-Mayer, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] CAMERON BREWER (National—Upper Harbour): I, Cameron Eric Brewer, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon RACHEL BROOKING (Labour—Dunedin): I, Rachel Brooking, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. SIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): I, Simeon Peter Brown, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): I, Gerard Anthony Brownlee, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. MIKE BUTTERICK (National—Wairarapa): I, Michael Butterick, solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. MARK CAMERON (ACT): I, Mark Stuart Cameron, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. HAMISH CAMPBELL (National—Ilam): I, Hamish George Campbell, solemnly and sincerely truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. KAHURANGI CARTER (Green): Ko ahau, ko Kahurangi Carter, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Kahurangi Carter, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] Dr CARLOS CHEUNG (National—Mt Roskill): I, Chun Ho Carlos Cheung, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. 本人，Chun Ho Carlos Cheung，謹此宣誓將依法竭誠效忠查理斯三世國王陛下及其世襲繼承人和繼任者。願主佑我。 KAREN CHHOUR (ACT): E kī i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi, me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] FA'ANĀNĀ EFESO COLLINS (Green): Ko ahau, ko Fa'anānā Efeso Collins, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Charles te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Fa'anānā Efeso Collins, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles IIII, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] O a'u, Fa'anānā Efeso Collins, ou te tauto atu la'u lagolago ma le tautua faamaoni i le Tupu o Salesa le Tolu, atoa ma ona Suli, ma i latou uma ua filifilia i lalo o le tulafono, e faataunuuina ona tiute. Ia fesoasoani mai le Atua ia te aʻu. CASEY COSTELLO (NZ First): I, Cassandra Jane Costello, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God. TIM COSTLEY (National—Ōtaki): I, Timothy John Costley, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God. SIMON COURT (ACT): I, Simon Thomas Court, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. REUBEN DAVIDSON (Labour—Christchurch East): Ko ahau, ko Reuben John Davidson, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Reuben John Davidson, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] CLERK: Do you declare this Oath to be binding on you? REUBEN DAVIDSON (Labour—Christchurch East): I do. Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON (Green): Ko ahau, ko Marama Mere-Ana Davidson, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ke te ture. [I, Marama Mere-Ana Davidson, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): I, Matthew Maurice Doocey, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. Hon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana): Ko ahau, ko Barbara Rachael Fati Palepa Edmonds, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Barbara Rachael Fati Palepa Edmonds, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] O a'u, Barbara Rachael Fati Palepa Edmonds, ou te tauto atu la'u lagolago ma le tautua faamaoni i le Tupu o Salesa le Tolu, atoa ma ona Suli, ma i latou uma ua filifilia i lalo o le tulafono, e faataunuuina ona tiute. Ia fesoasoani mai le Atua ia te aʻu. TĀKUTA FERRIS (Te Pāti Māori —Te Tai Tonga): E te Whare, tēnā tātou. Ko ahau, ko Tākuta Ferris, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki ā tātau mokopuna e ai ki te tikanga Māori. Ka kawe ahau i āku mahi me ōku herenga, ki te whakamahi hoki i tōku mana e ai ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi. I, Tākuta Ferris, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to our mokopuna according to tikanga Māori. I will perform my functions and duties and exercise my powers in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Waiata Haka Ka tohe au ki te tangata nāna nei i whakataurekareka Te Tiriti o Waitangi. I a ha ha! E tū te iwi Māori! Nā wai rā i kī rā mā te Karauna anake? Nōku te whenua, he taonga nōku Upokokōhua te mataku e. [I contend with the person who treated the Treaty of Waitangi with derision, How dare they! To the Māori people, stand up! Who was it that said it is for the Crown alone? The land is mine, it is a taonga of mine Be very afraid.] Ko ahau, ko Tākuta Ferris, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Hare, Hare te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Tākuta Ferris, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] GREG FLEMING (National—Maungakiekie): Ko ahau, ko Gregory Wray Fleming, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Gregory Wray Fleming, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] ANDY FOSTER (NZ First): I, Andrew Foster, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. PAULO GARCIA (National—New Lynn): I Paulo Rez Garcia swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Ako, si Paulo Rez Garcia, ay sumusumpa na ako ay magiging tapat at mag-aalay ng tunay na katapatan sa Kanyang Kamahalan, kay King Charles III, sa Kanyang mga tagapagmana at kahalili, alinsunod sa batas. Tulungan nawa ako ng Diyos. Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green—Rongotai): Ko ahau, ko Julie Anne Genter, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a kīngi Tiāre Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Julie Anne Genter, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green): Ko ahau, ko Golriz Ghahraman, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (National): I, Paul Jonathan Goldsmith, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God. Hon NICOLA GRIGG (National—Selwyn): I, Nicola Anna Grigg, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. RYAN HAMILTON (National—Hamilton East): I, Ryan Alexander Hamilton, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon PEENI HENARE (Labour): Ko ahau, ko Peeni Ereatara Gladwyn Henare, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Peeni Ereatara Gladwyn Henare, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour): I, Christopher John Hipkins, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. ANDREW HOGGARD (ACT): I, Andrew John Hoggard, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Labour): Ko ahau, ko William Wakatere Jackson, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, William Wakatere Jackson, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] Hon SHANE JONES (NZ First): Ko ahau, ko Shane Geoffrey Jones, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Shane Geoffrey Jones, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI (Te Pāti Māori —Te Tai Tokerau): Tēnā tātau e te Whare. Ko Mariameno Kapa-Kingi tōku ingoa. E oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki ā tātau mokopuna e ai ki te tikanga Māori. Ka kawe ahau i āku mahi me ōku herenga, me te whakamahi hoki i tōku mana e ai ki Te Whakaputanga, e ai ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Tēnā tātou. [I greet the House. My name is Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi. I swear that I bear true allegiance to our future generations in accordance with tikanga Māori. I will perform my functions and duties and exercise my powers in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.] Karakia Ko ahau, ko Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ke te ture. [I, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] TAKUTAI TARSH KEMP (Te Pāti Māori —Tāmaki Makaurau): Ko ahau, ko Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki ā tātau mokopuna e ai ki te tikanga Māori. Ka kawe ahau i āku mahi me ōku herenga, me te whakamahi hoki i tōku mana e ai ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Toitū te Tiriti. [I, Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, swear that I bear true allegiance to our future generations in accordance with tikanga Māori. I will perform my functions and duties and exercise my powers in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Honour the Treaty.] Ko ahau, ko Takutai Moana Tarsh Kemp, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Takutai Moana Tarsh Kemp, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] CLERK: Do you declare this oath to be binding on you? TAKUTAI TARSH KEMP (Te Pāti Māori —Tāmaki Makaurau): Āe. DANA KIRKPATRICK (National—East Coast): I, Dana Margot Kirkpatrick, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. BARBARA KURIGER (National—Taranaki-King Country): I, Barbara Joan Kuriger, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. INGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri): Ko ahau, ko Ingrid Marieke Leary, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Ingrid Marieke Leary, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] O au o Ingrid Marieke Leary, sa bubuluitaka niú na yalodina ka tokona tikoga na Tui Vakaturaga o Charles na ikatolu, o ira na nona kawa kei na kena isosomi, me vaka na lawa. Moni vukei au na Kalou. Hon MELISSA LEE (National): I, Melissa Lee, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. 본인, 멜리사 이지연 은 법에 따라 찰스 3세 국왕 폐하와그의 후계자 및 왕위 계승자에게 진심으로 충성을 다할것을 선서하며, 신의 이름으로 맹세합니다. CHRISTOPHER LUXON (National): I, Christopher Luxon, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. CAMERON LUXTON (ACT): I, Cameron Gib Luxton, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon JO LUXTON (Labour): Ko ahau, ko Joanne Marie Luxton, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Joanne Marie Luxton, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] HŪHANA LYNDON (Green): Ko ahau, ko Hūhana Lyndon, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. DAVID MacLEOD (National—New Plymouth): I, David Nigel MacLeod, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE (Te Pāti Māori—Hauraki-Waikato): Ko ahau, ko Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki ā tātau mokopuna e ai ki te tikanga Māori. Ka kawe ahau i āku mahi me ōku herenga, me te whakamahi hoki i tōku mana e ai ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ki a Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu. [I, Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke, swear that I bear true allegiance to our future generations in accordance with tikanga Māori. I will perform my functions and duties and exercise my powers in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Honour the Treaty and King Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu.] Waiata Kuīni Wikitōria, he aha taku hē i muia ai aku whenua tūpuna e te riri Pākehā? Ka hoki te mana o tō kupu. Mokopuna [indistinct] ana Te ahiahi i runga i te huarahi [indistinct]. [Queen Victoria, what is my error that my ancestral lands have become surrounded by the Pākehā war? The authority of your word returns. Grandchildren [indistinct] The evening on the path [indistinct].] E oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono. Ko ahau, ko Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiare te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko taku Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance. I, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] JENNY MARCROFT (NZ First): I, Jennifer Lyn Marcroft, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon KIERAN McANULTY (Labour): I, Kieran Michael McAnulty, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. GRANT McCALLUM (National—Northland): I, Grant Lewis McCallum, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua): I, Todd Michael McClay, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. NICOLE McKEE (ACT): I, Nicole Raima McKee, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. JAMES MEAGER (National—Rangitata): I, James Rawiri Meager, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green): I, Ricardo Menéndez March, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. Hon MARK MITCHELL (National—Whangaparāoa): I, Mark Mitchell, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. JOSEPH MOONEY (National—Southland): I, Joseph Mooney, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I'll be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. RIMA NAKHLE (National—Takanini): I, Rima Jillian Nakhle, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. [Arabic text to be inserted by the Hansard Office.] DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Te Pāti Māori—Te Tai Hauāuru): Tēnā tātou e te Whare. Ko ahau e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki ā tātau mokopuna e ai ki te tikanga Māori. Ka kawe ahau i āku mahi me ōku herenga, me te whakamahi hoki i tōku mana e ai ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi. I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to our mokopuna according to tikanga Māori. I will perform my functions and duties and exercise my powers in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Toitū te whenua Toitū te mokopuna Toitū te Tiriti e [Honour the land Honour the grandchild Honour the Treaty] E kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi, me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Hare, Hare te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] KATIE NIMON (National—Napier): I, Katrina Margaret Nimon, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Labour): I, Damien O'Connor, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. GREG O'CONNOR (Labour—Ōhāriu): I, Gregory Eamon O'Connor, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (ACT): I, Kushmiita Parmjeet Kaur Parmar, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. Hon MARK PATTERSON (NZ First): I, Mark Patterson, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. TAMATHA PAUL (Green—Wellington Central): Ko ahau, ko Tamatha Paul, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Tamatha Paul, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] CHRIS PENK (National—Kaipara ki Mahurangi): I, Christopher Aidan Penk, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (NZ First): I, Winston Peters, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. LAN PHAM (Green): Ko ahau, ko Ngoc-Lan Thi Pham, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Ngoc-Lan Thi Pham, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] Tôi, Ngoc-Lan Thi Pham, long trọng, chân thành, và thực sự tuyên bố và khẳng định rằng tôi sẽ trung thành và thật sự trung thành với Đức Vua Charles Đệ Tam, những người thừa kế và kế nhiệm của Ngài, theo quy định của pháp luật. TAMA POTAKA (National—Hamilton West): Ko ahau, ko Tama William Potaka, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Tama William Potaka, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour): Ko ahau, ko Willow-Jean Prime, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Willow-Jean Prime, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] MAUREEN PUGH (National—West Coast-Tasman): I, Maureen Helena Pugh, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour): I, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. SUZE REDMAYNE (National—Rangitīkei): I, Susan Emma Dossor Redmayne, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangārei): I, Shane Raymond Reti, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour): I, Grant Murray Robertson, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. Rt Hon ADRIAN RURAWHE (Labour): Ko ahau, ko Adrian Paki Rurawhe, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Adrian Paki Rurawhe, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] Hon Dr DEBORAH RUSSELL (Labour): I, Deborah Faye Russell, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. TOM RUTHERFORD (National—Bay of Plenty): I, Tom Rutherford, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon JENNY SALESA (Labour—Panmure-Ōtāhuhu): I, Jennifer Salesa, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Ko au, Jenny Salesa, 'oku ou fakapapau te u angatonu mo tali angi mo'oni ki he 'Ene 'Afió Kingi Sālesi hono Tolú, Hono ngaahi 'eá mo e tukufakaholó, 'o fakatatau ki he laó. Faitokonia mai au 'e 'Otua. Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston): Ko ahau, ko Carmel Jean Sepuloni, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Carmel Jean Sepuloni, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I, David Breen Seymour, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. PENNY SIMMONDS (National—Invercargill): I, Penelope Elsie Simmonds, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): I, Scott Simpson, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. STUART SMITH (National—Kaikōura): I, Stuart Taylor Smith, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. LEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour—Māngere): Ko ahau, ko Lemauga Lydia Sosene, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] O a'u, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, ou te tauto atu la'u lagolago ma le tautua faamaoni i le Tupu o Salesa le Tolu, atoa ma ona Suli, ma i latou uma ua filifilia i lalo o le tulafono, e faataunuuina ona tiute. Ia fesoasoani mai le Atua ia te aʻu. Hon ERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays): I, Erica Stanford, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. TODD STEPHENSON (ACT): I, Todd Michael Stephenson, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. CHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central): Ko ahau, ko Chlöe Charlotte Swarbrick, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Chlöe Charlotte Swarbrick, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] DARLEEN TANA (Green): Ko ahau, ko Darleen Tana, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Darleen Tana, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] Jeg, Darleen Tana, erklærer og bekræfter højtideligt, oprigtigt og sandt, at jeg vil være trofast og bære ægte troskab mod Hans Majestæt Kong Charles III, Hans arvinger og efterfølgere i henhold til loven. CUSHLA TANGAERE-MANUEL (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): Ko ahau, ko Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] Hon JAN TINETTI (Labour): Ko ahau, ko, Janette Tinetti, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Janette Tinetti, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] Hon RINO TIRIKATENE (Labour): Ko ahau, ko Rino Tirikatene, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Rino Tirikatene, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] LAURA TRASK (ACT): I, Laura Barbara Trask, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. TEANAU TUIONO (Green): Ko ahau, ko Teanau Tuiono, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Teanau Tuiono, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] SAM UFFINDELL (National—Tauranga): I, Samuel Julian Uffindell, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. TANYA UNKOVICH (NZ First): I, Tanya Marie Unkovich, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō): I, Louise Upston, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. TANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Ko ahau, ko Tangi William Edward Utikere, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Tangi William Edward Utikere, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] TIM VAN DE MOLEN (National—Waikato): I, Timothy John van de Molen, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (ACT—Tāmaki): I, Brooke van Velden, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Labour): Ko ahau, ko Ayesha Verrall, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Ayesha Verrall, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to the law.] RAWIRI WAITITI (Te Pāti Māori—Waiariki): Ko ahau, ko Rawiri Waititi, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki ā tātau mokopuna e ai ki te tikanga Māori. Ka kawe ahau i āku mahi me ōku herenga, me te whakamahi hoki i tōku mana e ai ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Toitū te Tiriti. I, Rawiri Waititi, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to our mokopuna according to tikanga Māori. I will perform my functions and duties and exercise my powers in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Toitū Te Titiri. Pō ngā rā i, pō ngā rā I ahaha Ka tataki mai te Whare o Ngā Ture Ka whiria te Māori, ka whiria! Ngau nei ōna reiti Ngau nei ōna take A ha ha! Tē taea te ueue! Hikohiko te uira Papā te whaititiri Whakahekeheke iho ana ki runga o Paremate e! Kia hiko au e Te okaoka o tāku pū Kia hiko au e Te okaoka o tāku pū Kei hinga au e! Kei mate au e! Te takoto tonu au e hā! [Honour the Treaty. Day falls to night, day falls to night I ahaha There is chattering in the House of Legislation And Māori are being plaited as a rope Its rates are biting Its taxes are biting A ha ha! I am overcome with turmoil! The lightning flashes The thunder crashes It descends upon Parliament! The bayonet of my firearm flashes The bayonet of my firearm flashes Lest I fall! Lest I die! And am laid low!] Ko ahau, ko Rawiri Waititi, e oati ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi, ki te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ahau ki a Kīngi Hare, Hare te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Rawiri Waititi, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] SIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): I, Simon Glen Watts, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. Hon Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): I, Duncan Webb solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. CATHERINE WEDD (National—Tukituki): I, Catherine Wedd, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Dr VANESSA WEENINK (National—Banks Peninsula): I, Vanessa Weenink, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. HELEN WHITE (Labour—Mt Albert): Ko ahau, ko Helen White, e kī ana i runga i te pono, i te tika, i te ngākau tapatahi me te whakaū anō ka noho pirihonga, ka noho pūmau ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke e ai ki te ture. [I, Helen White, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law.] ARENA WILLIAMS (Labour—Manurewa): Ko ahau, ko Arena Williams, e oati ana ka noho pūmau taku pono ki a Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru me tōna kāhui whakaheke, e ai ki te ture. Ko te Atua nei hoki taku pou. [I, Arena Williams, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.] SCOTT WILLIS (Green): I, Scott Matthew Willis, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. NICOLA WILLIS (National): I, Nicola Willis, swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God. Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour—Wigram): I, Megan Cherie Woods, solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, His heirs and successors, according to law. ELECTION OF SPEAKER CLERK: Honourable members, the House must now choose a Speaker. Are there nominations? Hon SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): I nominate the Hon Gerry Brownlee for the office of Speaker. CLERK: Is there a seconder? SUZE REDMAYNE (National—Rangitīkei): I second the nomination of the Hon Gerry Brownlee for the office of Speaker. CLERK: Are there any further nominations? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Pāti Māori): We nominate Adrian Paki Rurawhe. CLERK: Does the member accept the nomination? Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe: No, he doesn't, thank you. CLERK: Because the member won't accept the nomination, I can't accept it. Are there any further nominations? There being no further nominations, I declare the Hon Gerry Brownlee elected Speaker. SPEAKER-ELECT: Well, what a surprise! Can I offer my thanks to the members of the House who have shown this confidence in me today, and to affirm with the House that I see the role very much as protection of members' rights to speak freely in this House, and to go about their business across the country unimpeded. I want to acknowledge the seven Speakers that I've served under in my time in the Parliament. Many of them, at some point or another, have come under some opprobrium from some parts of the House—quite often, from me. I think that that is, unfortunately, the lot of a Speaker, but I'll do my best to be fair and even across the House. I want to acknowledge my immediate predecessor, the Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe. You, sir, brought a calm and a dignity to this House at a time that it was needed, and I know that many members who are here today very much appreciate that. I'm grateful that in our discussions leading to today you've offered your good counsel any time I should need it, and there's no doubt there will be those times. Look, I just want to give some indication of how I might work. Firstly, can I say that our Standing Orders really are just a guide for how this House works. They're important and they give us a framework, but they're not absolute. When I first came to this House I sat through the Address in Reply debate where the party leaders were all speaking one after the other, after the two very good maiden speeches from the movers and seconders. One of those speakers, as it happens, is here today and will probably be speaking tomorrow, I suspect. But that was, to say the least, a ferocious debate, for someone sitting for the first time in Parliament down the back of the House. After it was over, the Rt Hon Doug Kidd, who was a very good Speaker, said to me, "So what did you think of that?" I said, "Well, Doug, I don't know how I would ever manage to compete and participate in that environment." His advice was, simply, osmosis: be here, learn from the environment, don't get too hung up on the rules, recognise that it is a free flow of debate, and participate in it reasonably whenever you can, but above all else, learn—advice offered today to some new members from the Prime Minister, in fact. So I would offer that advice to all new members who are in the House today. I just want to congratulate those new members as well as returning members, but the new members, but also recognise from the Chair the huge amount of work that's gone in by the volunteers that will have helped you and supported you in getting to this place. That is a big part of our participatory democracy and we can't forget about it when we sit in this House. Finally, I want to acknowledge my family, who are here today. Without their forbearance, just like the rest of you, I would not be here and not able to do this job. I also want to take the unusual step of acknowledging my good friend Roger Bridge, without whose counsel and advice over many years I would also not be in this position. So can I, with those remarks, thank the House for their confidence and express the wish that we all might get on a little bit better than I got on with some of the Speakers who have gone before me. I suppose in that regard I should also acknowledge my biggest challenge will probably be keeping myself in order. Rt Hon CHRISTOPHER LUXON (Prime Minister): Mr Speaker-Elect, we are constantly reminded by Speakers in this House not to bring you into our debates, but this one is actually going to be all about you. You have made the significant decision to serve this House and our country as Speaker, and I think that both will be better off because of that decision and your commitment. Thank you for stepping up and thank you for serving New Zealand in this unique way. I actually met you when you were Minister of Transport, and we hit it off once we had established that we had both started off life at Loreto College in Windermere Road, Christchurch. I have to say that from choirboy to Speaker, Mr Speaker-Elect, the Sisters of Mercy would be incredibly proud of you—very proud of you, indeed. You are known to us in the National Party as the father of the House: paternal, but not paternalistic; knowledgeable, but not a know-it-all. Your deep knowledge and your wide experience have been well-earned since you were first elected in 1996. This is, in fact, your 10th consecutive Parliament, resulting in 27 years of unbroken service, and that is quite simply a remarkable political career. In that time, you've been a senior Minister in the fifth National Government, you've held a large range of portfolios in Opposition and in Government, you've been Leader of the House, and you've been deputy leader of the National Party. You have an enormous knowledge about and respect for this institution and a genuine personal mana, and I know that you are going to uphold the dignity of this place and be a fair adjudicator of our proceedings. Finally, I want to acknowledge that alongside your commitment to our New Zealand Parliament, you are deeply dedicated to your family, and I do want to acknowledge your wife, Michelle, and your three children. I know that you are incredibly proud of them and grateful for all the support that they give you, and I know that, likewise, they are immensely proud of you and all that you have achieved and contributed as well. For the service that you are about to give, I thank you and I wish you well. Mr Speaker-Elect, on behalf of the Government, congratulations and good luck. Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the Opposition): Mr Speaker-Elect, on behalf of the Opposition can I also add our congratulations to your elevation to this role and take the opportunity to congratulate all members who have been sworn into Parliament today. Regardless of where in this Chamber you sit, it is an enormous privilege and an enormous responsibility to be a member of Parliament, and I know that it is one that every member who has taken the oath today will take very seriously. It's the sixth time that I've been sworn in as a member of Parliament, but I can honestly say that every time still feels like a special occasion. There are very few people who get to have the initials "MP" after their name at some point during their working lives, and so everybody should take a moment to reflect on that. There are even fewer people, Mr Speaker-Elect, who get to master the art of being a true parliamentarian, and in fact you are one of those. You are someone who understands the culture of the House. You understand the rules of the House. You understand the importance of what goes on here in a way that very few people, actually, get to understand, and I think that marks you out as being a very appropriate person for the Government to have nominated to be the Speaker of the House. Mr Speaker-Elect, there once was a tradition where the Speaker-Elect would be dragged to the Chair after being elected. I think that was dispatched with by Jonathan Hunt when the party whips couldn't keep up with him as he galloped his way to the Speaker's Chair. But I'm pleased to see you at least made the pretence of trying to keep up the tradition. You have been a member of Parliament since 1996. You've served in a vast number of roles, including ones that are near and dear to my heart, including party whip, and Leader of the House, two very important and underrated roles in my view. You've served as deputy leader of the National Party not once but twice, and you've been a Minister in the Key Government where you held, I think, at last count, eleven different portfolios. You supported the people of Christchurch through some of their darkest and most challenging hours, and I think that that also marks you up well for this role, because you are familiar with holding a position in which no matter what decision you make, someone is going to be upset at the outcome of that. I think those who preside over natural disasters like the one in Christchurch will know that there are very few easy choices in that role, and you, I think, led, over a long period of time, the country through that, and we thank you for that service. One of the most important roles of the Speaker is to protect the rights of the minority, and we find ourselves now in the minority in this House. You have a role to ensure that the Government can govern, and you have a role to ensure that the Opposition can hold the Government to account in the decisions that they are taking. I know that you will take both of those responsibilities incredibly seriously, and we look forward to working with you in good humour, as you have previously demonstrated, as you embark on this new role. So on behalf of the Opposition, once again, our warmest congratulations. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green): I just want to congratulate you, Mr Speaker-Elect, for the act of service that you have undertaken. The Green Party wants to acknowledge that your role is one of service to ensure that we can perform a role. Others have acknowledged your experience, and we want to join in acknowledging the wealth of experience you will bring into the role. In your acknowledgments to the predecessors, the Green Party wants to reiterate our commitment to work alongside you to ensure that this Parliament is a family-inclusive Parliament, that we protect our staff and treasure the work that they do, that this Parliament remains accessible, and that we honour our duty of care that we have to each other and in the discourse. The Green Party extends our offer to work collaboratively with you to ensure that all of these things come to fruition. DAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): Mr Speaker-Elect, I'd like to start by congratulating you on your ascension to the Speaker's chair after a long and winding road, a career that actually spans across two centuries. As a member of Parliament for Ilam, as a parliamentarian, and as a Minister I think the experience that you bring will prepare you very well to preside over this institution that has evolved over hundreds of years, and I'm sure that you will add your own adaptations and evolutions to it as well. I was interested to hear you say that the Standing Orders are important, but not everything. In a trivial sense that is true, but I can tell you about another experience of being for two terms—six years—the sole representative of a political party in this House, and I can tell you that the ability of any member to be able to appeal to you to uphold the rules is sometimes the only protection that this Parliament and, ultimately, our democracy has. I would urge you to take the upholding of those Standing Orders as perhaps the most important thing you ultimately do. Our Parliament, like all parliaments, also faces some challenges. For example, we have an organisation that you will be responsible for that has a relentless push, for as long as I've been in Parliament, and I suspect even as long as you have been, to turn MPs into corporate employees with their own HR department—rules and conflict resolutions in a deadening and frankly unparliamentary way. I hope that you in your role as standing up for the rights of MPs won't only protect our ability to speak freely in this House and move about New Zealand while doing our business, but also respect the unique role that members of Parliament have, not as employees of the Parliamentary Service but as employees of the people of Epsom and Tāmaki and Taupō, and all of New Zealanders who have just chosen their representatives in this House. And finally, while this institution is an extraordinary expression of hundreds of years of the evolution of democracy, an institution that has worked better to allow people to flourish in self-chosen ways up and down our country than perhaps any other institution imaginable, there will be those who come here not to participate in the institution but attempt to make a theatrical point by undermining it. That may be the greatest challenge that you face. You acknowledged, I think, how your predecessor faced it, and I can tell you, on behalf of ACT MPs and, I suspect, many more, that you will have our full support in upholding the calm, the dignity, and the traditions of this House that have been so effective in allowing New Zealanders from all walks of life to flourish better than any others have in humanity's history. With that, you have our full support and we look forward to working with you. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister): It is with trepidation that I begin this speech. Of all things to congratulate you for the post you've taken, and knowing full well that you're qualified to do the job as Parliament's person—and you're right when you say that your job is to protect the minority, in a democracy where we're one of only nine for last 100 and so years from 1854, which makes us a special, special country, and we should be preserving that to the max as we can. This statement is to give you the support of New Zealand First and its MPs in doing your job. Strangely enough, I never thought I'd be saying this, but I've really got a lot of confidence in your ability to address people with what is a comment that is eminently fair, and when people know things are fair, they will behave themselves. It's a critical facet of the job that you've got and I think that you've got what it takes to do it, and I'm not here to ingratiate myself with you so early in the piece but because it happens to be, in this case, true. So all the very best and, again, to my colleagues here, we're enormously lucky to be in a place where, in the history of humanity, it is a very rare flower of governance, it's special, and we should do all we can alongside you, Mr Speaker, to preserve it. Thank you very much. RAWIRI WAITITI (Co-Leader—Te Pāti Māori): Tēnā tātou e te Whare, tēnā koe e te Pīka. Kāti ake, tuatahi kei te mihi atu rā ki te Māngai kātahi anō ka wehe i tērā tūru, ki a koe Adrian. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe i hautū nei i tērā tū āhuatanga, i whakawātea koe i tō tūru rā kia whakatūngia ko te Pīka hou. [Greetings to us, to the House, greetings to you, Mr Speaker. Well, firstly I'd like to acknowledge the Speaker who has just left that Chair—to you, Adrian. Many thanks to you who led that paradigm. You vacated your Chair there so that the new Speaker could be appointed.] Te Pāti Māori offers our congratulations to you, Mr Speaker-Elect, on your new role. I apologise for my colleague and co-leader of Te Pāti Māori; I didn't know she was going to do that. It's not very good for relations at the start of the year. But just to say you and I have had a good relationship over the last three years, and I hope to maintain that, because my first experience of a Speaker here had me kicked out several times. The last Speaker had me suspended. I'm looking forward to seeing what you and I can achieve together heading into the next three years. But I agree, you've got a big job ahead of you. We look forward to the next three years. We look forward to the way you run the House. We have been really proud of the fact that we've been able to hear more te reo Māori in the House. We've been proud to be able to hear more waiata in the House and to hear a wairua Māori in this House. We will continue to do that, and we hope that with your support you will allow tangata whenua to freely express themselves in our cultural identity here in Aotearoa. Nō reira ngā mihi nui ki a koe, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou, e te Whare, tēnā tātou katoa. [So many thanks to you, many thanks to you all, to the House, greetings to all of us.] SPEAKER-ELECT: I thank those who have spoken for the expressions on behalf of parties and themselves. I've taken on board—well, I've listened to the advice and not necessarily taken it all on board, and I think that's a pretty good start. I'm sure that there are plenty in here who will want to give me more advice as time goes on. My door will always be open to all members of Parliament. The House now stands adjourned until 10.30 a.m., Wednesday, 6 December 2023. The House adjourned at 12.45 p.m.