Maiden Statement

We now come to the maiden statement of Rachel Boyack. I’ll just indicate to those who weren’t in the Chamber previously that at the end of this we will break, but we will resume at 7 o’clock.

Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi o te motu, tēnā koutou, E tāpiri ana aku mihi ki ngā iwi katoa o Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka-a-Māui. Tēnei, ka mihi atu ki a koutou katoa, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora mai tātou.

[Greetings Mr Speaker. To the authorities, the voices, the communities from throughout the country, greetings. I would like to particularly acknowledge those from the top of the South Island. My profuse thanks to you all. Greetings one and all.]

Mr Speaker, my congratulations to you on your re-election as Speaker. I wish to acknowledge the support you have provided to the class of 2020 and our induction into this place, as well as the shared connection we have to a special part of New Zealand, the Hutt Valley.

My grandparents Edgar Boyack and Alice Robinson married in 1946 and settled in Lower Hutt, building their family home using a Government grant on High Street in Naenae, where they raised their three children: my father Jonathan, Aunt Rebecca, and Uncle Nicholas.

Grandpa had travelled to Whanganui in the 1920s from the UK. As a schoolboy, he suffered from rickets. Later, he left school to work on the boats, serving as a member of the merchant navy during the Second World War. Grandpa spent his life working in the marine industry, eventually becoming an adviser to the Minister of Transport, where he advised on the marine inquiry into the Wahine disaster.

Grandma was the boss of our family committee. If you needed the information, she was your resident go-to. Growing up, our grandparents would always interrogate us to ensure we were choosing the right road. None the less, I’m still sure they would be very happy and proud that I’ve taken the left road in this House.

I am missing some of my family today, including my father Jonathan, stepmother Lizzie, and brothers William and Piers, who are in the UK. It is nearly 5 a.m. in the UK, and I am hoping that my father has figured out how to make Parliament TV work. I apologise in advance to parliamentary IT if he’s ringing you right now, demanding your assistance.

Dad was one of a new crop of area health board chief executives in the 1980s. He worked with Māori leaders in Whanganui to introduce Māori-led health initiatives into the mainstream health service. I spent some of my childhood running around marae and listening to my father speak in te reo in the wharenui. I am enormously proud to be his daughter and of the contribution he made to the New Zealand health system.

On the other side of my family, my maternal grandfather, Alan Earl, was a member of the National Party, putting his name forward for selection for the mighty seat of Wairarapa, which has now rightfully returned to this side of the House. Pop passed away when I was two years old, but I like to think I inherited my singing voice and my sense of social justice from him. My mother recalls that his selection chances were over when he was asked if there was an issue he would cross the floor for. He answered yes: the Springbok tour. Pop and my Granny Molly also gave me my Anglican faith and my musical genes.

My mother, Jenny, is my hero. In the early 1990s, we were a sole-parent family. Financially, it was a scary time. Mum made many sacrifices to give our family the opportunities that every Kiwi kid deserves: to learn, play, thrive, and participate fully in our communities. I don’t know how she balanced the budget to ensure we all had music lessons or how she juggled five different sports games every Saturday, but she did it. I will always stand up for solo parents and ensure they have the financial and community support to raise their children and contribute to our society. I am proud of the steps our party has already taken to support solo parents, but there is more work to do. Reinstating the training incentive allowance will be an important first step.

When I joined the Labour Party in 2005, it was my intention to deliver leaflets, not to run for office. It wasn’t until after I married my husband, Scott, and moved to Nelson that the idea of running for Parliament became a possibility and then a reality. I spent three years as student president at our local polytech, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. We campaigned to keep courses running, like the supported training programme for students with intellectual disabilities and the adventure tourism programme. After that, I spent six years as an organiser with FIRST Union and two years as a health and safety coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of Nelson. I am grateful for the support and friendship of my former colleagues.

The constituency seat of Nelson is the oldest seat in New Zealand, having existed for 168 years. To Dr Nick Smith, I acknowledge you and your service in this House for 24 years on behalf of the people of Nelson. He may not recall the first time we met, but he encouraged me to consider joining the blue team. I am proudly wearing red today. Thank you, Dr Smith, for your passionate and dedicated service to the people of Nelson over many years.

All electorate MPs will say that their electorate is the best in the country. Mine really is. We are blessed with high sunshine hours, a warm climate, and some of the best food producers, like Pic’s Peanut Butter. Nelson is an electorate that mixes town and country. Our accountants, business people, manufacturers, and transport drivers support our horticulture and farming industries operating in our neighbouring Tasman district. During my time as MP, I hope to see our two councils working together even more to progress the goals and aspirations of our region of Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka.

We are an electorate of creatives. We are the city where Rockquest and the World of Wearable Arts began. We are an electorate of environmentalists. We are home to the largest fenced sanctuary in the South Island and the oldest environment centre in Aotearoa.

Nelson is becoming more diverse. We are proud to be a refugee resettlement centre. I acknowledge our Chin and Burmese communities and the terrible attack on democracy being waged on your homeland.

I am drawn to this historic place because I want to make change and see change happen for my community. Nelson is one of the most unaffordable places for people to buy or rent a home. This is what I want to change. A warm, stable, affordable home is the basic building block needed for families and communities to thrive. I am particularly keen for property managers to be registered. This is something I’ve personally advocated and campaigned for. I liken the relationship between tenant and landlord to that of employee and employer. There is an inherent power imbalance. I am firmly of the view that if we can improve people’s housing, we can improve other outcomes for people: health, mental health, employment, education, and economic outcomes. These are the issues I will focus on for Nelson for as long as I am privileged to hold the seat in this place.

Mr Speaker, your predecessor in your former seat of Pencarrow, Sonja Davies, played an important role in Nelson’s political history. While I am the first woman MP for Nelson, Sonja Davies could have—and I say should have—been its first woman MP. Sonja’s legacy in Nelson is her opposition to the then National Government’s decision to remove the railway. Sonja, alongside other women activists, protested on the railway lines in an attempt to stop them being ripped up. I think that we can safely look back and say that Sonja was right.

In Nelson, we have some gnarly transport issues. It has led to deeply divided communities. My view is that we need modern transport solutions that promote active transport like walking and cycling, better public transport, and less reliance on cars.

Sonja’s railway lines, now known as the Railway Reserve, should be protected as a walking and cycling route. Sonja was loved by the people of Nelson. It is an honour to represent the community that she served. While I never had the privilege of meeting her, I hope to ensure that her legacy lives on in this House.

One of the reasons I align with the Labour Party is my view that we must honour our collective rights as well as the rights of the individual. Here in Aotearoa, the greatest expression of the rights of the collective has been seen through the settlements reached between iwi and the Crown and our honouring of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

In his maiden speech, one of my predecessors, and the former Labour MP for Nelson, John Blincoe, noted his desire to see the eight iwi of Te Tau Ihu have their claims settled with the Crown. I am pleased to stand here in the knowledge that the Te Tau Ihu settlements have been completed. We are seeing the benefits, with many of our local iwi embarking on economic development and housing projects that will support economic and social justice for our whole community.

My own expression of collectivism is best witnessed through my time working as a union organiser with FIRST Union. The introduction of the Employment Contracts Act in 1991 has been one of the key drivers behind inequality in Aotearoa. My generation and those who came after me have mostly missed out on the experience and benefits of an organised workplace and the higher wages and conditions that come with that. In Nelson, the workers of Pak ’N Save Richmond have been struggling for a collective employment agreement and fair wages and conditions for over six years. The late union leader Helen Kelly used to use the phrase, when describing our broken system, “It’s by design.” It is our responsibility as parliamentarians to design a system that delivers fairness for working people.

During the lockdown, New Zealand’s retail workers were finally recognised for the skills and essential workers that they are. They deserve fair wages and conditions at work and no less than a living wage. Union delegate and leader of the campaign in Nelson, Jenny Wells, is here today. Jenny, you are the staunchest, bravest, and most determined union member I have ever met. I am now bringing the fight for supermarket workers to Parliament. Before I leave this place, I wish to see a fair pay agreement for all retail workers in New Zealand.

The journey back to this place has been a long one for the Labour Party in Nelson. There are many local people who have waved the Labour flag in Nelson during good times and bad, and who always believed we could hold the seat again. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the personal support given to me by Kate Reilly. I am wearing the kākahu you had made for me and that was placed on my shoulders by our dear friend the late Betty Don.

I want to make special mention of my dear friend the Hon Maryan Street. You paved the way for me. Thank you for mentoring, prodding, and supporting me to stand for Parliament.

To my local team from the 2017 and 2020 campaigns, thank you all for going above and beyond to help us win this seat back for Labour: Nick, Debbie, Dan, Keith, Christine, Bruce, Jo, Fraser, Dave, Erin, Steve, Wendy, Bill, Fatimah, Evey, Denise, Maree, Ian, Kelsey, Carol, Peter, Vienna, Leah, Will, Lennox, Jasmine, Ashton, Ryan, Theo, Silas, and our amazing team of doorknockers, leaflet deliverers, phoners, and sign wavers—thank you.

Thank you to the Labour Party, especially Claire Szabo, Rob Salmond, Tim Grigg, Dianna Lacy, and Hayden Munro. Thank you to the Prime Minister for coming to Nelson and putting your support behind our campaign and our new hospital. A special thanks to my colleagues on the Labour Party Policy Council, especially David Do. You are the quiet workhorse of the Labour Party, and this campaign win belongs to you too.

To my campaign manager and friend Brian “One More Door” McGurk, there are no words that I can express to thank you for all you have done for me and the Labour Party in Nelson. You are one of the most decent people I know, and a great mate.

To my staff team—Sarah Kerby, Matt McCrorie, and Valmai Palatchie—I am incredibly proud of you all, and I look forward to the contribution that you will make alongside me.

To all of my siblings—Rachel, Dean, Chris, Bob, David, Amy, Richard, Lauri, William, Emma, Simon, Piers, Gabrielle, Jamie, Richard, and Vivi—thank you for providing the support that only siblings can provide.

To my nieces and nephews—including the adopted ones—you are the reason I am here. We are here to make rules that make this country and this world a better place for you.

To my mates Paul McMahon, Sarai Tuhua, and Andrew and Christine Isfree-Irvine, thank you for being the best listeners and for always having my back.

Scott—I don’t know where he is—thank you for the endless cups of tea, morning coffees, your sense of humour, unconditional love and support, and for looking after the Labrador I brought home from the SPCA when we went to get a cat. Thank you in advance for remembering to read the washing instructions on my clothes. I love you.

My Christian faith is an important part of who I am and the kind of politician I hope to be. I have also been blessed to spend time and become friends with members of our Muslim community—you are my brothers and sisters. I hope that I can fulfil the requirements of Micah 6:8 to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

I chose a waiata to finish to honour my friend and iwi leader the Venerable Harvey Ruru, who could not be here today. We often sing this hymn together in Whakatū as a tag team. I know that he will be watching and his deep baritone will be booming through the valleys of Toi Toi in Nelson South. I will sing across Te Moana-o-Raukawa for you, Harvey.

Whether my time in this House is long or short, I pledge to do my best for all the people of Nelson-Whakatū who have put their trust in me. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

[Applause]

RACHEL BOYACK:

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works thy hand hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the roaring thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Sitting suspended from 6.29 p.m. to 7 p.m.