Smith apologises for vote against same-sexmarriage
Retiring long-time National Party politician Dr Nick Smith has used his valedictory speech to apologise to the LGBTQ+ community for voting against same-sexmarriage – honouring a commitment to his son.
Signing off in Parliament yesterday from a political career of more than 30 years, Smith said his decision in 2013 to vote against the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill was ‘‘an issue I got wrong’’. ‘‘The error is all the more personal with my 20-year-old son being gay,’’ said the politician, who spent most of his career as the Nelson electorate MP.
Smith stood for a photograph with his son, Logan, on Ta¯hunanui Beach at Nelson before heading to Wellington for the speech 10 days after announcing his retirement, in amove that appeared to have come as a surprise to many.
He told Stuff he had a ‘‘very conservative’’ view at the time on same-sexmarriage. ‘‘I was wrong,’’ he said. ‘‘I made a commitment to my son that before I left Parliament I would apologise and set the record straight.’’
Despite Smith and 43 other MPS voting ‘‘no’’ during the bill’s third and final reading, 77 voted ‘‘aye’’ and the bill became law.
During his valedictory statement, Smith paid tribute to fellow past and presentmps Louisawall, Franwilde and Amy Adams for their leadership on the matter, which ‘‘has improved the lives ofmy son and thousands of other New Zealanders’’.
Smith’s greatest thank you was for his wife, Linley, whom Smith described as his ‘‘rock, soul mate and best friend’’. He also acknowledged his first wife, Cyndy, and he and Linley’s blended family, of Hazel, Logan, Samantha and Alex. ‘‘I thank them as this job has sometimes had negative impacts on them.’’
Smith did not apologise for remaining an ‘‘arch-conservative’’ on drugs and alcohol. ‘‘Substance abuse and addiction is at the heart of so much crime, hurt and tragedy,’’ he said. ‘‘I do not buy the line that going soft and being more permissive will see less use and less harm.’’
Smith spent a large chunk of his farewell speech outlining the highlights of his long political career, saying it had mostly been a ‘‘blast and enormous privilege’’.
During his three decades in politics, Smith said he introduced 50 bills to Parliament, of which 45 had passed. The Royal Society of New Zealand Act and the Chartered Professional Engineers Act were twomember’s bills of which he was particularly proud.
Of more than a dozen ministerial portfolios, conservation minister – a job he had twice – was
the role closest to his heart.
Reflecting on changes in Parliament over his time as an MP, Smith said it wasmore diverse in age, gender and ethnicity, which was good. It had also become a ‘‘healthier place’’ with colleagues more likely to be spotted in the gym than the bar.
The ‘‘lameness’’ of select committees today was the most notable change for the worse, Smith said.
‘‘They have become perfunctory rubber-stamps,’’ he said.
‘‘Select committees need revamping to be more collegial, with government and opposition MPS genuinely holding departments to account for their spending and performance.’’