The value of changing one’s mind
The National Party has not had a good time recently. If it’s becoming hard for even political pundits to keep track of the gaffes and scandals then spare a thought for the ordinary punters.
A sordid story about former candidate Jake Bezzant has raised questions about vetting procedures; Mppaul Goldsmith has courted controversywith his views on the benefits of colonialism; the leader is outpolled by a retired predecessor; and Parliament’s longest-serving MP, Nick Smith, has left for reasons that remainmysterious.
But Smith’s valedictory speech on Thursday did deliver a small ray of sunshine to the party and into politics generally. Maiden speeches and valedictory speeches are politicians at their finest, as they arrive full of hope, and depart with some thoughtful reflections and good humour. At the best of times, narrow party tribalism is replaced by a more generous spirit.
The highlight of Smith’s final speechwas an admission ofwhen he made a mistake, and his explanation about why his thinking has changed.
It’s worth quoting his remarks in full. ‘‘There is an issue I got wrong,’’ he said. ‘‘In 2013, I voted against gay marriage. The error is all the more personal, with my 20-year-old son being gay. I want to put on the record todaymy apology to New Zealand’s LGBT+ community.
‘‘I pay tribute to Louisa Wall, Fran Wilde, and Amy Adams for their leadership that has improved the lives of my son and thousands of other New Zealanders. I also acknowledge Jenny Shipley’s courage as the first prime minister to attend a gay pride parade in 1999.’’
His son, Logan, later told media that he was proud of how his father ‘‘manned up and acknowledged he got it wrong in the past’’.
It is quite a turnaround. Yet there is a valid argument that says it should not take lived experience to shift political ideology, and that Smith and others in Parliament should have been empathetic towards the LGBT+ community regardless of personal circumstances.
But still, it is a well-meaning gesture that also shows how far New Zealand has moved. Eight years is a very long time in politics.
Other politicians have also wrestledwith their consciences. Jacinda Ardern, then a little-known opposition MP, spoke of navigating between her Mormon upbringing and ‘‘the values of equality and fairness’’ that caused her to leave the church. John Banks, then the leader of ACT, supported gay marriage as a policy that would increase personal freedom. NZ First’s Winston Peters opposed the bill and warned, in words that seem highly ironic now, that those who voted for it risked ‘‘the politicalwilderness years’’.
Meanwhile, in 2021, Greenmp Chlo¨e Swarbrick applauded Smith’s change of heart, while wishing he was less rigid on drug legalisation.
In the same farewell speech, Smith confirmed that he ‘‘unapologetically’’ remains an archconservative on drugs and alcohol. He said: ‘‘Substance abuse and addiction is at the heart of so much crime, hurt, and tragedy. I don’t buy this line that going soft and being more permissivewill see less use and less harm.’’
Onewonders if he would be more apologetic if he had a familymember who had struggled with addiction, like US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter. Biden has spoken movingly of his son’s well-publicised problems and how they have helped him to relate to others, rather than judging them. We can all keep learning.