Grant Robertson says goodbye to Parliament
An emotional Grant Robertson signed off his valedictory speech by paying tribute to young Māori, the cleaners and drivers at Parliament, public servants, and the colleagues who he says inspired him during his political career.
He signed off quoting Harvey Milk - the gay US politician who was assassinated in 1978: “I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living, so you, and you and you, you’ve got to give them hope. Mr Speaker, that is our job in this place. It’s to give people hope.
“That is my final, simple message today to you all. Hoatu he tumanako ki a rātou, you gotta give em hope.”
Robertson paid tribute to Marian Hobbs, Heather Simpson, and Helen Clark - who he said inspired him to join the party - as well as former prime minister Jacinda Ardern, who made him finance minister in her government. Retelling the story of Ardern approaching him to be finance minister, Robertson said he told her he would only do it if he could have the sports portfolio, too. As well, he noted the time he spent with the late Sir Michael Cullen who he called a visionary and terrific mentor.
He recalled the early days of the pandemic - including the decision to shut close the border, early in 2020.
“I remember vividly the day we shut the borders. We did it on a teleconference of Cabinet. I was in Jacinda’s electorate office with her. When the call ended, we looked at each other and recognised the enormity of what we had done. It felt very heavy. I tried to lighten the moment by noting that I knew when we went into coalition with New Zealand First our immigration policies might change, but I didn’t think it would go quite this far. Jacinda didn’t laugh.”
The Gallery in Parliament was packed with former MPs and political staffers for Robertson’s speech, which was, true to form, packed with good humour. Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Marian Hobbs, Maryan Street, David Clark, Clare Curran, Ibrahim Omer, Kris Faafoi, Andrew Little, Aupito William Sio, and Paul Eagle were watching on.
Former chief press secretary Andrew Campbell, former chief of staff Raj Nahna and Andrew Kirton attended, as well as former Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes.
Robertson spoke of being particularly proud of creating a Royal Commission of Inquiry into state care abuse, being the original drafter of the bill to Mondayise Waitangi Day and Anzac Day public holidays (eventually introduced years later by another MP), and the creation of social housing in Wellington - the departing MP's former electorate.
He recalled, too, the final debate for the marriage equality bill, more than 10 years ago: “The speech I gave that night remains the one I am proudest of in this house.”
The former finance minister’s last day will be on Thursday, before he takes a break ahead of starting in his new role as vice Chancellor at the University of Otago from July.
Robertson was widely known during his time in Parliament as a skilled debater who added humour to his speeches.
Robertson was finance minister from 2017 until last year and became New Zealand’s first openly gay deputy PM in 2020.
He reflected on his time with Stuff political editor Luke Malpass about the highlights and lowlights of his time in Government.
Robertson delivered his maiden speech in Parliament 14 years ago. The then-new Wellington Central MP was unable to commit to calling his Wellington constituents “darling”, “dearest”, or “thingy”, as his predecessor Marian Hobbs did.
He described himself as swelling with “pride and too many sausage rolls from the school canteen as I saw David Lange on television at the Oxford Union debate”.
“Not only could an overweight guy with glasses succeed but also New Zealand could stand up to world powers hell-bent on destroying each other, and us in the process.”
Former MP Glen Bennett is the next person on Labour’s list.