Adjournment Speech 2009

Hon Rodney Hide, ACT Leader
Wednesday 16 December 2009

Mr Speaker, it’s a privilege to take the call in this adjournment debate today as leader of the ACT Party.

It is a very special time of the year as many of us will soon have the opportunity to spend valuable time with family and friends and perhaps also have a break.

It is also time to reflect on the year past and look to the year ahead. We need to build on those good achievements we have made in the past year but also learn from those things didn’t go so well.

We can also pause to reflect on the wonderful country we live in. And to be standing here today/tonight and participating in a parliamentary debate is in itself something we should celebrate. Democracy is not a commodity that is in abundance around the world so we should spare our thought for the people of those countries where their will and right to freedom is ignored.

Today I would like to extend my thanks and best wishes to a range of people.
My electorate staff who toil away tirelessly looking after the diverse needs of the Epsom electorate. I am extremely grateful to Brian, Priscilla and Styan for all their hard work and I hope they have a peaceful Christmas and well earned break.

To my office staff who have had an intense year, I am immensely grateful for your efforts.

We have notched some good achievements and they can all head away to Christmas proud of their efforts.

They deserve some recharge time with their families and friends over the coming weeks.

I have had the pleasure of working with Associate Local Government Minister John Carter. It’s been great to work with someone so enthusiastic and dedicated. I reckon we make a good team in Local Government.

To Brendan Boyle and his team at the Department of Internal Affairs, officials at the Ministry of Economic Development and Treasury that I work with, thank you sincerely for your superb efforts. You have faced some big challenges this year, but always come up with the goods.

We have made great progress on reforming Auckland city and in making the regulatory environment better for New Zealanders.

The Auckland Transition Authority, established to oversee the move to one unitary council in Auckland is doing a fantastic job.

Executive Chair Mark Ford, General Counsel Rob Fisher and the team at ATA deserve mention for their calm, determined and professional work in what is no small task.

I am grateful to you for all your efforts and look forward to that continuing in 2010.
I particularly acknowledge the Prime Minister John Key. I enjoy working with the Prime Minister and his team and look forward to picking up the existing challenges as well as some new ones in the 2010.

My colleagues in the ACT party - Heather Roy, Sir Roger Douglas, John Boscawen and David Garrett - I believe we are a good team who complement each other well.

The Act Party values the relationship with our support partners - the Maori Party and Peter Dunne’s’ United Future Party. While we don’t agree on everything, we have a positive relationship that transcends our differences.

To my parliamentary colleagues on the opposition benches the ACT Party extends best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday period.

There are of course some fundamental differences between us and it is often these the public see through their daily news.

What we shouldn’t forget though is that we all share a common commitment to New Zealand and making this great country a much better place.

ENDS

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