Mike Moore, MP for Waimakariri said today: “I have mixed feelings. Yvonne and I have been blessed and honoured in having such fine friends, who, in good times and in bad, have stuck with us, encouraged us, and provided a peaceful base and home in the Waimakariri electorate.

“There is no greater honour in a free society than being an elected representative. Every day has been a privilege. How can I say ‘thank you?’ Mere words cannot express my respect and gratitude.

“I have made many mistakes in my political life, damn fool that I am, - I’ve even made the same ones more than once. But, whatever skills I have, I have devoted them to public service. I have always seen public service as the highest calling in the land. A duty, an honour; the rent you pay for being a citizen.

“Now it seems life has taken another turn. But it’s still public service; that is trying to inch up, increase the living standards of our people, building a more secure, better world. No New Zealander has ever headed up an International Agency of this sort before. Thus, it’s an honour and opportunity to continue our local work on a global scale. I think those great internationalist Labour visionaries; Peter Fraser and Norm Kirk would approve,” Mr Moore concluded.

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