Mihi to the new Speaker

Thursday 31 January 2013; 2.25pm
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Minister for Whanau Ora):

Mr Speaker

We want to congratulate the Hon David Carter as the Speaker-Elect to this House.

One of the things that we have noted is that you have had an ability to build relationships because of your thoughtful and constructive manner.

I first came to know you, in fact, when I went with you on the Speaker’s tour to Europe with the Hon Doug Kidd. As a new member of Parliament at the time, I certainly appreciated the wonderful support that you and your wife gave to me and my husband and I have never forgotten that.

You have the assurance of the Māori Party that we will support you in your role.

I also want to take the opportunity to offer our very sincere respects to the Rt Hon Lockwood Smith as he leaves Parliament to go to be the High Commissioner in London. Probably we will honour you most of all for the respect that you have paid to Te Reo Māori in this House, but more importantly we remember that the first twenty kura kaupapa Māori that were established were in fact established by you when you were the Minister of Education. We do mihi to you for that, because we know that what you did in your time as the Minister of Education set the Māori education pathway on to a road of success. So we thank you and we wish you very well in your appointment to London.

Na reira ka nui te mihi rawa atu ki a koe e te rangatira, tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa.

ENDS

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