Valedictory Statement of Hon Dr Wayne Mapp

Fifteen years ago, following the formation of the first National-led coalition under MMP, three members of Parliament were invited by Ngati Hine to Otiria Marae. Each member was presented with a gift. Two of the gifts were weapons of war, one was a waka huia. The three members were Rt Hon Winston Peters, Hon Tau Henare and myself. There is no prize for guessing who received the waka huia.

The kaumatua told me to fill this treasure box with those things I most valued from my Parliamentary life. So, what are they?

First and foremost, I have greatly valued the support of the North Shore over five elections. North Shore is a vibrant place. Where people roll up their sleeves to achieve for their families, and for their community. I have listened to the voice of the Shore through clinics, catch-ups and coffees, and carried that voice to this Chamber. It has been a great honour to serve the North Shore.

I came to Parliament believing in the power of ideas to improve peoples’ lives and here, those ideas could be actioned. Freedom of choice is a fundamental tenet of a free society and has been at the heart of so many debates in this Chamber. I believed then, as I do now, that New Zealanders are best served by an open and free economy to enable them to take charge of their own lives.

Ideas for change and their implementation can occur whether in Government or Opposition. My Volunteers Employment Protection Private Member’s Bill was subsequently implemented by Government. The 90 Day Bill reached Select Committee and was the precursor to the Government Bills of 2008 and 2010.

To have the opportunity in the fifth National-led Government, led by Prime Minister John Key, to be both Minister of Defence and Minister of Science and Innovation has been a great privilege.

In the area of innovation, during our time in Opposition, a North Shore group and I had prepared a blueprint to get our country moving. We believed New Zealand had failed to take advantage of the 10 years of relative prosperity preceding 2008, to lift our country.

Whilst there had been some useful initiatives, there was no real sense of urgency. Other countries had not been so complacent – Finland, Denmark, Israel, and Singapore, and Queensland, with its ‘smart state’ strategy, to name a few. As a result, they had achieved faster growth and greater confidence in their future.

My focus as Minister of Science and Innovation has been to push this agenda for growth. We have simplified the system and provided strategic direction. That is why the Ministry of Science and Innovation has been established. We have provided a long term approach for the Crown Research Institutes. And crucially this government has connected science to a broader economic agenda.

I believe the effects are starting to be seen. There is a greater sense of aspiration, especially among younger science entrepreneurs.

There has been an increase in total expenditure on science and innovation, from 1.2% to 1.3% of GDP. While it is a modest gain, it is a start, and it has been achieved during a recession.

This is an area of political consensus, but a committed national effort is required. This is the key lesson from those countries I cited earlier. And it is the biggest opportunity that confronts our nation.

The defence portfolio was likewise in need of reform.

There had not been a White Paper for 13 years. The last significant work had been the cross-party Select Committee Report, Defence Beyond 2000, in which Hon Derek Quigley and I worked closely on a programme for change. The previous government implemented some aspects, but new challenges emerged.

The 2010 Defence Review, and the Capability Plan launched this week, provide a coherent Defence Force relevant to New Zealand’s needs and our place in the world. The most significant challenge in the next two decades is the changing balance of power in the Asia Pacific region. As a small country we can make a vital contribution to enhance stability and prosperity.

However, it is not reform which is the most testing part of Defence. It is that we ask our young men and women to put their lives on the line in service of the nation. Over the last three years, nine young New Zealanders, including last week, Lance Corporal Leon Smith, have died either in operations overseas or in fulfilling their roles within New Zealand. I know that their loss is keenly felt by all of us in this House and by all New Zealanders.

A valedictory is time to reflect on lessons learned.

The most important lesson is that trust, integrity and commitment are the guiding values for decision making. It is how we develop our party’s policy. It is how we debate our ideas with Caucus or Cabinet. It is how we serve people. And it is the expectation of ourselves.

These values are critical when making the hard decisions, some of which relate to New Zealand’s place in the world.

In Afghanistan, we are part of a coalition of 49 nations. Virtually all share common democratic values and are the most internationally engaged nations in the world. These are the nations with which we have strong links.

All these nations have experienced acts of Al Qaeda terrorism. Seven New Zealanders have been killed by acts of terrorism.

We have common commitment to Afghanistan so that it can become a functioning member of the family of nations, rather than an outlaw state, harbouring Al Qaeda, as it was under the Taleban.

I stand with the Prime Minister. We do not honour our fallen by running when the going gets tough. We do not honour our country by shirking from our responsibilities. And we do not honour each other when we resile from our principles.

We are all part of a team.

The leader of our team, John Key has the vision and sets the direction for our country. Thank you, John, for giving me the opportunity to serve in Cabinet. And thank you for allowing us such a large degree of autonomy to develop the direction in our portfolios. The freedom you have given us is one of the secrets of your success as leader.

The Prime Minister’s sense of what New Zealanders expect from government, and my colleagues’ steady competence, have engendered confidence and stability in these difficult times, including dealing with the Canterbury earthquakes, and the Pike River mine disaster.

MPs arrive in Parliament as a group. In my case, the class of '96. There are only three of us left out of 10. Gerry Brownlee, Georgina, and myself. On November 27 there will only be Gerry. But he is big enough to stand alone!

I have appreciated working as a team with my fellow North Shore MPs, Murray McCully, a friend since the age of 18, and Jonathan Coleman.

I wish my colleagues every success in the upcoming election, and especially Maggie Barry on the North Shore.

The team extends beyond the Parliamentarians. I pay tribute to all my Parliamentary and Ministerial office staff who have put in the hard yards and long hours.

My thanks to the many Parliamentary staff all members depend on, who are always quick with a cheery word – the messengers, security and receptionists, Bellamy’s, cleaners, Parliamentary Library staff, the Parliamentary Travel Office and VIP Transport.

I especially want to thank Adrienne Frew who has worked with me for 10 years, providing quiet efficiency and good humour. My Ministerial Advisor, Stuart Boag has been invaluable as we have chewed over a wide range of political and defence issues.

I acknowledge Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, and his predecessor, Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, VCDF Rear Admiral Jack Steer, all the Service Chiefs, and the wider Defence family, of which we have so much pride. John McKinnon, Secretary of Defence has provided wise counsel, Dr Brook Barrington for his work on the Defence Review and Des Ashton on difficult procurement issues.

I have been truly fortunate to work with a person of Sir Peter Gluckman’s stature in science and innovation. In the Ministry, Chief Executives Dr Helen Anderson and Murray Bain. Murray has a tremendous opportunity to lead real change in science and innovation.

The National Party in North Shore has been a pillar of strength. There are too many to name, they know who they are. Some are in the gallery today.

In my electorate office, Joan Finlayson, Mel MacDonald, and the current team of Tracy Kirkley, Jane Taylor and Sean Topham.

My longstanding friends Peter Goodfellow, Peter Kiely, Andrew and Vicki Caisley, have been mentors. Joan and the late Ross Finlayson, Terry Dunleavy, Bob Keating, Barrie and Fay Mason, and Jean Allen. Thank you.

All of my electorate chairs and executives including Lorraine Campbell, the late Warwick Barraclough, Matt Kemp, Richard Gates and Cam Calder now here as a member of Parliament, have worked with purpose and effect.

Special thanks go to the Mapp and Henare whanau, particularly my parents Heather and Gordon, my sisters Sheryl and Wendy, my brother-in-law Chris, and my late sister-in-law Darlene. But, especially, my wife Denese.

Denese has always provided her love and support, particularly her wise counsel, sometimes in a forthright way. I could not have entered political life or sustained a career without Denese.

Can I wish all members in the House well. For those intending to stay, I know you are committed to serve.

It is a bittersweet moment in leaving. But the waka huia I take with me brims with treasures.

It is now time for new beginnings. I have often found that some of life’s greatest rewards come from making a fresh start.