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TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2020

The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.

Karakia.

OBITUARIES

Rt Hon Michael Kenneth (Mike) Moore ONZ, AO

SPEAKER: I regret to inform the House of the death on 2 February 2020 of former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Michael Kenneth (Mike) Moore ONZ, AO, who was an MP from 1972 to 1975 and 1978 to 1999.

Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Following agreement this morning at the Business Committee, I seek leave for the Prime Minister's statement to be provided and presented and for the debate on it to commence on Wednesday, 12 February, and, following the speeches of the leaders of each party, for oral questions to be held, despite Standing Orders 66, 354, and 355.

SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.

Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): I seek leave to move a motion without notice on the death of former Prime Minister Mike Moore.

SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being taken? There is none.

Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I move, That this House place on record its appreciation and thanks for the devoted and distinguished service to New Zealand by the late Rt Hon Michael Kenneth Moore, Member of the Order of New Zealand, a Member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia, a Member of this House of Representatives representing Eden from 1972-75, Papanui from 1978-81, Christchurch North from 1984-87, and Waimakariri from 1996-99, who held ministerial portfolios including Deputy Minister of Finance, Minister of External Relations and Trade, Minister responsible for the America's Cup, Minister of Tourism, Minister of Sport and Recreation, Minister Responsible for Publicity, Minister of Overseas Trade and Marketing, served as the 34th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 4 September to 2 November 1990 and as the third Director-General of the World Trade Organization from 1 September 1999 to 1 September 2002, that the House express our sense of loss and our sympathy with his wife, Yvonne, and other relatives, and that the House do now adjourn.

I want to say to all of Mike's loved ones, especially Yvonne, that our thoughts and prayers are with you and that we grieve with you. In his valedictory speech, Mike Moore said, "It is nice to see so many people here at my farewell and funeral. If only people had said such supportive things when I was alive!" I'm sorry, Mike—you're going to have to watch this Chamber once again set aside time to commend your many achievements.

I've read the commentary about Mike since he passed. The word "battler" is often used. Mike fought for people. He fought for what he believed in. He fought for New Zealand's interests around the world, and, as any politician does, he had his share of battles here in Parliament. Despite those battles, Mike loved Parliament and politics—the debate, the policy, the theatre—but, ultimately, he loved all of these things because he loved those he was here to serve. Mike was undeniably a unique man and a unique politician, or, as Sir Geoffrey Palmer put it, a force of nature. He was a kind, caring, and humble man. Where he saw wrong, he tried to right it. He deeply believed politics was ultimately about improving people's lives.

A true working-class Prime Minister, Mike Moore showed all New Zealanders that hard work, initiative, guts, and determination can lead to very big things. He taught everyone to aim for the stars, because that's what he did, via books. Mike left school at the age of 15 for a job in the freezing works, but he was an avid reader. That he made his way to Parliament just eight years later is a testament to his work ethic, his dedication, and his intellect. Through his love of learning and reading, he educated himself, and he was eventually awarded honorary doctorates from Lincoln University, the Auckland University of Technology, and the University of Canterbury, as well as an honorary doctorate from the People's University of China and an honorary doctorate from La Trobe University in Australia.

Mike didn't stop at reading, though. Throughout his life, he was a prolific author and wrote books on economics, New Zealand history, politics, and much, much more. But in all of that, this place remained central to him. He once said, "The Labour Party has been my training college; Parliament, my university." He loved the Parliamentary Library, and I'm told credibly that he would encourage others to use the library in the way that he did. This place mattered to Mike because of the power and potential that exists here, in the same way that he saw the power and potential of the people that he served in all walks of life.

In the Hansard and his many interviews, we will always be able to remember Mike and hear his totally unique voice, and it's a voice that was consistent. Mike's affinity for the Labour Party developed at a young age. He joined Labour when he was 15 years old and was the first youth representative on the Labour Party executive. He was the vice-president of the International Union of Socialist Youth—

Hon Grant Robertson: A fine organisation.

Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: —a very fine organisation—for two consecutive terms. This dedication to the Labour Party and its cause never diminished, over many decades. As a member of Parliament and as Prime Minister, Mike was passionate about many things, including constitutional change and creating a united New Zealand. I've spoken to some of his former colleagues, who noted how emotive Mike could be when discussing the history of our nation and his vision for the future of Aotearoa, a New Zealand, in his words, "more at peace with itself". It was only fitting when Mike tried to, of course, in his final speech in this place, cheekily table a bill to this House on constitutional change. At the time, Mike said, "A nation is the sum total of its history, its memories, and … experiences. A nation without history is like a man without a memory. It is good that we are confronting our historic ghosts and demons at last."

Mike would've been proud to see the debate and the discussion last week at Waitangi, where we came together to reflect on the past, to challenge our present, and to be hopeful about our future. We must continue to work together to create a nation we can continue to be proud of, building on the call that Mike left to all of us. On the paepae at Waitangi, many people spoke of Mike's passion for New Zealand and the work that he did to bring Kiwis together and promote our country to the world. In fact, some commented that this is where we saw Mike's true potential.

It was unsurprising that Mike took a global leadership role in trade after he left politics. As Minister of Overseas Trade and Marketing, he was involved with the GATT trade round negotiations in their trade missions to Australia, China, Japan, the Middle East, Latin America, and across Europe. There aren't many people who can say they led both New Zealand and the world, but Mike is one of them. When he left Parliament to become the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Mike took the same mentality he had as a politician in New Zealand. He approached trade as a way to help those in need, except this time he broadened his constituency and had the aim of helping entire nations in need. He saw trade as an opportunity to lift people out of poverty and to help developing countries grow economically. It was a way to help the little guy. Always keeping New Zealand close to his heart, he also saw trade as an opportunity for us to grow international relations and build a stronger economic base. We owe much to his hard work and dedication.

Mike was also a staunch union man. Much like politics, he joined the union movement at a young age and became a member of the Auckland Trades Council when he was 17. Mike always had time for workers because he was one himself. He once said it was rubbish that you did not make real friends in Parliament, before listing his real friends—that included the drivers, messengers, the library staff, the staff at Bellamy's, the security guards, and researchers. It shows us who Mike was. It didn't matter what your role was; Mike was always keen to talk, to listen. He was a man of the people.

I was fortunate enough to see Mike a few days before he passed, and he encouraged me to keep thinking about the vision we hold for the future—not one for small talk. So, Mike, I want to say we will keep aiming high. You led by example and showed what hard work, passion, and care for others can achieve.

I'd like to end with a mihi recently penned by a member in this House. Translated, the mihi reads: "The tōtara of the political world has fallen. Sir, you travelled the distance, scaled the heights, traversed the seas, now your time is over and you must return. Your Waka awaits [you] on the tides of Matauri, the prow faces the current of farewell, go those who preceded you in the great beyond, sleep in peace chief of deed, of word, of people." Moe mai rā, Mike, moe mai rā.

Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition): The National Opposition joins with the Government in paying tribute to Mike Moore, New Zealand's 34th Prime Minister and the 11th leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. On 2 February 2020, New Zealand lost not only one of its staunchest advocates for free trade and open markets across the world but someone who spent his entire life courageously fighting for what he believed in. The tenure of our 34th Prime Minister may have been one of the shortest, but his legacy as a PM and, more than that, as a great parliamentarian and New Zealander is secure. He was in every sense of the term a great New Zealander.

One of the things Mike said in one of his interviews—on, I think, The 9th Floor interview on RNZ—that stuck with me was "The greatest betrayal we can make of our people is to not care." No one could say Mike didn't care, and courageously so, about the people that he served. It was caring for people, dedicating his life to public service, and sticking to his values which served him so well for his 24 years of parliamentary service. Mike embodied some of the best traditions of New Zealand: looking out for Kiwi battlers, backing each other to succeed, recognising that not everyone is born into wealth and that sometimes they need a hand up.

Much of Mike's legacy is around trade, free trade, and promoting New Zealand to the world, and I'll come to his tenure at the World Trade Organization in a moment. But his early thinking on the benefits of free trade certainly paved the way for New Zealand's entry into the world of free trade. When the fourth National Government signed up to Closer Economic Relations with Australia, it was Mike who first saw, on the Labour side, how free trade and being open to the world could benefit the working class, or, as he put it, how the workers could get their hands on the loot.

He knew that the benefits of selling our products to the world without enormous tariffs meant New Zealand would be a richer country for it and that everyone could share in the benefits of a growing economy. He led new thinking in the Labour Party that saw free trade as an opportunity for advancing the New Zealand brand and cause, and there are many people who got opportunities and financial certainty that are grateful for it.

Mike's time as a Prime Minister was only 60 days long, but he is credited by many for stopping a wipe-out of the Labour Party in the 1990 general election. He led the Labour Party for another three years and almost returned them to Government in the 1993 general election. I'm sure Jim Bolger was delighted not to have to face him again.

His leadership at the World Trade Organization (WTO) was short but significant. He worked to spread free trade to the far-flung reaches of our world because he saw the potential in new markets and new opportunities for many different people, like it had done for us. His tenure in the United States as our ambassador ended when he suffered ill health and he returned to New Zealand to enjoy the remaining years of his life.

No doubt everyone would agree with me that it was a life well lived or, as Chris Trotter said, "not bad for a former printer and freezing-worker!" To his wife, Yvonne, to his family, and to his friends, there is no doubt Mike will have left a hole in your family as well as New Zealand. Jane Clifton noted Mike Moore was like the opposite of L & P: "world-famous, just not in New Zealand."

As I've said, Mike never lacked courage and was a great parliamentarian, but sometimes he could become so voluble that it was hard to work out what precisely he was arguing. Some of his former colleagues have told me of the lengthy and not always intelligible memos he would send to them when he was about to depart overseas as Minister for overseas trade, and many a reporter was left scratching his or her head after a Moore speech, trying to divine the meaning. The robustness of parliamentary debate certainly diminished when one of the House's more colourful figures—dare I say it, likeable rogues—departed to the WTO in 1999.

He will be remembered for his belief in free trade when others in his party did not. He will be remembered for serving our country in the highest of international roles and putting our country on the map. He will be remembered for his belief in the potential of every New Zealander. He will be remembered as a great New Zealander who loved his country, who dedicated his life to public service, and who spent his 71 years working to make New Zealand a better place.

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister): Colleagues, it's not uncommon on these occasions of eulogy to sometimes be wondering exactly who the speaker's talking about. The difference on this special occasion is that any words of praise and respect have a particular significance because they happen to be true. Michael Kenneth Moore's life's work was not to champion those with wealth or power or special connections. Mike's life work every day was to make things better for New Zealand and ordinary New Zealanders, to add rungs to the ladder of chance and opportunity, and to enhance New Zealand's place in the world. He truly is one of the great New Zealanders.

From the time he was elected to Parliament at the age of 23 to his final year, he was constantly thinking about how to advance New Zealand's interests. Mike was that rare politician whose outlook was improved by his life in Parliament and he seriously grew in the job. As many of you will know, as a young man, Mike beat cancer. I can recall him walking into this room after his long sojourn away, and Rob Muldoon, the Prime Minister, went to shake his hand, and the look on Mike's face was one of horror because he'd wished he hadn't. As I say, Mike grew better with age.

He took to heart the idea that it was his job to learn more about the issues. You know, he was given the gift of time, and he used that gift to its fullest. He was curious and he was open to changing his mind when presented with new information. These are traits which are far too rare these days.

Many New Zealanders will have fond memories of his political career, whether it was his championing of lamburgers, his witty turn of phrase, his restless energy, or his passion for helping New Zealanders of all walks of life. I remember his cynical doubt about expert advice. Mike would say, "Well, we know it works in practice; now let's see if it works in theory."

Everywhere he went, people saw the passion Mike had for New Zealand and connecting it to the world, and by the time he left Parliament, Mike was a champion of the role that free and fair trade can play in lifting people out of poverty and improving living standards.

It's important to acknowledge his role on the international stage as the only New Zealander to lead the World Trade Organization, and then as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States. His time at the World Trade Organization coincided with momentous changes for New Zealand and the global economy. He oversaw the successful accession of countries like China to the World Trade Organization, bringing the majority of the world's population within the rules-based trading system, and he gave particular attention to helping poor countries participate effectively in the multinational and multilateral trading system.

Truth be told, Mike attained the highest international position of any New Zealander abroad. This is a truly remarkable achievement. But through it all, Mike's historic body of achievements, what we will remember is the warm, passionate, funny, mischievous man that we will miss. Let us also pay special tribute to Mike's wife, Yvonne, and his family, and send our thoughts and prayers to them.

When thinking of a literary parallel for our sentiments today, there's one tribute that stands out. It could've been written about Mike, but it's advice that Rudyard Kipling gave to his son:

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good or talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master,

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools.

And, to close, further on:

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And—which is more—you'll be a Man, my son!

That was Mike Moore, the boy from Kawakawa and Moerewa, who went as an orphan to secondary school and turned his life dramatically around. In the words from Hamlet,

Goodnight, sweet Prince,

And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.

MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green): Tēnā koe e Te Māngai o Te Whare. Tēnā tātou katoa ōku hoa kaimahi o Te Whare Pāremata. It is with the utmost respect that I rise on behalf of the Green Party to pay our contribution and tribute to Mike Moore, previous Prime Minister and previous leader of the Labour Party. We acknowledge his time and service, particularly in this House and as a politician. As we've heard across the House tonight, alongside the many community and working-people roles that he held throughout his entire life, I of course want to pay particular attention to his whānau; his wife, Yvonne; and his many friends and people who loved and cared for him throughout his entire life journey.

I read and saw with interest that he was also a young MP—23, I believe—when he entered this House. That is an incredible achievement, something that the Greens know intimately what it is like with our young Chlöe Swarbrick. Whatever people are in their public lives, there are always whole other dimensions to those people that often the rest of the public rarely get to see or experience or understand. In the eyes of the whānau, I was interested and reading through many of the stories that always come through when people pass, no matter who they are. Those are the connections and the dimensions that I always gravitate to when we lose anybody and stand up and pay tribute to them in this House.

I acknowledge and saw with pride that he was also a man of the North—a person of my North. I fondly remembered his Kawakawa—my memories of coming over the three bumpy bridges on our way over from Hokianga, coming over to Whangārei—and Moerewa also being a home place of many of my whakapapa, uncles and aunties, who were long-time decades and generations of freezing workers, alongside Mike as well.