Kevin Hague bids farewell to Parliament.
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8:00 am, September 21st, 2016 - 24 comments
Categories: greens, Parliament -
Tags: kevin hague, valedictory
Green MP Kevin Hague has delivered his valedictory speech.
He made a special point of mentioning his regrets on Pike River:
“I have felt a heavy responsibility for that work. I have been pleased to contribute to a major overhaul of workplace health and safety regulation in this country.
But I’ve been frustrated and angry that nobody from the board or the senior management of the Pike River coal company has been held to account or will ever be held to account for what has occurred.
And that 29 men still have not been brought home to their families.”
The Herald reports:
Hague said he hoped three projects he was leaving behind would be seen through to a successful end, including better health services for transgender New Zealanders, a petition for an apology and wiping the convictions of gay men convicted of consensual sexual activity before homosexual law reform, and his campaign for the Education Review Office to audit whether schools were safe for lesbian, homosexual and transgender students.
Kevin Hague is leaving Parliament to head up Forest & Bird. Thanks for all your hard work, Kevin.
24 comments on “Kevin Hague bids farewell to Parliament. ”
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- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
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- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...12 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...2 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...2 days ago
- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...2 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...2 days ago
- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...2 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...3 days ago
- Appointments to the ENZ board
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...3 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
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- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...3 days ago
- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
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- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
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- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- A busy year in the House
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...4 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
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- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
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A smart guy, he read the tea leaves and acted accordingly…which means its sad he’s left parliament
In an interview, he said this is pretty much the only reason he could think for leaving Parliament. He thinks he had a good chance at being a minister after the next election, but thought heading up Forest and Bird was something he’d never get a chance at, so is leaping at the offer.
I suspect he knows he wasn’t going to be a minister as National was winning a fourth term so instead of waiting another term he took up the offer from Forest and Bird and of course theres nothing stopping him coming back in a couple of years time…
Well given your “suspicions” over Hague’s own statements I think I know who I’m going to believe.
Fair enough, I actually think its a smart move from Hague, why hang around for a few more years when he could go out and do something useful
Bit of a lesson there for other politicians…
Presumably plans are underway to cancel next years election based on your own tea leave/ cum stain interpretation
Well it’d be the right thing to do to save the country some money but you know some on the left would complain about it…
the Left respects the values of democracy as long as the red necks, the ignorant, the uneducated and the deplorables don’t get too uppity beyond their station in life.
Seems unnecessary carping, cv.
In the United States, the republic was set up by an elite who wanted to ensure that popular democracy could never be effectively realised.
The goal was to ensure that the responsible, reliable, and respectable members of society (as judged by them) always had the biggest say in the affairs of the nation.
What I am saying here is that (IMO) both the status quo Left and the status quo Right believe in this inherently elitest principle, albeit of course from slightly different political perspectives.
We need to be proferring solutions.
Let’s learn from Corbyn.
What would you like to learn from Corbyn? Last I Iooked UK Labour were at 30%
More niggle….can’t be bothered cv.
He will be sorely missed in Parliament, you always knew you were going to get a wise and persausive argument when he got up to speak, but as usual with the Greens he was only there to give back to the community, and now has other important work to go on to. I hope he does well at Forest & Bird.
Good luck Kevin! A real loss to the Green Party and parliament, and a great guy.
Off to promote 1080
Your point?
Shall watch this. Looks interesting.
What has this to do with Kevin Hague?
I’m guessing that Forest and Bird support the use of 1080
Published on 3 Dec 2013
This New Zealand film has won 4 international environmental awards – but here in NZ, TV channels refuse to play it. Why? Because if they did, there would be outrage and riots over New Zealand’s use of aerially applied 1080 poison. See for yourself
And yeh CV
http://www.forestandbird.org.nz › … › Protecting native forests with 1080
Support Us … We have lost 43 species of birds in the last 800 years since human … But well-managed aerial 1080 operations can reduce possum and rat …
The two Kevins, Hague and Hackwell could be a formidable duo in there.
I’m sorry to see Hague leave parliament. He did a lot to make ACC behave less viciously towards claimants, as it has done, more or less continuously since the fourth Labour government appointed a crook to run it. Since then it’s all been about ruthless cost-shifting by ACC, condoned by successive governments. Kevin Hague was one of the few politicians who saw it for what it was and wasn’t afraid to call t out. I see no one with similar moral fortitude in the House.
I found Kevin to be thoughtful, intelligent and principled. He didn’t go for the rant or the grandstand. Thanks and all the best Kevin.