Time to say thanks
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8:24 pm, September 23rd, 2014 - 14 comments
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A word of thanks to our departing Members of Parliament – Hon Maryan Street, Moana Mackey, Raymond Huo and Carol Beaumont. Maryan’s contibution to Labour has been huge as Party President through some difficult years, and as a Minister in the fifth Labour-led government. Carol has made a great contribution to the labour movement, as CTU Secretary and more recently as Member of Parliament. Moana has led the Labour party’s parliamentary contribution to environment and science policy with wide knowledge and good humour, and Raymond has worked tirelessly to keep Labour in touch with the Chinese community in New Zealand.
All those who put themselves forward to serve our cause in Parliament deserve our sincerest and most heartfelt thanks. Their life becomes an open book and their time is no longer their own, and the verdict of the electorate can be a cruel one particularly in the case of list MPs when it is not down to their own lack of effort.
Thanks to all for their commitment and their contribution.
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Damn, thanks for reminding me.
I did mean to write a post like that this morning. Then I got the teensy bit irritated when I saw the Herald quoting the senior Labour MPs this morning in the continuing saga of crapping on…. Oh well.
Anyone who wants to be an MP is a bit crazy in my opinion. But they do a pig of a necessary job that means they have to give up many of the best things in life. I can’t imagine a MP still managing to be a real programmer or remaining a practising lawyer or scientist for instance. If they have kids then they become weekend parents if they are lucky.
Yes, thanks Maryan, Moana, Raymond, Carol – you’re all great people.
I wouldn’t want the job, but I’m glad you were willing to do it, and I’m sad you’re not still there fighting the cause.
…and I’d like to say thanks to every volunteer, scrutineer, hammer-hand, banner-waver, donor, caller, and pamphlet deliverer.
You are all my personal heroes.
Mike, thank you for your thoughtful and gracious commentary which I heartily endorse. Our four departing MPs are fine people who have made wonderful contributions which I deeply appreciate. All of them will go on, I am sure, to make further valuable contributions to the cause of progressive politics. Kia kaha.
Ray Lind
…and all the electorate staff who put up with all the egos.
You know who you are as well.
You are the big solid rocks they stand on, largely unthanked.
Yes wishing those departing List MPs a happy future and thanks for all your hard work on our behalf.
Likewise to all MPs departing across all parties
Thanks to Hone, hope to see you back again in whatever forum.
Some people sounding surprised he’s a good man https://twitter.com/avancenz/status/514324826647842817
http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/campbelllive/harawira-the-fight-never-dies-2014092320#.VCE0IZAAQs4.twitter
yup. Sad to see Hone gone. A much needed voice in parliament. No wonder he explodes in expletive ridden rants, it ensures his voice is heard occassionally.
Look at all the exposure colin craig got, a non member of parliament, with no seats beforw and no seats afterwards… And people focused on kdc trying to buy power.
Carol gone and clayton back. Speaks volumes.
was impressed by Maryon Street after meeting her in Wadestown, pre election. She did tell us that the Labour caucus was United behind Cunliffe. Not what I’m seeing post election.
Not sure why Darien Fenton doesn’t get a mention, but she also departs having spent her time in Parliament unflinchingly battling for battlers. If we’d had more MP’s with her focus on issues that resonate with party members and potential voters, we might not be in quite as much trouble as we are now.
I recommend having a look at her fb site, she’s obviously not feeling constrained by caucus loyalty any more!
Looks like her FB page is not public.
I presume there is some way to ask to be friended? I’m not going to cut and paste her comments, but they are worth the time it takes to seek them out.
Thanks to all those unsuccessful elevtoral candidates who spent their own time and money advocating for the labour party. Too bad those in the party hierarchy could not get their shit sorted and present as a cohesive and unified team.