This text file contains detailed information about an audio recording on PrideNZ.com. It includes the following sections: DESCRIPTION, SPEAKERS, SUMMARY, KEY CONTENT TIMESTAMPS [HH:MM:SS], TRANSCRIPT WITH TIMESTAMPS [HH:MM:SS], HUMAN VERIFIED TRANSCRIPT, KEYWORDS, REFERENCES, RELATED CONTENT AND FOOTNOTE. 

## START DESCRIPTION
The title of this recording is "Elizabeth Kerekere valedictory statement in Parliament". It is described as: The valedictory statement of MP Elizabeth Kerekere in Parliament, 16 August 2023. It was recorded in Parliament buildings, 1 Molesworth Street, Wellington on the 16th August 2023. The duration of the recording is 21 minutes, but this may not reflect the actual length of the proceedings. The content in the recording covers the 2020s decade.
## END DESCRIPTION

## START SPEAKERS
Elizabeth Kerekere is speaking in this recording.  Their name is spelt correctly but may appear incorrectly spelt later in the document.
## END SPEAKERS

## START SUMMARY
Elizabeth Kerekere’s valedictory statement in Parliament on 16 August 2023 is both a personal reflection and a political reckoning. She situates her departure within the wider story of service, activism, and community transformation. Speaking as a lesbian, Māori woman, and takatāpui leader, she framed her time in Parliament as a continuation of decades of mahi in youth development, rainbow advocacy, health and wellbeing, and violence prevention. From the outset, she mixed humour with gravity, recalling anecdotes such as being told her purple sequin jacket stretched the limits of business attire. She described her parliamentary journey as feeling at times like “Survivor” rather than a “heartwarming two-part series,” highlighting the betrayals and political manoeuvring that contributed to her exit. Yet, she insisted it was ultimately a story of triumph: few ever get the chance to serve as MPs, and she valued that privilege deeply. Kerekere highlighted her achievements within the Green Party and as an independent MP. She took pride in being part of the most diverse Green caucus to date and in helping Parliament become one of the proudest in the world with multiple rainbow MPs. She underscored her advocacy for future trans, non-binary, and intersex representation, following in the footsteps of trailblazers such as Georgina Beyer. Her legislative and political contributions were significant. She championed the banning of conversion therapy, leading a record-breaking petition that gathered 150,000 signatures in a week. She supported reforms to birth certificate laws, ensuring greater dignity and rights for trans, non-binary, and intersex people. She was especially proud of embedding the word “takatāpui” in legislation for the first time. She also introduced the Human Rights (Prohibition of Discrimination on Grounds of Gender Identity and Expression, and Variations of Sex Characteristics) Amendment Bill, a landmark effort to enshrine protections for rainbow communities in law. Beyond rainbow issues, Kerekere foregrounded her leadership in kaupapa Māori. She chaired Te Ā ka, the Māori and Pasifika caucus of the Greens, and supported iwi and hapū campaigns, including the successful renaming of Awa Rohe in Hawke’s Bay. She described her office’s close relationships with community leaders, emphasising the value of using parliamentary platforms to amplify grassroots struggles. Her speech also addressed the painful rupture with Green Party leadership. She rejected allegations against her, stating that no formal complaints had ever been lodged despite claims to the contrary. She described the episode as a “failure of leadership” and offered lessons on how to be a good leader: act quickly on staff concerns, address racism and discrimination, avoid vilification without facts, and uphold non-violence. While acknowledging the hurt, she reaffirmed her commitment to Green values and kaupapa, thanking her wife, staff, and many Green members who remained her allies. She reflected warmly on collegial experiences across Parliament, particularly in select committees, which she considered the spaces where real lawmaking took place. She valued her role in the Health Select Committee, her participation in international parliamentary friendship groups, and her co-chairing of the Parliamentary Art Committee, which achieved greater representation of women and Māori artists in collections. Kerekere closed with characteristic energy and vision. She promised to return to community work, research, and advocacy, especially ensuring that government initiatives deliver for Māori, Pacific peoples, rainbow communities, disabled people, and those in rural areas. As an independent MP, she aimed to “go out in style” and invited colleagues to celebrate with food, music, and dancing. She ended with a rhetorical flourish: “Why do we get up in the morning, if not to change the world?” - affirming her lifelong dedication to justice, hope, and transformation.
## END SUMMARY

## START KEY CONTENT TIMESTAMPS [HH:MM:SS]
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## END KEY CONTENT TIMESTAMPS [HH:MM:SS]

## START TRANSCRIPT WITH TIMESTAMPS [HH:MM:SS]
I call on Dr. Elizabeth to make her valedictory statement.[00:01:00] I thank you so much for your support and advice, especially over the past few months. I also acknowledge the former speaker, the right honorable Trevor Millard. Who once sent me a note in the house to say that my purple sequin jacket was stretching the definition of business attire. But shout out to parliamentary services who indeed are the best people supporting the [00:01:30] best parliament in the world, and especially my relationship manager, uh, Jane McKenzie, and those who have supported my office as we've transitioned. Greetings to my colleagues, my au all of our friends and community people who are here, uh, in [00:02:00] person and watching online, uh, as we hashtag paint parliament people. One more time, I have gathered you here to tell you a story. It is a story of hope. Of expectation of hard work and very late nights of laughter and of tears. Not mine though. Apparently I'm not allowed to cry. There is scandal because no one is surprised that I would challenge the powers that be. But there's also betrayal because. The powers that be don't like to be [00:02:30] challenged. And as number four on the Green Party initial list this year, I thought I was on a heartwarming two-part series and it turns out I was on Survivor and I did not see the blind side coming. However, it is ultimately a story of triumph because very few people ever get to be an mp. And I sit proudly on my seat up in the naughty corner, uh, because it is an incredible honor to serve those who put me here and I will [00:03:00] work hard for them every day, uh, or act, uh, for granting me this space to speak to you here tonight. As I said in my maiden speech, change happens at many levels and for some change for Maori and Rainbow au it can only happen here. And I'm really proud of the things I've helped usher through because real power and real change lies in community. And with whanau where I [00:03:30] come from and where I gladly return in 2020. I came in as part of the most diverse green Caucus ever, and with four Rainbow mps. Proudly claim to be the proudest party and the proudest parliament in the world. I continue to hold out hope for our next trans non-binary intersex representative who will one day follow in the footsteps of the late and great Georgina Bayer. I came into the Green Party and eventually into Parliament after. [00:04:00] Over 40 years of working for our people on things and over 35 years on youth development and rainbow issues. My focus, my focus has always been on our health and our we wellbeing and for suicide and violence prevention. I lead the Maori strategy as chair of te, aka uh, the Maori Pacifica, uh, caucus of the Greens, and shout out to the incredible te [00:04:30] aka staff who supported that ma. Our highlight was our meetings with the authors of UA to focus our efforts for the rights of ua, radically shift the way we make decisions together in this country, and to work towards the future our ancestors dreamed of when they signed te. We supported occupations around the tu, including at I uh, ua. We encouraged wau, PU, [00:05:00] and Iwi to reach out to us so we could work alongside them, uh, using our platform and resources to amplify and progress their kopa. Operation reached out to us through the Greens Hawks Bay branch and welcome to both of those PU who have represented here today In February, 2022, AKI known as ua, our shared a vision to restore the moori of the, and enhance the wellbeing of the people through the [00:05:30] return of its original name. Mm, we supported the petition, two full applications to the geographic board, uh, visiting Hastings nearly every month and talking almost every day on the phone. In June, we celebrated that success. It was an exciting, exciting day with the official renaming of Awa Ro. We were devastated when only a month later Aki passed away in his sleep. Her legacy lives on. [00:06:00] And my office will stay committed to operation, uh, in her memory. Another favorite was when the, who also represented here tonight reached out to us a year ago. I was proud to host them here in Parliament, and they shared their vision of their people with jobs and houses on their own. F. And the devastating impact of the sudden halt of a joint hapu government project that had promised or they thought had promised to bring their vision to [00:06:30] reality. After I raised questions in the house and arranged meetings for them with ministers and their officials, they had their deposits returned and the project looks set to resume. Now those houses aren't built yet, but again. We remain committed to supporting them until one day we are seeing those being built in the whanau back home. It is in the rainbow space that we have been the most transformative government. Shout out [00:07:00] to Rainbow Greens who are, who were with me every step of the way, and several of whom are here in the house in 2021. The Greens led the news at Wai for the first time. Uh, talking about the kapu rights and banning conversion therapy, my record breaking petition was launched at Auckland Pride and gathered over 150,000 signatures in one week, pressuring the government to pass legislation sooner rather than later. I joined the Justice Select Committee for the also record breaking numbers of submissions and [00:07:30] hearings. I also joined the Governance and Administration Committee for the B-D-M-R-R. To ensure that our trans non-binary and intersex whanau could more easily change their birth certificates. We've made progress for those people who are born here, but there is work to do on those who are born overseas. We will keep going. One of my single proudest things is putting the term Pui into legislation for the first time in the [00:08:00] legislation after. So very long of researching, promoting and advocating to be able to do that, uh, was an incredible, incredible thing for me and my member's, bill. I put that in the biscuit tin, like just around my Ma Maiden speech, and it got drawn just in time to exist. And we'll see what happens in the next government. But it [00:08:30] was the human rights prohibition of discrimination on grounds of gender, identity and expression, and variations of sex characteristics. Amendment bill, again, putting a stake in the ground and law for our trans non-binary and intersex. W Uh, in a quick shout out to the Human Rights Commission, uh, and the cross party, uh, parliamentary Rainbow group, we have supported Hobbit and. And loosely through our respective parties [00:09:00] contributed to all the legislation that has happened in this area. So that was some of the great stuff. There were other things not so great. A few months ago, I had a falling out with the, uh, co-leaders of the Green Party, which led to my resignation from the party and my retirement from Parliament. I don't know if anyone here noticed it. It was handled quite discreetly, and actually it was not fun day after day, [00:09:30] week after week. Month after month, I watched while, uh, increasingly unfounded and increasingly elaborate allegations were made about me. Uh, they also claimed that these issues were being resolved by some sort of process that they had underway. I categorically dispute all such allegations. So this email was sent to my lawyer from the so-called process team dated 7:14 PM Wednesday, 3rd of May, [00:10:00] a full four weeks after the original incident. And I quote, as previously discussed, please find attached draft terms of reference for the next steps in our process. You will note that the listed complainants are just marman James. This is because we have not received formal complaints from anyone else. At this time. So to recap, no formal [00:10:30] complaints, no natural justice, and never a process, let alone a based one. I consider this to be an e failure of leadership. I've been a leader for most of my life and mentored many other leaders, and especially amongst our young rainbow people. So here's some tips on how to be a good leader. If a staff personal MP expresses concerns with how they're being treated, address it immediately. Follow a good faith and restorative [00:11:00] process. If a staff member or MP is bringing concerns about racism or other behavior from other mps and senior staff, perhaps address those issues. If allegations have been made about someone, perhaps talk to that person to clarify the facts before you start vilifying them in public. And lastly, if your organization has a clear principle of non vi, of non-violence, perhaps do not engage in ongoing abusive behavior. Many people, many people have asked even after all this why I still [00:11:30] support the Green Party I've given them. I support the vote in the house, except of course for the therapeutic bull. Uh, but I'm as committed to our charter principles as of ecological wisdom, social responsibility, appropriate decision making, and non-violence as I ever was. I support the green COPA and policies, several of which I helped write and used from Maori frameworks I created. As in fact the entire restructure of the party was based on a Maori framework I created. [00:12:00] Some of the people I love and trust the most in this world are green party members, including my wife under juries, um, and my staff, Kerry Pei and the former party co convener. And I'm mehi to all the green members from the cus across the country who are in the house here tonight. Uh, particularly to the other former party co convene, a penny Lynch and [00:12:30] her girls who are here all the way from Munich. Uh, because I still think of this as my party, and one day I plan to be back. I've got work to do, but I will never apologize for calling out racism, homophobia, and transphobia wherever it occurs. Speaking of calling out like many people, I thought the theater of the debating chamber was indicative of relationships in this house, but of course it is not. The thing that most surprised me when I got became an [00:13:00] MP was how collegial it was, and we know we get most of the real work done in our select committees and cross party parliamentary groups. I am such a big fan of a health select committee. I am so proud to do that work, and it is the time when I most feel like a lawmaker is in that space, working with my colleagues. I have such huge respect for the chairs and the members of that committee. And, uh, just a shout out to the staff who do incredible work. Uh, we've gone through [00:13:30] 67 petitions, uh, in, in our job, and I have. Uh, appointed myself as the editor in chief of all reports and papers that come through that committee. I also became co-chair of the friendship, uh, parliamentary Friendship Group for North America with my colleague Nicola Greg. And I'm a member of the Europe Friendship Group, uh, that involves hosting a meeting online with dignitaries across these regions. Last year, my highlight was visiting colleagues in six European countries in just two weeks, including seeing the European Parliament in [00:14:00] action. And listening to Paul Goldsmith play music of a Lithuania composer on a grand piano in Lithuania. Less fun was when our entire delegations luggage went missing and it chased us across Europe for the last week. Uh, I was also part of the New Zealand Parliamentary population and development group and supported events by the Commonwealth woman. Parliamentarians. A highlight for me was the combined celebration we held last year for being the [00:14:30] first parliament in the world to get 50% women representation. But I'm most proud of being chair of the WA Art Committee. Shout out to Tasha Fernandez and the crew for their stellar work. Uh, we opened Tip Papa Gallery and increase the representation of women and Maori artists in the collection with the purchase of six new major works. This is a workplace unlike any other. Being in Parliament leaves its mark on all of us. Like I never used to work with the TV on. But now Parliament [00:15:00] TV has been the soundtrack of the last three years now. Not only can I recognize every single voice in this house without looking, I don't know how it'll function without hearing the dult tones of Andrew Bailey or Grant Robinson, or hearing the honorable Jenny Anderson. Tell the honorable Mark Mitchell one more time, including today. Uh. Quote how the 1,800 extra police will help New Zealanders feel safe.[00:15:30] I have never taken this job for granted, uh, because the goal was never to be an mp. The goal was to do what only an MP could do. Hm. Now I know how everything works. I can operate better as an advocate. Advocate in the future. I said in my maiden speech that I would work respectfully across the house, and I hope that my colleagues have found this to be so, and that regardless of who is in government after the dust settles. Of those who mps who remain will take my call if they ring. [00:16:00] And to be clear, I'm not starting my own lobby company only because none of the communities I represent can afford to pay me. After parliament, I'll put my energy back into my research and ensuring Paya actually delivers. Everything it claims it will for Maori Pacifica women, rainbow people, people with disabilities in rural areas and with rare disorders. Now, I promised a triumphant end to the story [00:16:30] when I became an independent mp. We heard the horror stories of previous independents who struggled without the machinery of their party. I aimed to, number one, be the best independent MP ever in this parliament. And number two, to go out in style history will decide the first. And I would like to thank all of you here today for helping create the second. My colleagues, you are all welcome to join our party tonight. There will be food drink, a cashless [00:17:00] cash bar and dancing. Shout out to, uh, my favorite band, white Chapel Jack, who have come down from Auckland to perform for us. 'cause if you want to catch up with me, you'll need to go onto the dance floor. Finally, as I like to say, why do we get up in the morning, if not to change the world? I've done that in every other part of my life and with all of you. I've done that here, and I'll strive to keep doing it after I leave because this. Is not the end of my story.
## END TRANSCRIPT WITH TIMESTAMPS [HH:MM:SS]

## START HUMAN VERIFIED TRANSCRIPT
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## START KEYWORDS
2020s, Auckland, Elizabeth Kerekere, Europe, Events, Green Party, Greg, Hastings, Human Rights Commission, Job, Mark Mitchell, Member of Parliament, Parliament TV, Parliament buildings, Paul Goldsmith, People, Space, Stuff, TE AKA, Youth, advice, advocate, ancestors, board, celebration, change, community, dance, dancing, discrimination, ecological wisdom, email, energy, expression, failure, faith, food, frameworks, friends, fun, future, gallery, gender, gender identity, governance, government, hapu, health, history, homophobia, hope, human rights, identity, intersex, iwi, justice, laughter, law, lawyer, leadership, legacy, legislation, lesbian, listening, love, maiden speech, meetings, memory, music, news, other, parties, petition, piano, plan, police, power, prevention, purple, racism, rainbow, regions, relationships, representation, research, respect, retirement, rural, seat, select committee, sex, sex characteristics, sleep, social, social responsibility, speech, strategy, success, suicide, support, survivor, takatāpui, time, trans, transphobia, trust, valedictory statement, violence, violence prevention, voice, vote, wellbeing, wisdom, women, work.
## END KEYWORDS

## START REFERENCES
The original recording can be heard at this website https://www.pridenz.com/elizabeth_kerekere_valedictory_statement_in_parliament.html.
## END REFERENCES

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## START FOOTNOTE
Generated 2025-10-14T17:20:05+13:00.
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