The title of this recording is "Tangi Utikere maiden statement in Parliament". It is described as: The maiden statement of Tangi Utikere in Parliament, 2 December 2020. It was recorded in Parliament buildings, 1 Molesworth Street, Wellington on the 2nd December 2020. This is a parliamentary recording and features the voices of Tangi Utikere and Trevor Mallard. Their names are spelt correctly, but may appear incorrectly spelt later in the document. The duration of the recording is 14 minutes, but this may not reflect the actual length of the proceedings. A list of correctly spelt content keywords and tags can be found at the end of this document. A brief description of the recording is: The maiden statement of Tangi Utikere in Parliament, 2 December 2020. The content in the recording covers the 2020s decade. A brief summary of the recording is: In the parliamentary recording taken on December 2, 2020, at Parliament buildings in Wellington, Tangi Utikere delivered their maiden statement, expressing gratitude and outlining their vision and goals as the new Member of Parliament for Palmerston North. Utikere began by paying respects to the Speaker, Trevor Mallard, for their election to office, and the iwi from their electorate. Feeling humbled by the trust placed by the constituents of Palmerston North, Utikere recounted an unexpected political journey that started less than eight weeks before the general election, as a result of a well-organized party campaign led by Labour leader and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and a dedicated local team headed by campaign manager Lorna Johnson. The address highlighted the importance of continuity and service to the electorate previously demonstrated by predecessors - Joe Walding, Trevor de Cleene, Steve Mahari, and Iain Lees-Galloway - all from the Labour Party. Utikere also acknowledged their Cookie Island roots, sharing their grandparent's migration journey to New Zealand, which was filled with hardship and hope for a better future for subsequent generations - themes that underpin their own life and political values. Utikere talked about the influence of family traditions, including the pivotal role that education played in their upbringing. They credited their parents with instilling values like hard work, integrity, and community service, which they aim to project in their political career. Their involvement with the Labour Party began 25 years prior, inspired by the party's emphasis on social justice, inclusivity, and kindness. Professional experience as an educator and advocate for community governance shaped their understanding of public service. Their judicial roles included responsibilities as a Justice of the Peace and work with the Judicial Control Authority for New Zealand's racing industry. These positions granted Utikere insights into the challenges faced by the justice system, especially concerning marginalized communities such as Maori, Pacifica, and new migrants. Utikere's experience as a city councilor and deputy mayor in Palmerston North emphasized public service and engagement with community affairs, supporting the city's vision to achieve big-city ambitions coupled with small-city benefits. They touched upon the importance of local government policy, specifically regarding the provision of Maori wards and infrastructure development, advocating for partnerships that do not compromise community wellbeing. In their closing remarks, Utikere offered a heartfelt thanks to their partner for their support. They expressed excitement about working with the government to create an inclusive society that realizes the aspirations of people, much like their grandmother, who come to New Zealand with dreams of a better life. The full transcription of the recording begins:  Mr. Speaker I call for his maiden statement. Mr. Speaker, firstly, I wish to acknowledge and congratulate you on your election to the office you now hold. I look forward to the guidance and support that you will provide to me as a new member of this esteemed house. I also wish to acknowledge ran my local iwi in my electorate, and specifically who are in the gallery this evening. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to rise as the new member for Palmerston North. Yeah, a city that I am very proud to call my home. I want to thank the constituents of Palmie for putting their trust in me to represent them for at least the next three years. It's fair to say that at the start of this year, it was not my expectation that I would be a member of Parliament. My campaign run was much shorter than others, and I must apologize to my parliamentary colleagues in that. I, I joined the campaign much later in the piece, but I wish to acknowledge their hard work and I congratulate them on their election as members of this house. My arrival here is due in no small part to a fantastically well-organized party campaign under the leadership of our later LE Labor leader and Prime Minister, the Wright Honorable Jacinda Ern, and at a local level due to the sterling efforts of my Palmers North base team, many of whom are in the gallery tonight. Candidates are often never easy to manage, but particularly when you inherited a new one less than eight weeks before the scheduled general election. So to my campaign manager, Lorna Johnson, and the wider team, my gratitude and thanks to you all for making it a flawless transition and for the electoral success that the team delivered. It is particularly special that tonight I get to deliver my maiden statement alongside other new members of Labor's Pacifica Caucus. So to Barb Niru and Teresa, and of course, my entry to Parliament has doubled Labor's Cook Island and Caucus. So to my Cookie Irani colleague, the Honorable Porter Williams, Ana. And I also wish to acknowledge my Palmers North colleague Tiano on his successful election as the Green Party's first Pacifica member. Mr. Speaker Convention seems to dictate that I acknowledge the work of my predecessors, and I certainly wish to do that. Over the last 40 years, there have been four mps for Palmerston North, the Honorable Joe Walden, the Honorable Trevor cle, the Honorable Steve Mahari, and the Honorable Ian Lees Galloway, all from the New Zealand Labor Party. Prior to the entry to Parliament, they all had a history of service to the electorate and a prerequisite that seems to have stood them in good stead for their connection to the local community, and certainly a characteristic that I wish to continue. I want to acknowledge their collective service to the constituents of the city over that time, in particular, Mr. Speaker, I wish to acknowledge one predecessor who is present here today, and that's the honorable Steve Mahari. Steve's 1999 campaign was my first. So he is partially responsible for my involvement in politics. I am deeply honored that his footsteps, but with my footprints are ones that I wish to follow, even if it is some time since he left this house, Mr. Speaker, like many others, my life has been shaped by my upbringing and my experiences, which are undoubtedly informed by the generations that come before us in 1962. My 20 year old Cook Allen Grandmother VI Hewitt. Left her village of Neko Parra in Iki, and at that time she also left her 19 months old, old son, my father, with her parents. And on the 14th of May, 1962, she took this ticket to the Port of Tonga. There she bought the SS Monterey to set sail for New Zealand in search of a better future for those to follow. In addition to this ticket, she also took with her the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of her family. She arrived in this country, worked hard by cooking and cleaning at the hospital, and every week she would put some money aside to send back to her family in the islands. That was her routine. That was her cultural sacrifice. Some years later, when my father was eight, he traveled to New Zealand with his grandfather to join his parents. My father arrived and attended primary school in New Zealand where he spoke little to no English. Every time he opened his mouth to speak, he was punished. This meant his first interaction with the New Zealand education system was. Was deeply alienating something that he is not keen to develop or explore further. Instead, he was keen to get outta school as soon as he could, and he did. He left school with no formal qualifications, but with a lot of experience. Mr. Speaker, I'm the eldest of four children, so as the firstborn Cook Island custom dictator that my grandparents gifted me my name. My mother actually wanted to call me Joshua, uh, but instead my paternal grandparents named me Tangi throughout school. I hated my name as, I'd also have to always have to explain why someone would want to name their child grief or funeral, rather than the Cook Island Maori translation of Wait for it. Beautiful. Now I have come a long way since then and now consider it's an honor to carry the name that has been gifted to me. My parents, Sue and a Cardi from a very early age taught my siblings and I the significance of working hard. To never judge a book by its cover and to value the importance of family. My mother demonstrates a passion for a sense of community and of supporting those who are more vulnerable than others. Particular traits that she inherited from my late grandfather, Ted Thorner. My father demonstrates the trait of integrity. He taught me by his own actions that integrity is something you feel and experience rather than something you specifically define and see that you do what you say will do, and that you'll treat others as you wish to be treated. These are particular traits that I hope to exemplify as I go about my duties as a member of this house. My parents also knew that education was too important to ignore, so they encouraged their children to be more engaged with education and to do well, something that my siblings and I will forever be very grateful. To them four. So thank you mum and dad, Mr. Speaker. My introduction to the Labor Party is similar to that of many others. 25 years ago, my uncle Tahi Williams Hewitt took me along to what was my first Labor Party event at the Terrace School Hall as part of Steve's former MP Jill White's campaign. I remember the inevitable Labor Party raffle at the door. I remember my first L e C meeting. And I remember how inclusive the party was to this teenage boy, and that was the start of my involvement with the party. The principles and values that attracted me to join our party more than 20 years ago are the same important ones that underpin the labor party today. Those of equal access and opportunity, fairness, social justice, inclusiveness, and kindness. Mr. Speaker, I started my professional career in education as a secondary school teacher of history and social science at Freiberg High School. My relationship with Freiberg has come full circle. I started there as a student, then as a teacher, and finally as a trustee on the school board. In one particular year, my siblings Rachel, Luke, and I occupied the roles of parent student and staff trustee respectively. So my family is aware of the value of local communities being involved in the governance of local schools. Freiberg taught me much and it's special to have many of my freiberg connections in the gallery tonight. My early years were also where I established lifelong friendships. My longest friendship stems from Form one at Ross Intermediate. So to Stacy and your partner, Kyle, thank you for being here tonight and to Shari, Caleb, Tanya, and your partners. My thanks for the ongoing support and encouragement you have shown to me over the years, Mr. Speaker, these are the values, observations, experiences, and the people that have guided me on my journey to New Zealand's House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker Justices of the Peace provide an incredible level of service in my electorate. The local association has had a focus on attracting younger candidates and those who are representative of a more modern demographic. While successful, there is still much more work to be done, and of course, members play an important role in the JP process and can assist by continuing to nominate candidates who are reflective of their local communities through my role as a judicial justice of the peace. I have presided over bail and remand hearings for more than 10 years, and as a visiting justice over internal prison disciplinary hearings for nearly five. My judicial experience has also expanded to include New Zealand's racing industry, an industry worth at least 1. 6 billion annually to New Zealand's economy, where for more than 10 years, I've sat on race day and non race day hearing panels for the judicial control authority. The J C A is an incredibly slick and professional operation on a relatively shoestring budget. And has given me the opportunity to work alongside hardworking colleagues on race courses such as Wairoa Water Lee, and Waverley and Winton, Mr. Speaker. It's through some of these roles and experiences that I've seen, just how inflexible the criminal justice system can be, particularly for our Maori Pacifica and new migrant communities. An ability to access the system is important. But so too is the ability to be an active participant in proceedings, to be aware of what is happening and to understand the process and the options available to those involved. Prior to my election to Parliament, I was looking forward to taking up a commissioner role with the newly established TE Kahu, the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The loss of one's freedom and liberty is one of, is one of, if not the most severe consequence that the state can impose. So there must be a sense of independence, integrity, and fairness in the system. But those judicial tenants of independence, integrity, and fairness must not purely exist. They must also be evident and active in the very police court and wider criminal justice processes that New Zealand has in place. The commission, while still in its infancy, is a potential safeguard within the jurisdiction, and I look forward to seeing it over, uh, over the next few years. Mr. Speaker, my experience over the last 10 years as a city councilor and then a deputy mayor has been about public service and connections within my community, and I acknowledge council colleagues here today. While my tenure in that role has now concluded, I remain an advocate for the local council's mantra of Palmers North being a place with small city benefits and big city ambition. Mr. Speaker, the ability to overturn a local council's decision to introduce Maori wards is an unfortunate provision in local government legislation, and I look forward to the government looking at options for its removal. The local government sector faces many challenges amongst them is the ability of councils to meet the infrastructure needs of their community within a very tight fiscal envelope. I believe it is the role of the state to actively work in partnership with local government and other providers who have the best interests of the community at heart. But I also believe that enterprise has an ethical and social conscience to think about where it can actively play a part in meeting the infrastructure needs of its local community. However, these partnerships cannot be at any cost or at the expense of local community wellbeing. Mr. Speaker, we have all lived and we are still living through the most extraordinary period of our collective lives. Covid has tested every agency. In spite of this, Palmerston North's strengths continue to rely on education and training, logistics and distribution, along with our historical defense connections. Its reputation for innovation, science, and technology marks it as a leader in research and development. It is a city that has a diversified private sector. Supported by a strong agribusiness and primary food, food producing region along with a solid public sector. It is a city that is rich in cultural diversity, a welcoming community with more than 130 different ethnicities who choose to call Palmy home. It simply is a wonderful place to represent, and I look forward to advocating for my constituents and for my electorate as a member of the Labor caucus. And in government. I'm excited by the desire for this government to be one for all New Zealanders, and I am committed to working across the Parliament to achieve that. Mr. Speaker, before I conclude, I want to acknowledge the person who is on this journey with me, my partner today. Today. Thank you for your love, for your support, and your unfiltered feedback and encouragement as we embark upon these next steps. Together, Mr. Speaker. In conclusion, I look forward to the challenges and I look forward to the journey, but more importantly, I look forward to working as part of a team to ensure that this parliament is one that realizes the opportunities, the dreams, and the aspirations that Tano like my grandmother had. For those that wish to call Alero New Zealand. Their home Norra 10 10. . The full transcription of the recording ends. A list of keywords/tags describing the recording follow. These tags contain the correct spellings of names and places which may have been incorrectly spelt earlier in the document. The tags are seperated by a semi-colon: 2020s ; Aotearoa New Zealand ; Cook Islands ; Deputy Mayor ; General election ; Jacinda Ardern ; Joe ; Member of Parliament ; New Zealand Labour Party ; Palmerston North ; Parliament buildings ; People ; Steve Maharey ; Tangi Utikere ; Tonga ; Trevor Mallard ; access ; actions ; advocate ; benefits ; board ; budget ; career ; children ; collective ; community ; connections ; cooking ; council ; desire ; distribution ; diversity ; economy ; education ; election ; encouragement ; family ; food ; freedom ; funeral ; future ; gallery ; governance ; government ; grandparents ; gratitude ; grief ; guidance ; history ; hope ; hospital ; integrity ; iwi ; journey ; justice ; kindness ; leadership ; legislation ; liberty ; local government ; logistics ; loss ; love ; mantra ; mayor ; opportunity ; other ; parents ; partnership ; passion ; peace ; period ; police ; politics ; primary school ; prison ; public service ; race ; research ; review ; routine ; school ; secondary school ; siblings ; social ; social justice ; success ; support ; tangi ; teacher ; technology ; teenage ; time ; training ; transition ; treat ; trust ; values ; water ; wellbeing ; wish ; work. The original recording can be heard at this website https://www.pridenz.com/tangi_utikere_maiden_statement_in_parliament.html. The master recording is also archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, New Zealand.  For more details visit their website https://tiaki.natlib.govt.nz/#details=ecatalogue.1093106. Please note that this document may contain errors or omissions - you should always refer back to the original recording to confirm content.