Tracey Martin on David Seymour
From Hansard:
Hon TRACEY MARTIN (Minister for Children): Kia ora, Mr Speaker. Thank you very much. First of all, can I do something that I never thought I would do: can I thank David Seymour for his work with New Zealand First and with myself. I also want to acknowledge Brooke from his offices.
There are not many issues that you see a politician make such a commitment to over such a long period of time. Often, you don’t see a politician who has been as open to change and to amendment and as flexible to try and do the best by this House and all the perspectives in this House, because they hold on to their own ego and they hold on to the stick in the sand and they make it about them. I am surprised that it’s a leader of the ACT Party that I’m talking about, but I believe David Seymour that has shown himself to be a gentleman of character and that he has made this issue bigger than him. So I want to acknowledge that. It’ll be the last time I acknowledge anything like that, Mr Seymour.
David Seymour: Thank you. You can stop now.
It’s fair to say that generally there is no love lost between ACT and NZ First MPs. But this again shows that MPs can work together on issues with respect and compromise and get good outcomes. And very decent of Tracey to specifically thanks David using the words she did.