Bay MPs deliver valedictory speeches at parliament.
Chris Tremain
Napier MP Chris Tremain said he had not been a "political rock star" in his nine years in Parliament but he had been part of a good team.
"To use one of my dad's analogies, 'It's all very well for wingers to take the glory, but if the props and hookers didn't win the ball there'd be no glory for the twinkle-toes'. I guess I've been in the middle of the ruck."
Mr Tremain, a former Cabinet Minister, entered Parliament by taking the Napier seat off Labour.
He spoke of the highs and lows of representing an electorate, including a visit to a nude colony in his region.
"I spent more time that Saturday morning deciding what to wear than to any other occasion I've been to since. Casual, formal, birthday suit?
"To this day I will never forget driving up the pine-enclosed complex, pulling over in the carpark and watching the reception party walk down to greet us both.
"[Wife] Ange leaned over and whispered in my ear: 'My God CJ, they really are naked'."
Mr Tremain apologised to his former party leader Don Brash for accidently setting him up in a memorable "walk the plank" photo opportunity when National was in opposition.
He had invited Mr Brash to visit the Earthrace catamaran skippered by Pete Bethune, which resulted in an unfortunate photo of the National leader teetering on a wooden plank while boarding the boat.
"Don - please accept my apologies," he said.
MPs had given him contrasting views of what it meant to be successful in Parliament - from "taking scalps" to managing to keep your family together.
He said he had not claimed any scalps, but he had made gains as a Local Government and Internal Affairs Minister - changes to the gambling sector, online passport applications, and council reforms.
Mr Tremain also captained the Parliamentary rugby team when they won the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup in 2011.
"So have I been successful in this Parliamentary career? By some measures certainly, by others not as well."
He finished with a Maori proverb about "a touch of frost, a new dawn".
John Hayes
Mr Hayes and Napier MP Chris Tremain were two of six National MPs who gave their valedictory speeches at Parliament before a mostly-full chamber.
Mr Hayes said the first advice he was given when he joined Parliament in 2005 was to have a "tough outer shell".
"Mine formed soon after arriving when Michael Cullen wacked [Chris] Finlayson and I around this chamber one afternoon."
Mr Hayes' valedictory did not show Parliament in a positive light.
He said he spent most of his first of three terms reflecting on why he had become an MP, which was "an all-consuming life".
"The atmosphere was toxic, not helped by a speaker who screamed and loopy committee chairs."
Visits to Denmark and Sweden's debating chambers showed him that Parliamentary debate could be respectful, and he advised MPs that low voting numbers and public apathy could be reversed if the House was better behaved.
The MP said his "curiosity was satisfied" after nine years in Parliament, and he advised aspiring politicians to instead try the Foreign Ministry.
He also told family people not to become MPs: "If you have children don't come near because they will be short-changed."
Mr Hayes spoke of his frustration to advance irrigation schemes in his electorate, which had been held up by consent rules, Maori demands, poor leadership and a "not in my backyard" attitude. He recommended a four or five-year election term to allow more time to implement key programmes.
He also spoke of some rewarding experiences, in particular as head of the Foreign Affairs select committee.
During this time he hosted the first Pacific Parliament in New Zealand, with 50 leaders from the region.
"Finally can I say a thank you, all parliamentarians from all parties. It has been fun working with most of you, and I have made some good friends, including in other parties."