Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia handed an olive branch to the party she walked out on 10 years ago in her farewell speech to Parliament last night, but said she had no regrets about doing so, nor about signing up for government with National.
In an often-moving valedictory speech, Mrs Turia recalled her decision to leave Labour over the Foreshore and Seabed Act as a turning point in her life. "I am not sorry that I left. It was the most evocative moment of my life - to feel the will of the people, the calling of our tupuna, to reclaim the essence of who we are, to stand up for what we knew was right."
However, she acknowledged she had also left behind good friends and those who had helped her. Her voice breaking, she spoke about how important the late Parekura Horomia had been in her life. She paid tribute to several current MPs and said it was only thanks to the support of former Prime Minister Helen Clark and Maryan Street that she had been able to enter Parliament for Labour at all.
She and Maori Party co-founder Pita Sharples gave their final addresses to a public gallery packed with supporters, and former colleagues including Willie Jackson, John Tamihere and former governor-general Sir Anand Satyanand.
Dr Sharples and Mrs Turia also spoke about the party's decision to go into government with National. Dr Sharples said the party had gained in popularity when it was on the cross benches in its first term: "We didn't win anything, we didn't do anything but we made a lot of noise and we got a lot of media attention. Then we got five seats." However, the split with Hone Harawira and political opposition to the deal with National had taken its toll. He said he still believed it was right. "It's not just about how loudly you can speak outside."