Maiden speech 'frightening and exciting' for Whangārei MP Emily Henderson

Whangarei MP Emily Henderson gives her maiden speech in Parliament. Photo / Supplied

Giving her maiden speech in Parliament was "frightening, exciting and deeply emotional" for Whangārei MP Emily Henderson.

The 48-year-old former Tikipunga High School student also managed to get a few giggles from Finance Minister Grant Robertson for having a "cheeky go" as her speech contained repeated references to Whangārei's potential for infrastructure.

Henderson made the speech in Wellington on Tuesday, during the first day of Parliament for 2021.

"They say it's a speech where you set out your personal motivation, but for me it felt like I had to use that moment to put my case for Whangārei and fit that into the national agenda," she said.

"He [Robertson] was appreciative of the fact I was using my maiden speech to lobby him and have a cheeky go.

"I was conscious that I have Whangārei on my shoulders, and I'm here to do the job for Whangārei not Emily Henderson.

"It was awe-inspiring, to stand there in that environment surrounded by people of that calibre, to make your statement about why you're there to join them - it's quite something."

Henderson was joined by a large contingent of supporters in the capital, including her four teenage kids, husband and fellow lawyer Thomas Biss, her parents, two sisters and six uncles and aunts.

"It was really special; they came from everywhere to be here, from Auckland, Waikato, Whangārei and Wellington.

"They kept texting me and saying aunty so and so is coming, and I'd have to go back to my secretary and fit them into the mix."

During her 15-minute speech, Henderson highlighted Northland's pervasive social issues and "progressive poverty".

She said violence, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide and neglect have been handed down generation to generation, while "overcrowded, rundown houses are filled with hungry, sick kids and worn-out parents".

When asked what she would do to address these issues, Henderson said that's why she joined the Labour Party "because all those things are Labour priorities and they put that front and centre".

Henderson said she would work on getting the Sexual Violence Bill passed in her role on the justice select committee.

The bill amends the Evidence Act 2006, Victims' Rights Act 2002, and Criminal Procedure Act 2011 to reduce the re-traumatisation victims of sexual violence may experience when they attend court and give evidence.

She will also work on improved housing, following the Government's release of its Public Housing Plan which aims to provide 230 to 380 extra state houses and 20 to 80 transitional houses in the Northland region over the next four years.

Around 160 state houses are expected to be built in Whangārei by 2024 with around 15 transitional housing places by 2022.

"Now we need to drill down on what that means for Whangārei; whether it's enough and where we need to put them.

"In the meantime, I'll keep being a strong voice for where I think our precious dollars should go in terms of infrastructure and our port development. It's not the easiest time to have big dreams in a Covid economy, we have to be fiscally careful, but Whangārei knows that."

Henderson encouraged constituents to visit her in her new office at 66 Bank St, which she shares with Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis.