Andrew Little: Helen Kelly 'has been fearless'

Helen Kelly has delivered her last major speech as Council of Trade Unions president. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A complete pain in the arse and one of the finest union leaders in New Zealand history - tributes have flowed for outgoing Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly.

After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in February, Kelly is handing over the CTU presidency at its conference in Wellington.

Labour leader Andrew Little, himself a former union leader, ended his speech to the conference by praising Kelly, who took the presidency in 2007.

"A union leader who I think will go down in New Zealand history as one of our finest," he said of Kelly.

"She has been fearless, she has been tenacious, she has persevered, she has shown the ability to be a complete pain the arse - always with a smile on her face, because that is essential - and she has taken on challenges that many union leaders would not have taken on."

Kelly's response to the Labour leader's speech drew laughter: "I might be, literally, that angel on your shoulder, mate. I like that potential role."

She praised Labour's support, especially during the debate on recent health and safety reforms, but during a question and answer session other CTU members asked why Labour would not commit to exiting the TPP.

Mr Little said TPP compromised New Zealand's sovereignty, but Labour needed to see the full text before deciding its response in Government.

Earlier, Kelly received a standing ovation after her own fiery address, her last major speech as president.

"This movement every day does good work, and with the best people. It has been the most interesting job - the chance to meet some incredible people, like President Lula of Brazil and Maryanne Butler Finlay and the kids from Tokoroa," Kelly said.

"I have stayed in so many people's homes and gotten to know their families. I have travelled the country and been involved in some massive and desperate industrial disputes."

She warned against the trend of what she termed "pledge-washing" - employers creating health and safety groups to give the appearance of progress, that in fact was not being made.

New Zealanders needed to be aware of another push to belittle and deride those that dared speak out against official wisdom, she said - most recently seen in the Trans-Pacific Partnership debate.

"These attacks on those that speak up in this country - and we saw it with the author Eleanor Catton - are really an attack on democracy.

"A country where alternative voices are silenced including by the derision from the powerful, is a country that won't develop as it could."

There was also humour. Kelly, who made headlines this week after calling for greater access to medicinal cannabis, joked that she may have stumbled upon a powerful recruiting tool.

"People are making contact from all walks of life - unusually I have not had one abusive message. I don't know where that will all lead but I am telling everyone that makes contact to join a union - I might be on to something here."