Ian Ewen-Street leaves politics for family

Q: What was the best job you had in Parliament?

A: Being a member of the primary production select committee. I enjoyed the people, loved the work. It was a very practical, down to Earth committee and we wrestled with some pretty substantial problems on occasions and I feel proud of what we have achieved.

Q: What are some of the issues you grappled with?

A; The scampi inquiry. We had an inquiry into organic agriculture which I instituted; an inquiry into indigenous forestry. They were pretty broad-ranging investigations into those particular industries and where they could be progressed, and where things were going wrong.

Q: What was the worst time in the job?

A: I think the worst aspect is being away from home, the long hours, the absence from your family and the difficulty of getting into a routine - too much food, too little exercise. Small incidents were difficult, like the time the farmers turned up at Parliament to protest against the "fart tax". All of the parties went out to be represented and they cheered and listened to National and Act, but for Labour and the Greens and I presume United ... were just greeted with a barrage of chanting. I was determined to continue talking even though I'm certain that nobody heard a single word that I said. It was actually an amazing experience; very difficult.

Q: What do you think you have achieved in Parliament?

A: Quite a bit. I was the person who brought organics into the mainstream in a political sense. I'm certainly the first and only organic farmer who's ever been here. I spent a lot of my time in my first term promoting organics, getting the inquiry through the select committee. As a consequence of that we've established national standards. I acquired quite considerable funding for the advancement of environmental education. The problem in my second term was ... that as a backbencher in Opposition you have very little power at all. At least in my first term we were supporting the Labour Government and we did get let's say preferential treatment from them as a consequence of that.

Q: Why have you retired from politics?

A: At the ripe old age of 54 I had my first child (Ysabella), who is now 18 months old. I am in a new relationship and I just want to spend as many waking moments as I can with my family. Having had a child it's just the most extraordinary experience. I feel almost resentful of the time away from her.

Q: What else are you intending doing?

A: I've still got the farm in the Sounds. That's had six years of neglect. The lessee finishes at the end of this month. I really need to get out there and tart it up, fix up the fences, get rid of weeds, cut back the scrub on the hills.

Q: So you are returning to organic farming?

A: At least temporarily. I won't live on the farm again. Sue (Grey) and I live in Nelson and the farm's about two hours' drive away but we do intend to spend more time there, maybe three or four days a week.

Q: What type of farm is it?

A: It was sheep and beef, but we are looking very hard at doing something completely different with it.

In June at the party conference you delivered a warning that the party was sending confused messages to voters. Can you expand on that?

Of course I can, but I don't think I want to. I just don't think it's appropriate for me to make that sort of comment before the election.

Q: Are you retaining party membership?

A: Probably.