Emotions ranging from joy to sorrow came forth as politicians from across the House paid tribute and recalled anecdotes of former Prime Minister Jim Bolger, who died peacefully yesterday.
Bolger, 90, was remembered as a man of rural New Zealand, a man who led a country without a university degree, who drove generational reform, initiated the Treaty settlements process, navigated the introduction of MMP and despite being ousted from office in 1997, only burnished his standing in the history of New Zealand politics.
Several tributes from various MPs traversed much more, from Bolger’s “Irish charm” and his “fondness for a quiet evening’s whiskey”, to his pleasure in exchanging political gossip and helping guide future generations of politicians.
Bolger, who had been undergoing dialysis since kidney failure last year, died on Wednesday surrounded by his nine children, 18 grandchildren and wife Joan.
The former King Country MP was expected to receive an official funeral, which the Government would be involved in supporting. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said discussions would be held with the family to ensure any farewell honoured their wishes.
The House’s normal business was set aside on Thursday to recognise Bolger’s service.
Leading off was Luxon, who made the first of many references to Bolger’s work settling Treaty of Waitangi grievances, citing his efforts with South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu in 1996.
“There were doubts within the National caucus, the cost was high, the politics uncertain, and it was an election year, but Jim had an instinctive grasp of New Zealanders’ innate sense of fairness.
“In his view, it was the right thing to do and he urged Cabinet to go ahead. That moment, and the Treaty settlement process it helped cement, stands as a proud legacy of his leadership.”
Luxon said he hadn’t known Bolger well, aside from a “few quiet phone calls” and a smattering of party events they both attended, but he stated the former PM had been generous in his advice when Luxon became Opposition leader.
Luxon’s counterpart, Labour leader Chris Hipkins, met Bolger much earlier in life as a sixth-form student at Hutt Valley Memorial College during an event celebrating an America’s Cup win, where a young Hipkins sought Bolger’s signature over those of the sailors. “There were warning signs even back then,” Hipkins said to laughs.
Hipkins described Bolger’s life as one “full of contradictions”, his views evolving over matters including workers’ rights, unions and even Winston Peters, who Bolger had sacked from Cabinet as a National MP before then making the New Zealand First leader his Deputy Prime Minister after the first MMP election in 1996.
Peters, recalling Bolger’s reputation as the “woolshed orator”, did not detail much of the turmoil the pair endured, except to acknowledge they were no strangers to disagreeing.
“[Bolger] happily took part in a healthy democratic discussion throughout his life, and, long out of politics, he later reminisced on the raging ideological disputes of his time as Prime Minister and had the reflective courage to admit that mistakes were made.
“It’s true to say that, 29 years ago, in 1996, we formed the first MMP Government. We – he – put differences aside, shook hands on that agreement, and, more importantly, he kept his word.”
As other MPs made their contributions, more light-hearted anecdotes were told.
Senior National MP Paul Goldsmith said Bolger’s large family gave him the necessary skills to wrangle “some salty characters” in his Cabinet.
“I came across a quote from [former MP John Banks’] diary, when he said in caucus, ‘Sometimes, Mr Bolger, I say things that must really piss you off (the caucus erupted)’. That’s how he managed to hold the Cabinet and the caucus together.”
Senior Labour MP Willie Jackson also prompted laughter as he remembered promises he made with his pro-union associates that if they ever saw Bolger, he would “punch you right between the eyes”.
Upon telling Bolger that at an event, Jackson said the former PM “laughed his head off” before retorting, “Is that your Māori or Pākehā side coming out?”
“Definitely Pākehā side,” Jackson joked in the House, before commending Bolger as the “most significant and influential National leader of the last two generations with regards to Māori and race relations”.
Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee, who became an MP in 1996 as Bolger began his third term as PM, remembered once introducing Bolger to his “very, very petite mother”, to whom Bolger remarked: “How on earth did you end up with a brute like that?”
Brownlee spoke of Bolger’s love of people and an equal appreciation of whiskey, recalling an instance where he played the waiter for senior ministers in the Speaker’s lounge, which eventually led to a “resounding rendition of Danny Boy” being sung from the balcony.
“The reality is that he was able to be himself with those who he worked with. Too often, I think, we have to hide that away because of the malicious nature of social media these days.”
A heartfelt tribute was offered by National MP Tim Costley, who had been Bolger’s representative as the MP for Ōtaki.
Waves of emotion forced Costley to pause multiple times during his speech, in which he lauded Bolger’s ability to command a room and engage in political debate even as he approached 90 years of age.
“He was a leader that preferred to make the right decision over the popular one, and who was willing to wait for the best outcome and not rush into the wrong one ... Perhaps there’s a lesson in that for all of us.”
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.