Upbeat Beyer leaves Parliament smiling

Departing Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer will retire from Parliament this week with a smile and a flourish and perhaps even a dazzling twirl.
"My valedictory speech will be more upbeat and not a dour reflection like the last one in December (from Dr Brash). I just hope I won't dissolve into tears and that my humour will be on the ball."
Ms Beyer, at 49 the first transexual in the world to be elected to Parliament and to a mayoralty (in Carterton for five years), officially retires on Friday.
She will afterwards take an engagement at the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin and on a brief Southland tour with the play Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.
She tendered her resignation yesterday and, after her valedictory speech to the House, will be guest of honour at a "packed" farewell function.
"I had thought I might even wear an outfit I wore on Dancing With The Stars but I forgot to bring them with me. And I might give a twirl but it will probably breach standing orders," she said.
"There are a lot of people coming in ? including some from Wairarapa and a representative from (Mayor of Masterton) Bob Francis. I will certainly be acknowledging the support I have been privileged to enjoy from Wairarapa and from others throughout the country."
Ms Beyer did not contest the election last year and instead entered Parliament on the Labour Party list and will be replaced by Southland union organiser Lesley Soper.
Ms Beyer said she would confirm by June her intention to contest the Wellington mayoralty, which is a role "I could do standing on my head".
"If I decide to run it will be a two-horse race between myself and the incumbent Kerry Prendergast. The others should just stand down now and I believe the race at the end of the day will come down to personality."
Ms Beyer said there is no "golden handshake, free travel, or golden anything" due to her as a retiring MP besides a standard superannuation payment "not unlike those in many other workplaces".
She said her high public profile "takes as much as it gives" and she would take stock in Wairarapa when the Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks season is complete before deciding on another lease of political life.
"I will still be an advocate for human rights and for the gay community and there will be work in TV or on speaking and debating circuits. I also feel I have a significant contribution to make to others interested in politics about the dynamics, reality and nature of these things
"I may decide 'you've had your chances' with politics or I could be revitalised and ready to move to a different arena and fresh new challenges."