Without hesitation, pregnant pause or stumble, a proud Tamati Coffey delivered his maiden speech in Parliament today .
Moving fluidly between English and te reo Maori, the Waiariki MP gave his pepeha before going on to describe the Waiariki electorate as the "most beautiful electorate in New Zealand".
He spokeof the luxuries of each rohe before singling out the concerns that had been expressed to him.
"In Rotorua our whanau need houses. Emergency houses, state houses, big houses for whanau and small houses for our kaumatua. To buy, to rent. Homeless isn't what we want for our people, but it's what we've inherited and I've been put here to help those people get their mana back," Coffey said.
He also reminded the House of the destruction caused in Edgecumbe when the Rangitaiki River burst its banks earlier this year and said the people of Edgecumbe still needed help.
"Te Whanau a Apanui have sent me here to make sure they get the new school they were promised. Kawerau have sent me here to ensure that our new Government follows through on getting forestry going again so that towns like Minginui, Kaingaroa and Murupara can prosper once more.
"And Murupara would also like the new Minister of Sport and Recreation to know they'd like some lights for their rugby field so they don't have to train under the lonely light outside the clubhouse.
"Tauranga Moana have sent me here to help them navigate the tricky cross-claim process with Hauraki iwi. Opotiki have sent me here to find the funding for their aquaculture development that they so desperately need to create jobs and industry for their people. So to the Minister of Regional Development, Shane Jones, I hear you've got some money - I'm ready to talk when you are."
Coffey touched on his "humble" whanau and his working-class upbringing in Wellington. He told the House when he realised he wanted to enter into politics and how it was now, that the time was right.
He concluded his speech by thanking his partner Tim Smith before receiving a standing ovation from his side of the house. Congratulated by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a line was formed by a significant percentage of the chamber who individually acknowledged Coffey with a kiss, handshake or hongi.
