I feel very privileged to be here today to honour and celebrate the years of hard work, discipline and achievement that you, those who will graduate have put in.
You have had the opportunity to attend UNITEC, NZ’s largest polytechnic that is held up for its excellence in so many fields.
Its real added value is that it is able to combine not only high class learning and knowledge, but the practical application of that understanding, so that in the various workplaces that each of you go to, you’ll be able to hit the ground running.
And, UNITEC is also situated in Mt Albert, perhaps the most wonderful electorate in New Zealand.
And I’m very pleased that UNITEC and Mt Albert are collaborating on a number initiatives that will bring it and the surrounding community closer together. Because each can breathe life into the other.
But this day is for you, the graduates of today – and for your families and friends to feel rightly proud too – because I imagine that many of you relied on the love and love and support of others to get you through – and possibly their sacrifice.
So I hope you, the graduates, give those who might have suffered with you on this journey of learning a big hug and say thank you.
One of the privileges of speaking at a graduate ceremony is that you get a chance to give some unsolicited advice to a captive audience. And, I don’t want to miss that opportunity.
It’s been some time since I graduated, but I’ve seen a little bit of life in that time, often in some pretty rough places. In fact for most of the last 20 years I’ve worked in many of the world’s worst wars and famines for the United Nations and other organisations.
If someone had told me when I graduated that that was where I was likely to end up I would have thought they were crazy.
In fact, some of you here might think you know exactly what you’re going to do in life and that’s great. Though, expect the odd surprise. But most of us don’t have any clue. I’ve spent most of my life wondering what I was going to do when I grew up.
Four months ago, I was in Iraq working for the United Nations. I was heading a $2 billion rehabilitation budget and in charge of several hundred people. We had built or rebuilt several hundred schools, quite a few hospitals, three power stations and a host of other things.
It wasn’t the most pleasant of environments – there was a war going on and a number of people were trying rather hard to kill us, but it was a very satisfying career. And I loved my job.
Then late one night, while I was sitting in a sandbagged room in Baghdad, I got a call asking if I’d like to stand as an MP for Mt Albert. I left the UN came back to NZ, was selected as a candidate and went through a pretty tough by-election before coming an MP not yet 3 months ago.
Now I sit in Parliament on the backbenches as part of the opposition. The only advantage having a seat that far back is that I get a pretty good view of the back of Rodney Hide’s head and can slip out to the toilet without being noticed.
Many people asked me, why on earth, I’d leave a promising and lucrative career in the UN to become a politician at the end of the world.
I’ll answer that, but before I do, I want to give three pieces of advice as you head out into the future.
So here’s my advice – don’t’ worry none of them is that I think you should be a politician.
First, be passionate about what you do. Listen to this (head), but follow this. Follow your heart.
When you’re passionate about something, you enjoy it, work harder and will be much happier for it. Follow your dreams.
Second, take the risks. The things I regret in life are those things that I didn’t do – not those I did. That’s not to say I don’t regret a few things that I’ve done. But when I didn’t feel brave enough, or ready enough to have a go at – those are the things which a little while later I thought, I wish I’d had a go, I think I could have done it. Angry with myself. So, my advice, have a go, stretch yourself.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote a book, called ‘On Death and Dying’ who interviewed people at the end of their lives. An old lady looking back on her life said she wished she’d eaten more chocolate and less brown rice. Lived a bit more on the edge, taken a few more chances, not gone the safe route.
And, finally, whatever job, or career you do, see it as something bigger than your own self interest. Generous with your advice, helping a colleague, doing the right thing for your organisation or office, not just to benefit you. Contribute to the community. Give a little more, not because it helps you, but because it
That ‘s not to be own yourself. Not just getting you further up the career, but somteing Think the people I admire most in the world worked for something bigger than themselves. They’ve thought beyond
That’s not to ask you all to be Mother Theresa or Nelson Mandela, but think bigger than you.
So, why did I leave a successful career in the UN and return to NZ as a backbench MP? Because it was a new and something I’d never done before, because, I knew I’d almost certainly regret it if I didn’t have a shot, and I believed that I can do something positive, this time for my country.
Because I’m a pretty passionate New Zealander – and I hope you are too.
So love what you do, whatever it is. Get really good at it. Live boldly and don’t .
Once again, my congratulations to the graduands today. Savour the moment, you’ve deserved it, and don’t forget to give those who helped you along the way a big hug.
Thank you.

A possible wholesale destruction of Auckland’s green areas could result if clauses 52 and 151 the government’s Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill goes through unchanged. The National-ACT Government is insisting that these clauses stay. I spoke at a meeting on Tuesday evening in Grey Lynn to a passionate group of about 200 people really concerned that trees will disappear from our urban environment. Anger and concern is growing as people start to understand the implications of what is coming.

Labour’s message is that we will work hard to change clauses 52 and 151, together with the Greens. But ultimately if the government insists on pushing them through, they have the majority to do so.

So what’s wrong with the Bill?

I spoke at a meeting on Tuesday evening in Grey Lynn to a passionate group of about 200 people really concerned that trees will disappear from our urban environment. Anger and concern is growing as people start to understand the implications of what is coming.

Labour’s message is that we will work hard to change clauses 52 and 151, together with the Greens. But ultimately if the government insists on pushing them through, they have the majority to do so.

Clauses 52 and 151 of the bill remove rules that provide general tree protection in an urban area. Essentially councils will no longer be able to place a blanket ban on protecting trees as many councils currently do. In other words, currently trees are protected. If someone wants to fell a tree, they apply to the council for a consent to do it. Most consents are granted.

The Government claims the current system is too cumbersome and expensive. It wants to take the restrictions off trees. Instead it will schedule and protect individual trees.

There’s a whole lot wrong with that approach. First, communities should decide how they protect their environment. Why is central government stepping into legislate something that should be the prerogative of the local council? Isn’t this nanny state? Or more accurately ninny state, because it also doesn’t make any sense.

It will be very expensive and bureaucratic to protect trees individually – exactly what the Government wants to prevent. It doesn’t remove red tape, it just transfers it. More importantly it carries some serious risks.

1. The government’s proposal will force council’s to list trees they want to protect. If a tree is not on this protected list, it can be chopped down with impunity.
2. The natural character of the shoreline should be protected, for example. But much of that character involves the presence of trees that will no longer be protected. Our pohutukawas and other native trees on the coastline are most under threat from people wanting to improve their view.
3. How will we decide which trees will be scheduled? Clearly this job will take time. In the meantime, there’s a strong risk that landowners will fell trees before they are put on the list, creating a rush to chop down trees in urban areas.
4. There are real subsidence and erosion risks if tree cover is removed.
5. Approvals for tree removal and pruning are often given currently on the condition that other trees are planted as a replacement. Will that continue to be the case? It’s less likely for sure.
6. Large ancient trees are community assets, not just those on an individual’s property. They have often been there for hundreds of years. When it is requested that a tree be removed, there needs to be a wider say about the loss of amenities, shade, ecological loss etc. Often an arborist can make a visit and suggest other options, pruning, for example, which removes the need to take the tree out. And once a large tree is gone, we’ll not see another grow in our lifetimes.

The current system of applying to cut down trees has its limitations. It can be slow and bureaucratic. So let’s look at ways at improving that. Let’s address the problem through a sensible amendment. But don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater and allow wholesale felling of trees except for those few that are scheduled.

This is an early sign of National’s deregulation agenda and I’m sure we will see a lot more of it in the coming months.

The Labour Party will be working constructively and positively with the Green Party on a compromise but unfortunately the Act-National coalition have refused to negotiate. We will keep trying and keep an open mind.

Pressure from the public is crucial. With ACT, the National Government has a majority. That is why I encourage people to write to the Environment Minister, Dr Nick Smith, and their local National MP – particularly those in marginal seats where trees are important part of their communities. They need to be told that trees are important and while the Resource Management Act may not be perfect, this is a step too far.

Environment Minister: nick.smith@parliament.govt.nz

Auckland National MPs: nikki.kaye@parliament.govt.nz, paula.bennett@parliament.govt.nz, sam.lotu-iiga@parliament.govt.nz