Mr Parker, retiring after 23 years as an MP, used his final moments in the House to ask for an environment minister who advocated for the environment and not for polluters, a change to a more egalitarian system in which everyone paid their fair share, and a review of the electoral system - he hoped voters would consider switching to an STV electoral system and endorse the return to an upper House.
‘‘I have three main threads to my political objectives,’’ Mr Parker said.
‘‘A prosperous, egalitarian economy, the protection of civil liberties and the rule of law, and good environmental outcomes.’’
Mr Parker was first elected in 2002 as MP for Otago, trained by ‘‘campaigner extraordinaire’’ and then Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson, and standing under the slogan ‘‘Park Parker in Parliament.’’
‘‘I wore a purple checked shirt in every photo and every day. People said I had stolen a table cloth from a greasy spoon. It was a fashion crime,’’ Mr Parker said.
‘‘I proudly declared I was born in Roxburgh. There is a large clan of Parkers who wondered which bed I had fallen out of... we won by just over 600 votes. My life and my family’s changed that night.
‘‘It is a privilege to be elected to be representing my fellow countrywomen and men and in the 23 years since I’ve given it my all. ’’
Defeated after one term, Mr Parker was re-elected on Labour’s list in 2005, and every election subsequently. As well as serving as a Cabinet minister in the governments led by Helen Clark, Dame Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins, he also served as deputy leader and acting leader of his party.
‘‘These were enormous privileges. We are here to improve New Zealand. Obviously being in Cabinet helps.
‘‘My two environmental priorities have been climate change and fresh water and I have tried to align business investment and people’s consumption with good environmental outcomes.’’
Mr Parker, a former finance spokesman and associate finance minister, is well-known for his firm views on the tax system, and defended the intent of since reversed changes he had made to interest deductability rules as being right in essence.
He also told the House most high-wealth individuals paid little or no tax, while middle-class New Zealanders effectively spent about 30% off their incomes on PAYE and GST.
‘‘New Zealand is now a tax haven for billionaires... We are fast becoming what my ancestors came here to escape.’’
Mr Parker paid tribute to the many colleagues from all sides of the House, staff and volunteers, and family and friends who had helped him during his political career.
‘‘Who I am is a conviction politician, clear in my values, my ideology... I have fought many battles, I have stood on principle, I have won and I have lost.
‘‘But I leave here knowing on the environment, civil liberties, and most precious of all a prosperous egalitarian society, that I have tried to move the dial.’’
