Parata relishes MP role

BY KRIS DANDO

Hekia Parata has had 14 months to get used to being an MP, and is happy to give it a big thumbs up.

The first-term, Titahi Bay-based National List MP got into Parliament on the back of her party's strong showing at the 2008 general election and life has been busy for the rookie backbencher.

After a successful career working for government departments, she is well versed in how the public service operates, but is now getting used to the other side.

There's been a learning curve but Ms Parata says she is relishing the environment.

"I'm loving it, it's all that I expected and more. In the past I've done the research [as a public servant] but there hasn't been enough political courage to put it into action, now I've crossed the line and I have that courage. The backbench perspective and being involved in the select committee system has been great, seeing how a piece of policy goes through the process."

The "theatre" of the House, with its arcane rules and traditions, the speech-making, debates and personalities, racing to get into the chamber when the bell rings  all of it adds to the unique atmosphere that makes being a Member of Parliament so fascinating, she says.

"You have to learn how to speak on your feet, and I can, but speaking in the House is still nerve-racking. You quickly learn all the expectations of behaviour and the rules; it's really like any school, workplace or marae, which have their particular ways of organising things."

Ms Parata has certainly had her head down in the past 12 months, being on the Social Services and Emissions Trading select committees  "both have been huge areas of debate, I'm reading cartons of papers and submissions from hundreds of people, and there's big items to come yet"  as well as opening up National's first ever Mana office.

She is the only fluent Maori speaker in the National caucus and has featured in debates and regular spots on Maori Television, Te Karare, Good Morning and Radio Waatea.

But despite this, she insists the Mana electorate is never far from her thoughts, especially concerning issues like education, housing, healthcare and unemployment.

"I want to grow the cake in this electorate and for there to be an environment where people can expand and take a risk. In a vision sense, Mana is a real nexus between education, the economy and the environment and there is such huge potential here. I love what Whitireia [Polytechnic] is doing and how the schools have work-to-employment programmes, there are very exciting things going on but we should always be looking to create more opportunities. I have an exuberance for this place."

Although defeated in 2008 by Labour's popular Winnie Laban, Ms Parata did make inroads into her rival's majority and is confident of being a "serious contender" in 2011.

An ambitious person, there were rumours last year that she might be in line for a ministerial position should John Key look to reshuffle. That hasn't eventuated and she says she is content with her duties for National, "learning the ropes".

- Kapi-Mana News