Man about the House

One of Parliament's newest faces, Iain Lees-Galloway, describes being an MP as "what I was meant to do". MERVYN DYKES talks to Palmerston North's man in the House.

When newly minted Member of Parliament Iain Lees-Galloway stepped into his office for the first time, it was completely bare.

Every trace of the previous occupant had been removed - everything except the note scrawled on a whiteboard, "Gone Fishing."

He chuckled. For weeks, in the run-up to election night, he'd been walking a pace or two behind former Labour cabinet Minister Steve Maharey, who retired to become the vice- chancellor of Massey University.

Now Mr Maharey's office, and the role of Member of Parliament for Palmerston North, are his.

"Steve was a great mentor," he says. "Since the elections we've been in close touch, meeting occasionally for coffee and a sort of debriefing, at which he offers his experience and expertise."

Other old hands in Labour's parliamentary team have been quick to give support and encouragement, sometimes in the form of a whispered comment, or a scribbled note on how to ask a question in the House so it will not be ruled out of order.

In some ways, the arrival of Iain Lees-Galloway at Parliament echoes that of his predecessor, who obtained a slender majority and joined Labour's shell-shocked survivors.

In other ways, it has been different.

"The Parliamentary Services team has provided excellent support and the help and advice to new MPs has been absolutely invaluable," Mr Lees-Galloway says.

So comprehensive was his induction that it included the role- playing of debates and parliamentary select committee procedures, along with practical advice on mundane things such as managing expenses and time.

"I suspect the support mechanism is much better than it was when Steve was first around," he says.

He claims that this time around, the first meetings of the 43 Labour MPs in opposition - "13 of them brand new" - had a buoyant and even upbeat mood as they began formulating plans to return to government.

"You've got to remember that 43 MPs is a pretty solid block," he says.

In many ways, Iain Lees- Galloway is an unlikely Labour MP because his background would seem to fit him better for a place in the National Party.

He was born to a beef-farming family at Waiuku, near Auckland, and was educated at Kings College between 1992 and 1996. His parents are firm National Party supporters.

After a year travelling in the United Kingdom, he returned to New Zealand to resume his education.

He flirted with the idea of Otago University, but compromised by choosing Massey so he would at least be on the same landmass as his parents.

"I majored in English and media studies, but at that point was not sure what I wanted to do. I was quite interested in journalism."

The fates intervened. After mouthing off to friends about how underwhelmed he was at the standard of student association leadership, he was challenged to "run, or shut up".

He ran for president of the Massey University Students' Association and succeeded.

In his new role, he found himself serving as a member of the Massey University Council.

"Sitting around the table with those incredibly experienced and intellectual people was easily one of the most beneficial parts of being student president," he says.

After university he continued his interest in advocacy by taking an appointment with the New Zealand Nurses' Organisation.

In 2005, he startled his parents by joining the Labour Party, becoming Palmerston North branch secretary in 2006 and rising to chairman the same year.

In 2008, he was one of four candidates seeking to replace Steve Maharey (a fifth withdrew earlier). Once he got the nod, an intense period of door knocking, hand shaking and public appearances began.

"I took the position that I should be visible, especially in places where people were able to stop and talk, get to know me better, and get to understand what the issues were," he says.

"Going to the Albert St market on Saturday mornings was one of the best things I did during the campaign. In fact, I have now booked a stall there once a month so people can talk to their MP."

However, in the latter stages of the campaign the countrywide opinion polls favoured National. In Palmerston North, National's Malcolm Plimmer was campaigning hard.

Palmerston North without Steve Maharey and his cushion of "safe" votes was suddenly marginal.

Mr Lees-Galloway's last push before the election took him back to The Square, where he continued to spread his message.

"Election night was a rollercoaster," he says. "We started off behind, but finished up with a majority on the night of 1035 - close enough to be interesting [with 3000 or so special votes still to be counted].

"I went to bed at 4am and was up again at 7am - not the best- quality three hours of sleep I have had. My head was spinning."

Parliamentary Services got in touch with him fairly early to make arrangements about getting him to Wellington on the Monday for the start of his life as a "candidate for initial selection".

Since then he has found the work at Parliament could easily fill the 24 hours of each day. Support staff make sure he blocks out some family time each week.

"This is what I thought it would be like," he told himself, "and this is what I was meant to be doing."

Even so, he remains fairly nervous, inwardly at least, and is aware that he has much to learn.

His wife, Clare, accepts that in many ways their lives are no longer their own, but he says she is supportive and believes he is in his element.

In his maiden speech in Parliament, he closed with the comment that people keep reminding him that he has big shoes to fill.

"I have no plans to do so," he told the assembly, which included his parents in the gallery. "Steve Maharey may be as well known for his fashion sense as anything he achieved in here, but I want you all to know that I have my own shoes, they fit me very well and I am comfortable in them.

"I do hope, however, that my footsteps in this place will leave an impression akin to my predecessor's. That would be an achievement indeed.

"My focus is on the future, and I expect to be judged on the effect my time here has on future generations of New Zealanders."

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