Kelvin to retire

Stuff reports:

Former Crown-Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis will retire as an MP, finishing up on Waitangi Day.

The senior Labour MP, former deputy leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau, told Stuff he had known for some time that this would be his last term in Parliament – but losing the electorate of Te Tai Tokerau to Te Pāti Māori candidate Mariameno Kapa-Kingi meant he was able to leave before the term was up.

Davis, who had also served as minister of Corrections and Oranga Tamariki, said whānau and friends told him it was important to return to Waitangi once more as an MP. It would also give him the opportunity to deliver a valedictory speech in late January, when Parliament resumes for the new year.

I recall donating to Kelvin’s campaign in 2014, to help him beat Hone Harawira. It shows how far things have moved on, that today Te Pati Maori is arguably more radical than Hone and Mana was.

I hope he has a productive career post-Parliament. I suspect we will see several other Labour List MPs leave in the next 12 months. Grant Robertson may be next if he gets appointed Otago University Vice-Chancellor.