I came to this Parliament 30 years ago with a passion for enterprise, for science, and for nature. I wanted New Zealand to be prosperous, where hard work was valued, and where every Kiwi has the opportunity to succeed. One of my first duties as a 25-year-old MP was attending the Waimea College prize-giving, where I was dutifully asked to present the academic awards. All miked up, I made the standard congratulatory comments as each student crossed the stage: "Well done. Good effort." It started to feel tedious, so I changed my message: "What uni are you thinking of attending?". I asked an attractive young woman, "What are you doing after school?" Quick as a flash and loud enough for everyone to hear, she responded, "It depends what you had in mind, young man." I have since kept my congrats to the safe and boring in the hundred or so prize-givings I've attended since.