I come into Parliament grounded by the shared experience of my village, the experiences of struggle, but also a radical love for one another and our communities; the willingness to unpack our judgments, our biases in order to uphold each other's mana. When I first came a few years ago to my role at Auckland Action Against Poverty, I had very little knowledge of the Social Security Act but I knew the feeling of shame when I reached out to others and admitted that I didn't have enough to cover my basic expenses. I carry with me that knowledge of my mentors and my colleagues: people like Kathleen Paraha, who had the patience to teach me how to do welfare advocacy; Pat Hanly, who took the time to explain to me the ins and outs of the ministerial directives; Fred Anaru, who emphasised the importance of working across generations; and many others who have given me so much throughout the years. None of my struggles, victories, and experiences are walked alone.