Convention seems to dictate that I acknowledge the work of my predecessors, and I certainly wish to do that. Over the last 40 years, there have been four MPs for Palmerston North, the Hon Joe Walding, the Hon Trevor de Cleene, the Hon Steve Maharey, and the Hon Iain Lees-Galloway, all from the New Zealand Labour Party. Prior to their entry to Parliament, they all had a history of service to the electorate and a prerequisite that seems to have stood them in good stead for their connection to the local community, and certainly a characteristic that I wish to continue. I want to acknowledge their collective service to the constituents of the city over that time. In particular, I wish to acknowledge one predecessor who is present here today, and that's the Hon Steve Maharey. Steve's 1999 campaign was my first, so he is partially responsible for my involvement in politics. I am deeply honoured that his footsteps—but with my footprints—are ones that I wish to follow, even if it is some time since he left this House. 