by frog
I never thought I’d be writing this post. Nevertheless, as I write, Jeanette is in Wellington announcing that she is stepping down as an MP.
This post is a place for frogblog readers to send a personal message to Jeanette or recall a favourite memory. If you would like to debate the consequences or your reaction, do so here.
What I’d really like to do is take a moment and celebrate an awesome political career. In Jeanette’s words from Green at Heart:
“Sometimes you wonder, when the world is moving toward an
acknowledgement of all the issues we have highlighted, why do people still feel compelled to say ‘Mind you I’m not a Greenie’?” she questions.“Perhaps it’s because we’ve never acceded to populism and green-wash. We’ve always been real. That said, I’m infinitely proud of what we’ve achieved as it’s been through a mix of integrity, influence and good ideas. In that respect the Green Party is in good shape and this great bunch of people will keep on promoting solutions to get us all out of this mess.”
All I want to say is that we are infinitely proud of you Jeanette, and that we will miss your leadership and your example. It’s you who have kept it real!
As I said earlier, this post is a place for frogblog readers to send a personal message to Jeanette or recall a favourite memory.
Published in Featured | Parliament | THE GAME by frog on Thu, January 28th, 2010
Tags: Jeanette Fitzsimons, Parliament
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Loading...
Like or Dislike:
27 
3 (+24)
Like or Dislike:
25 
3 (+22)
I wish you all the best on the farm. You will always be in our Green Hearts.
Like or Dislike:
24 
3 (+21)
Like or Dislike:
20 
3 (+17)
Aroha
Like or Dislike:
24 
3 (+21)
greenfly
Like or Dislike:
25 
5 (+20)
All the bluster and boiler plate optimistic rhetoric aside, parliament and the green party is much the worse for your leaving.
Like or Dislike:
22 
3 (+19)
And congrats to Gareth Hughes, who will be an exciting new MP!
Like or Dislike:
22 
4 (+18)
Like or Dislike:
22 
2 (+20)
you have inspired the past decade or so of my life; you continue to give me a mentor in politics, and have shown me a pathway to aging gracefully and strongly.
Arohanui to you and Harry, you have both worked hard so enjoy the fruits of your labour together.
And I’ll second Dylan
- welcome aboard, Gareth!!!
Like or Dislike:
21 
2 (+19)
It’s been an amazing and inspirational trip. I’ll try not to mourn as I know that you’ll be around to mentor us all for some time yet. Enjoy the peace and quiet, the farm and your family. Thanks for all that you’ve done for the movement.
Aroha
Like or Dislike:
18 
2 (+16)
Nga mihi nui ki a koe, me piki koe ki te maunga teitei ano e kui. Ma te hururhuru ka rere te manu.
Like or Dislike:
18 
2 (+16)
Like or Dislike:
16 
2 (+14)
Like or Dislike:
13 
2 (+11)
I am very sad your time is to be over in Parliment. You have championed the most important issues that face us with such dignity and quiet strenght. You have been a unique inspiration that has given me and many others hope that there are genuine people working for our good in Parliment, one woman who actually walks her talk.
Best regards and wishes for your new life,
Cath Dearsley
Like or Dislike:
15 
2 (+13)
Like or Dislike:
13 
2 (+11)
Your intelligence, care and integrity will be missed. You are a great Lady.
Kind regards,
Euan Mason
Like or Dislike:
15 
2 (+13)
I will remember your standard response whilst being interviewed. The measured pause, the quiet smile and the unending patience in answering factually the most banal and absurd of questions.
Like or Dislike:
14 
1 (+13)
Best Regards
Mary
Like or Dislike:
9 
1 (+8)
Sincerely Dianne
Like or Dislike:
8 
1 (+7)
Like or Dislike:
7 
1 (+6)
Like or Dislike:
7 
2 (+5)
Like or Dislike:
8 
1 (+7)
Like or Dislike:
7 
1 (+6)
I greatly enjoyed working with you during my time at the PCE. It was wonderful to have someone in Parliament that understood the science of energy and transport and their implications for sustainability.
Also, as convenor, I would also on behalf of the Sustainable Energy Forum pass on our best wishes for your past work and wish you the best in your well deserved retirement.
You will be greatly missed.
kind regards
Doug Clover
Like or Dislike:
9 
1 (+8)
I wish you all the very best in the future.
You will be missed.
Like or Dislike:
8 
1 (+7)
Like or Dislike:
7 
1 (+6)
It has been a real pleasure working with you over the past seven years. I have admired your calm and thoughtful approach to politics and the inspirational leadership you have given us.
My greatest regret about your political career is that you were the best Minister of Energy we never had.
All the best for the future.
Arohanui
Ivan
Like or Dislike:
9 
1 (+8)
We have seen each other in Copenhagen last December during the big Saturday climate manifestation. What I remember was your happiness when we both together encountered the New Zealand youth..
You are one of those persons with whom we feel directly that greens all over the world share the same values, share the same political goals and follow similar political strategies.
You have motivated and empowered thousands of people in New Zealand, but also thousands of miles further away in other continents.
Please keep doing that. I move later this year from Belgium to Canada, and would hope you can take the time to come up north and motivate the hundred of green candidates that will run in the next federal election there.
Enjoy the last 2 weeks in the House and keep going!
Johan Hamels
former treasurer European Green Party
former member of the Global Greens Coordination
Like or Dislike:
10 
1 (+9)
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Like or Dislike:
2 
18 (-16)
Like or Dislike:
6 
1 (+5)
I have a wonderful memory of you arriving late to a Young Greens conference as your plane was delayed. We’d finished our panel discussion for the day and migrated back to a typical (some what run-down) student flat. You arrived, picked up a beer, sat down on the floor and got engaged straight into conversation. It was an amazing evening for us all to be able to talk so openly and freely, and in a student flat, with you!
Lastly, a big thanks for sharing all your reflections with me at Copenhagen. It was wonderful to hear your wisdom and perspective in the middle of the mayhem and madness.
Thanks so much for being a great mentor and leader.
All the very best for the next exciting (and hopefully more relaxing) stage!
Nina Hall
(Young Greens, Auckland)
Like or Dislike:
5 
1 (+4)
Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication to NZ and to making a better world for us all to live in. I really admire your ability to keep positive in the face of so many challenges. You will be missed.
Best wishes for your future.
Like or Dislike:
5 
1 (+4)
Like or Dislike:
4 
1 (+3)
Thank you so much for all you have done: the sacrifices you’ve made, all the immense hard work, the wisdom, the vision, the persistance, the style and the love you have given the Green Party and the planet!!!
Very best wishes for the next part in your journey.
Arohanui,
Tess James
Like or Dislike:
4 
1 (+3)
Wishing you well
Hazel
Like or Dislike:
5 
1 (+4)
You are an inspiration and your contribution that has been immeasurable
Thomas
Like or Dislike:
6 
1 (+5)
I never in my life thought that I would agree with anything PM John Key would say but the above statement I do 100%
I wish you all the best and hope you will a happy mentor to a party that has a very worthwhile task ahead of it.
Best Wishes
Paul
Like or Dislike:
5 
1 (+4)
Congratulations Jeanette on your Green party activities. As a long time friend of Rod since his time at St Andrews I have watched your association ever since the end of the Values Party. The Green party may have difficulty replacing you, but please don’t leave them completely without advice. My regards.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1 (+1)
Jeanette,
Thank you for your immense contribution to the Greens and the green movement, here and internationally. It’s been your manner of doing politics which first made me join the Green Party and has always inspired me – absolutely clear communication, shining intelligence and unfailing civility in the heat of political life. How can one give adequate recognition to that? If there’s a Mount Rushmore panel of all-time environmental champions in the sky somewhere, you’re there!
All the very best for the coming years,
Robyn Bracey
Like or Dislike:
2 
1 (+1)
Honesty
Integrity
Willing to listen
Always offering solutions, not just identifying problems.
Engaged brain before mouth
Mana
Courtesy
Humour
Green, not red
Trusted… a politician, who’d ‘ve thunk!
Thank you
Like or Dislike:
4 
1 (+3)
Although I have personally only met you a few times Jeanette, your humble dignity and low key approach was always enhanced by the strength of your convictions and the honesty in your approach. There are few politicians who can match your entegrity and you will be sorely missed. I hope you enjoy your well earned retirement.
Like or Dislike:
3 
1 (+2)
Well done Jeanette. Thank you for simply being yourself.
Like or Dislike:
3 
1 (+2)
Kia ora Jeanette
You have inspired me to support the Green Party with your voice of reason. I will never forget how proud I felt of you when you and your colleagues stepped out with your banner in support of the foreshore and seabed march – Honour the Treaty. Why do so many still only see red and blue when Green is the only living choice for our planet?
Bright blessings for your future, may our paths cross.
Like or Dislike:
2 
1 (+1)
I don’t recgonise too many MP’s (too long away).
But there’s no mistaking Grace, Balance, Intelligence, Integrity, Dignity or a few dozen other superlatives.
A reminder that true wealth has nothing to do with money.
As Joni Michell sang;
“Don’t it always seem to go
Thatchya dunno what you
Got, til it’s gone?”
e tika raa hoki (thank you) Jeanette !
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Thanks for all your efforts and everything you have done for the country Jeanette. You will be sorely missed. Enjoy your retirement.
Regards
Ian
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
and then I thought
Betchya there’s more than a few Pollies of all Denomination who admire Jeanette just quietly.
and then I thought
Could she be NZ’s most underrated Politician? (Norm Kirk and Marilyn Waring come to mind. (But then, anyone who can sing Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” qualifies).
And then I thought; for the Pay for Hours worked
Well it’s a journey of selfless Public giving that too few aspire to…..
Wish you weren’t going Jeanette – arohanui.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Jeanette you and Rod Donald were the Parliamentary wing of a brave new Party and before more of us were elected you broke the ground. For very many reasons I will miss you in our Caucus and I would love to steal some of your calm and serene genes as well as your huge knowledge of Parliament and green issues. Enjoy your freedom!
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Jeanette, I was inspired by your example to join the Green Party in the ’90s and motivated into active participation by your GE campaign. Working with you has been a great privilege and great fun as well. Thanks for so many opportunities. Though I know this won’t end, we’ll miss you terribly not being at the centre of our work. Much love to you and Harry.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
You took on many many campaigns of course, but at a local level, down here in the South, we appreciated your backing in helping to stop Project Aqua on the beautiful braided Waitaki River. I will always be grateful for that. Best wishes for your retirement.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Thank you Jeanette, you are an amazing inspirational person.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)