Beehive Chat
A column for the Whanganui Chronicle
By Tariana Turia
MP for Te Tai Hauauru
Tuesday October 20, 2009

No retirement, stomach stapling and hot chicks!

At the Maori Party annual general meeting in Auckland at the weekend, I was asked by the 200-strong supporters in attendance about whether or not I would be retiring at the end of this term.

Prior to the 2008 general elections I made a comment that I would be retiring so I could spend more time with my whanau.

In the past month I’ve had a change of heart and mind because of the support of my whanau, in particular my husband George.

My whanau’s decision to move to Wellington while I am working down here, particularly during sitting weeks, has made me rethink my decision. And as a result, I have now chosen not to retire from politics at the end of this Parliamentary term.

Another point I announced at the annual general meeting was that I will be having an operation to get rid of my diabetes and high blood pressure. The operation will take place before the end of this year so I can return back to work in the New Year when the House resumes.

Gastric bypass or ‘stomach stapling’ requires open surgery. There are risks involved but I have weighed those up (as well as my weight) and I believe the risks of not having it done would be even more severe.

The reality for me is that I don’t want to end up like so many of my relatives who are on dialysis machine and getting amputations.

And the question about costs? Well, rightfully so I will not be using your hard earned tax payer dollars to do it – I will be covering all the costs myself.

I had to laugh to myself when a reporter asked me the other day about the cosmetic benefits of the operation. Apparently, most of the people I know who have had it done, have ended up looking like spring chickens again. I responded to the reporter by saying it would be great if I ended up as a ‘hot chick’ but at age 65 I think I’ve left it a bit too late.

My decision to have the operation has nothing to do with how it might make me look. It all really goes back to wanting to be there for my whanau, for my mokopuna whom George and I care for. Politics plays second fiddle to that but I must admit that there are a number of things I want to get done before leaving Parliament, particularly the work I am doing on whanau ora.

It’s been an honour representing the people of Te Tai Hauauru, and here’s hoping the operation gives me even more energy to carry on that work.

ENDS

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