List MP Nick Smith announced his retirement on Monday, effective 10 June. Shortly after, MP for Nelson Rachel Boyack posted on Facebook, “I’d like to acknowledge the 30 years of service Nick Smith MP has given to the Nelson Tasman region as an MP. I wish you well, Nick.” Recently they found themselves seated together on an Air NZ flight and both said they had a friendly chuckle.
“At first we thought air New Zealand might have been having a bit of a joke with us,” says Rachel.
She says it was good to share stories from Dancing for a Cause, which she took place in three years ago and Nick entered this year.
“We’ve both agreed that we’re more comfortable in politics than we are in dancing,” says Rachel.
“I light-heartedly said Air NZ was promoting bipartisan politics and we would have all the problems solved by the time we landed in Nelson. I’m sure it was a coincidence, given how frequently we both fly between Nelson and Wellington,” says Nick.
He says he and Rachel have a friendly and respectful relationship. “We both share a passion for our Nelson community.” He says they also discussed the domestics of being away from home and getting use to continuously travelling.
In announcing his retirement, Nick says recent changes in family circumstances require him to give greater support. He also acknowledged there was a confidential inquiry into a verbal altercation in his office. On Friday he was advised that the inquiry had been leaked to the media. He says he apologised for the incident at the time and again on Monday, but feels it is best for the National party, his family and himself to retire now. He had made the decision to retire earlier in the year and the only question was when.