Georgina's maiden lines: a horse for all courses

By EUGENE BINGHAM

If comic timing and brave honesty were the measure of an MP, Georgina Beyer would be Prime Minister.

The world's first transsexual MP gave her maiden speech to Parliament yesterday and irreverently drew everyone's attention to her claim to fame.

"I was quoted once as saying this was the stallion that became a gelding and now she's a mare," said the Carterton Mayor-cum-Labour MP for Wairarapa.

"I suppose I do have to say that I have now found myself to be a member. So I have come full circle, so to speak."

It was a line that nearly brought the House down, though it was not the first time she had drawn a laugh from her colleagues.

Drawing from her experience on the stage in a previous life as an actress, Ms Beyer made a memorable debut in Parliament with an address that contained jibes and the odd barb.

While many were mentioned for tribute, some came in for ridicule.

National MP Wyatt Creech - who decided to go on the list rather than contest the Wairarapa seat last election only to watch the blue ribbon seat swing to Labour - came in for special mention.

"[We] have had an amicable relationship and I certainly hope that I shall do my best, as I'm sure he tried to do his best - his best has assisted me to where I am today.

"I say that in a loving way."

There were serious points to Ms Beyer's speech as well, not least of which was her commitment to fight for rural communities. "My priority in my tenure in this House is going to be my electorate."

She also promised to pursue issues of concern to gay, lesbian and transgender people, which she said were not so different from those everyone in New Zealand was concerned about - health, education, training, employment.

"There are a few other niggly ones that are just a little unusual and we are certainly going to be trying to inform you better."

Ms Beyer thanked Prime Minister Helen Clark and an aunt who died last year, but she saved her warmest tribute for former Labour MP Sonja Davies, who was sitting in the debating chamber.

"She has been a mentor and someone whom I respected so much that I took the challenge on board when she approached me [to run for Parliament].

"She is a New Zealand icon."

* Among the other MPs to make maiden speeches yesterday were Act newcomer Stephen Franks and the Greens' Sue Kedgley.