Maggie's maiden speech: I'm not here to be 'fed a load of rubbish'

New National Party MP Maggie Barry. Photo / supplied

Maggie Barry has well and truly hung up her hedgeclippers, today pledging commitment to her new role as North Shore's MP in her maiden speech to Parliament.

Ms Barry, previously known as the host Maggie's Garden Show, today spoke about her background as a broadcaster, telling Parliament she was not really sure she was gaining ground by moving into politics.

"In last years Readers Digest most trustworthy professions poll, firefighters came in first as usual - fair enough - and journalists came 38th out of 39, just above real estate agents," she said.

"Politicians didn't even feature in the top 40 - so I'm in familiar unpopular territory."

Upon the announcement of her candidacy, Ms Barry said the media had had a field day with references to "weeding out the Opposition", and comparisons between MPs and mushrooms - "both thriving in perpetual darkness and nourished on manure".

"While I do expect that some manure will come my way, I certainly did not come here to be kept in the dark and fed a load of rubbish."

Although she has moved out of the garden, Ms Barry said she hoped the knowledge she had from her green-fingered background would be useful in helping shape the country's environmental and conservation goals.

Ms Barry spoke at length about her electorate, telling the House that she was committed to building on the area's already "outstanding" record and focussing on making it New Zealand's centre for high performance sport.

Ms Barry was the first of six new National MPs to deliver a maiden speech today, and was far from the only one vow support for their electorate.

Ian McKelvie, the Rangitikei MP, received appreciative laughter from an audience in the public gallery when he said that his electorate contained "the brainy part of Palmerston North".

Rodney MP Mark Mitchell addressed his predecessor, Speaker Lockwood Smith, assuring him that he would be doing his best to step into his shoes.

"Mr Speaker you are renowned for your singing voice and your annual concert in Rodney is an event constituents look forward to every year," he said.

"I have made a commitment to continue with this concert and although I feel my own voice is pretty good I have been assured by those closest to me that I need to find another way of keeping that tradition alive."

Scott Simpson said it was with a mixture of "pride, awe and humility" that he rose to speak as the new MP for Coromandel.

"Coromandel evokes in the minds of almost every New Zealander the very best images of the classic Kiwi summer," he said.

"Beautiful beaches, iconic bush and natural scenery second to none in our country."

Jian Yang, a list MP, paid tribute to his Chinese constituency and noted that, as the National Party's first immigrant from mainland China, his election was a milestone for Chinese immigrants to New Zealand.

Having witnessed and experienced political upheavals in China, Dr Yang said he did not take any of the benefits he had now for granted.

"My experiences reiterate the inescapable influence of politics on our lives, and greatly contrast the deep value placed on political rights and freedom that we enjoy in New Zealand."