'Humble, dedicated, passionate' - MPs remember Jim Bolger in Parliament

Parliament has paid tribute to former Prime Minister Jim Bolger with speeches, song and earnest reflection - afterward closing proceedings for the day to honour the man.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon opened the speeches, describing Bolger as a devoted husband, father and grandfather, a farmer from Taranaki, a proud New Zealander and said as prime minister he had an innate sense of fairness which "helped him make the right choices at the right time for the right reasons".

"Bolger's government and the Labour government that preceded it ushered in a new era for New Zealand creating the open, confident country that we are today," he said.

"I didn't have the privilege of knowing Jim personally but since becoming prime minister I received a few quiet phone calls from him. They were short, sincere and thoughtful. He offered encouragement, perspective and advice - advice that I took seriously."

Luxon pointed particularly to Bolger's work on the Employment Contracts Act, and on the Treaty settlement process beginning with Ngāi Tahu in 1996.

Labour's Chris Hipkins said he was in sixth form when he first met Bolger at a school celebration of New Zealand winning the America's Cup.

"While everyone else was rushing round the room gathering the signatures of the victorious sailors I was collecting the signatures of all the politicians ... he was incredibly generous with his time, he took a genuine interest in younger New Zealanders. I think he asked more questions of me than I asked of him."

He said in all their conversations they found plenty of common ground, "he would refer to me as young Chris, even once I'd become prime minister, and he had a knack for offering his insights and wisdom without ever coming across as patronising or condescending".

"He remained a mentor and a friend to anyone in this house who sought out his guidance."

Bolger was a prime minister full of contradictions, Hipkins said, but was "humble, dedicated, passionate, his legacy is woven into the fabric of who we are as a country today".

Speaking for the Greens, MP Teanau Tuiono said Bolger was known for his intelligence, strong debating skills, and willingness to work with political opponents.

"First and foremost he was a husband, he was a parent, and he was a grandparent ... as I looked at the size of his whānau I have to think that perhaps his deft ability in being able to work with many Māori communities - [was] because he had his own iwi, and he had his own hapū.

"He believed in Te Tiriti, historical justice and our collective responsibility to honour our founding agreement. When people questioned him on why treaty settlements he said 'because it is the right thing to do'."

He said the fact politicians from both sides of the aisle would continue to seek Bolger's advice for many years after his political career was "the mark of a truly remarkable person".

ACT leader David Seymour said he and Bolger were separated by two generations but those who worked with the man told of his deep sense of the value of belonging.

"Somebody who had a sense of fairness that could only be described as innate, somebody with a keen respect for the underdog and who felt a responsibility not only to bring New Zealand into the future but also somebody who had a deep sense of responsibility to do the right thing."

NZ First's Winston Peters said Bolger would have taken both solace and pride by being surrounded by his family during his final moments.

"There are various views of history, but very few have had the benefit of living it, breathing it, and working on it like Jim. Therefore it's right for this House to acknowledge Jim Bolger's passing. He was ironically a republican serving his King Country electorate for 26 years."

Peters said Bolger's three terms in the beehive were "markedly different to each other in their complexion and their output".

"As a Te Kuiti farmer he grew up around Māori and saw no reason for difference and every reason for communities to be stronger together. It's often said that Jim was the last prime minister without a university degree - well, for our sakes we must hope that is not true for the future."

Labour's Willie Jackson later elicited laughter with this rebuttal: "who would have believed that someone who left school with no qualifications, 15 years old, goes on to become the prime minister and leader of the National Party. You know, we want more of those sort of people in the National Party".

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said Bolger would be remembered for his commitment to restoring the honour of the Crown under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the party viewed him as the greatest prime minister since Michael Savage.

"He knew Te Tiriti o Waitangi promises a place for all in this country, and that we all have love and should have love for each other. His leadership serves as a lesson not to vilify or burn bridges with Māori communities but to embrace each other in the spirit of peace through justice."

National MP Tim Costley said Bolger grew up living just down the road from his mother's family, and one time when he was away in the Air Force Bolger had offered to show up with his tractor and take all Costley's green waste to the tip.

"I said there was no way I was having a former prime minister show up and take my green waste to the tip. And I got home and saw how much there was and regretted that. But he was always making time for others."

He became emotional as he described how deeply respected and loved Bolger was, saying "there are many who will feel this loss far more deeply than I" and that Bolger and Joan were an amazing couple.

"When they found out one night that Emma, my wife, couldn't come with me to a National Party function, no - they were sending round the Bolger grandchildren to babysit and from there on in we were never short of babysitters. I'm not sure Emma appreciated losing the excuse to not turn up as much as Jim and Joan intended! But they always made the time."

Speaker Gerry Brownlee concluded by offering some thoughts of his own.

"When meeting my mother who was only 5 foot 3 and a very very petite woman, looked at her and said 'how on earth did you end up with a brute like that?'"

He said Bolger loved "convivial situations" including one night a group of MPs had "ongoing discussions" in the Speaker's lounge.

"Basically they loved their whiskey and Jim pointed at me and said 'you come too' so I did but I found out I was only there to be the waiter ... he dragged everybody out onto the balcony just outside the Speaker's lounge, drinks in hand, some smoke ascending above their heads, and led the group in a resounding rendition of 'Danny Boy'.

"You just think to yourself 'could a prime minister do that today?' ... the reality is that he was able to be himself with those who he worked with, and too often I think we have to hide that away because of the malicious nature of social media these days.

"We have lost a great New Zealander. No question about that. He was a man of deep Catholic faith. May perpetual light shine upon him, rest in peace, good and faithful servant."

The sitting ended with a moment of silence, before a waiata.

See how the day unfolded with RNZ's live coverage:

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