After 12 years in politics, Labour's former deputy leader Kelvin Davis has decided it's time to call it quits.
He lost his beloved Te Tai Tokerau seat at the election and came in on the list, but spending time with his new granddaughter recently has convinced him time's up.
"I think the time is right," he told Newshub.
After losing power and his electorate, Davis said he believed the people of Te Tai Tokerau have said: "Thanks, goodbye."
Davis entered Parliament on the list in 2008, part of a promising Labour intake.
Asked why he got into politics, Davis said it was "because I wanted to do right and do well for Māori."
But three years later, he was too far down the list and was out, only to make it back in 2014 when Shane Jones quit Labour. Not that he needed the list spot as he stood again in Tai Tokerau and ousted incumbent Hone Harawira, killing off Internet Mana in the process.
"I've got immense respect for Hone. I think we're two sides of the same coin," Davis said.
Davis found his stride in Opposition, sinking his teeth into the injustice of Kiwi detainees on Christmas Island where he trekked through the bush and talked to prisoners.
He told then-Prime Minister Sir John Key that he was being "gutless" over his response to the 501 issues.
"That was all part of just raising awareness of the issue and I think it worked," Davis said.
He exposed fight clubs at the privately-run Mt Eden Prison.
His own responsibilities took priority in 2017, when he was made deputy Labour leader.
"I turned it down," Davis said. "I said 'there's more talented people than me, they should really have the opportunity' but they said 'we need the Labour Party to look different' and I said 'I get it' and so I took on the role."
He took ministerial roles that year when Dame Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister.
"She, I think, is most courageous, strong leader I've come across in anything I've done. Be it education, be it politics."
Despite being deputy leader, he was never Deputy Prime Minister.
"I would've been hopeless to be perfectly frank. You know I just didn't want it."
His portfolios of Corrections, Children, and Māori-Crown Relations weren't easy and he faced fire from all sides - even real ones at Waikeria Prison. But it was prison population reduction targets that plagued him.
"It was twisted by the Opposition then that we were just letting criminals out. No, that's not the case."
His legacy? He's most proud of what he's achieved with Māori-Crown relations.
"The lack of litigation against the Government because we did stuff to - at the lowest possible level - to resolve issues. And look at this Government now, they've already got Māori lining up to sue them."
