Jenny Shipley bows out 

New Zealand's first woman Prime Minister kissed her old rivals goodbye after making her valedictory speech in parliament.

Jenny Shipley was one of 11 MPs to retire when the 46th parliament adjourned on Thursday to clear the way for an early election on July 27.

The former PM used her speech to warn that the welfare state has increasingly been captured by the middle class. Shipley, as social welfare minister in the first Bolger government, was the subject of controversy when National cut benefits as part of welfare reforms.

She said she is pleased at the increase in the number of women MPs and was privileged to be New Zealand's first woman prime minister.

"It's clear to me that my role, the role of Helen Clark now as prime minister and the role of other women in significant roles in the public and private sector have provided inspiration to other New Zealand women," Shipley said.

She told the House that she would do it all again.

Clark said she respected the way Shipley fought her corner.

Labour MP Judy Keall also used her farewell speech to note the progress made by women MPs. Keall told the House that when she was first elected she was one of only 12 women in parliament, compared with the current 36.

She said the novelty of having women MPs has now worn off, but she sees similarities in the way that Maori MPs are taunted as they increase in numbers.

Another Labour MP Geoff Braybrooke paid tribute to Helen Clark and described her as "one of the great Labour leaders".

Others went reluctantly - victims of the National Party's drive for new blood.

Max Bradford said the half life of an average MP seems to get shorter and shorter. The National MP labelled the MMP electoral system a fraud, telling parliament the system has failed to deliver on its promise to bring consensus and rational decision making to parliament.

Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle concluded that she had no option but to "say goodbye to the circus".

Bunkle said parliament should sort out the conflict between the Electoral Integrity Act signed to stop MPs from party hopping and the standing orders of parliament which protect the rights of individual MPs.

Meanwhile, a four-term MP tossed aside by National has decided to quit the party and try his luck as an independent.

Waitakere MP Brian Neeson took a parting shot at National, saying it has changed for the worse since new president Michelle Boag pushed a new look line-up.

Neeson will contest the new seat of Helensville.