The Labour Party leader, Phil Goff, says its mixed emotions for him losing a valued colleague and friend, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.
The MP for Mana is leaving behind an eleven year long political career on Friday, before starting a new job at Victoria University in November.
Phil Goff says he wishes her well in her future endeavours, as do so many others who attended her farewell party on Tuesday.
"It was a fantastic party, and we had poems from Karlo Mila Shaffe, some beautiful operatic singing from Winnie's niece, and she also sang from the balcony in the Parliamentary Chambers. I thought it was one of the most beautiful occasions I've experienced in Parliament."
Phil Goff says Su'a William Sio takes over as Labour's Pacific Island Affairs and Interfaith spokesperson.
The by-election for the Mana electorate is scheduled for November 20.
