Once tipped as a future leader of the National Party, Mrs Rich departed Parliament yesterday without serving in government, having arrived in 1999 when National lost power, and leaving with the party handily placed to regain it.
Among the issues she was proud to mention was her support of the section 59 legislation promoted by Green Party MP Sue Bradford, which prevented parents from smacking their children.
That was not an easy time with all the "bleating" from some who did not want to lose the right to hit children.
However, in years to come, the legislation was likely to be seen as a wonderful addition to the social enlightenment of New Zealand, she said.
Mrs Rich also mentioned her demotion from the front bench of caucus by former leader Dr Don Brash.
It was not a career highlight but it was preferable to explaining why she, a well-paid mother with all the support in the world, wanted a mother on a domestic purposes benefit to put her child into care to net less than half the minimum wage.
Some of her actions had a direct effect on members of her family.
Her mother and her sister both worked for the Community Employment Group, one of the organisations she had criticised in Parliament, she said.
"In my defence, my aim was to have better financial management. I never imagined the whole department would get shut down."
At one stage, five members of her family worked for Labour-led Government ministers or their departments and such was their independence as public servants that not one had been of help to her during her political career, Mrs Rich said.
"I couldn't even ask them how their day was going at budget time."
Much had been reported of her solitude in the National Party caucus, but Mrs Rich said she was part of a long tradition of liberal National Party members.
She was proud she had never crossed the floor on any vote and that she had always voted according to her conscience.
"We all have a conscience," she said, "and we must remain free to exercise it on those issues that go to the heart of our belief systems. I urge all party whips to ensure this most vital of parliamentary freedoms is never forgotten."
