Motions — Michael Campbell—2005 US Open

I move, That the House congratulate Michael Campbell on his stunning victory in the 2005 US Golf Open at Pinehurst. This is the sort of sporting victory that makes us all proud to be New Zealanders; the story of the Kiwi kid from Tītahi Bay, playing on a golf course so rough that if one can succeed really well there and become a champion, one can succeed anywhere. Winning the US Open is probably the equivalent of winning a gold medal at the Olympics, as far as New Zealanders are concerned. This is a stunning victory, and for it to be by someone who did so well for a while, had some really rough spots, and fought back is, I think, absolutely appropriate, and we all admire him.

The National Party wholeheartedly supports this motion. This is yet another wonderful achievement by a Kiwi on the world stage. In becoming just the second New Zealander ever to win one of the four major golf championships, Michael Campbell certainly deserves all the congratulations and adulation that will come his way. That it has been 42 years since Sir Bob Charles won the only other major golf championship won by a New Zealander gives some idea of the magnitude of what Michael has achieved. It has been a long time in the making, and I suspect that makes the achievement all the sweeter for him.

For his has surely been a story of triumph overcoming adversity. The modest boy from Tītahi Bay has had a roller-coaster career that would have forced many others to give up, and, indeed, I understand that on several occasions he came very close to doing exactly that. After a brilliant start as a youngster, his career came to a fork in the road 7 years ago. A wrist injury kept him off the golf course. He lost his status on both the Australasian and the European golf circuits. This followed a near miss at the 1995 British Open, when he led after 54 holes and subsequently finished third. But, as they say, when the going gets tough the tough get going. Michael Campbell got going, fighting his way back through the form slumps that affect all golfers, and through recurring injury. He even had to play a qualifying tournament to get to the US Open. Then, having got there, he had to outplay the defending champion and also hold off the great Tiger Woods.

It is only when we consider how big golf is internationally and how competitive it is in the United States that we realise just how meritorious this achievement is. Michael Campbell can now hang his hat alongside that of the great Sir Bob Charles, and stand with some of New Zealand’s greatest sporting heroes, and that is certainly saying something.

It is fitting that Parliament collectively pays tribute to Michael Campbell for his monumental achievement in winning the US Open, and it is an honour to be able to speak on behalf of New Zealand First to add our accolades. All New Zealanders are rightfully proud of Michael Campbell’s victory, but, even more so, we can be proud of the man behind the victory. His courage in overcoming disappointments of the past, injury, and loss of form, his perseverance and grit, his humility in victory, and his generosity of spirit have all ensured that Michael Campbell has forged a place in our sporting folklore. Even at the crowning moment of his career yesterday, he did not forget his fellow Kiwis, claiming his victory for all New Zealanders, and claiming that if he could achieve something like this, other New Zealanders could do the same. I also note that within the top two teams striving for victory—that of Michael Campbell and that of Tiger Woods—there were in fact three New Zealanders, and New Zealand First wishes also to acknowledge Michael Waite’s contribution to Michael Campbell’s great success.

The ACT party rises to support this motion. Along with all of New Zealand, we support Michael Campbell’s extraordinary achievement yesterday—one of New Zealand’s greatest sporting achievements. We look at Michael Campbell and the long road he had to hoe to succeed yesterday, and it reminds us of what can be achieved by Kiwis when they put their minds to it and stick at it. We should not just salute Michael Campbell in his victory but look to all the New Zealanders out there on the world stage, trying to do their best. They can achieve; Michael Campbell showed New Zealanders that we can achieve.

Excellence wherever it occurs has the capacity to inspire and delight. When that excellence is attained by one of our own, and it is the outcome of years of persistence and dedication, I suspect that a whole lot of ordinary Kiwis get the urge not just to be better at their sports but to do everything they do just a little bit better. Michael Campbell is not just a very good golfer; he is, by all accounts, a really nice bloke with it. He has a commitment to his country, and that is shown in his contributions to worthy causes here and in his decision to wear New Zealand - made clothes. I suspect that there are few New Zealanders who do not feel better about being New Zealanders today, as a result of Michael’s outstanding win in the US Open. The Green Party takes great pleasure in supporting this motion.

I rise on behalf of United Future to pass on our pleasure in being able to congratulate Michael Campbell on winning the US Open, and in so doing we support the motion moved by the Hon Trevor Mallard today. I have been told that golf is probably the biggest sport in New Zealand; if it is, I am sure that many more people will play it, whether very casually or even professionally, in the future. That is always a great sign. I think it is correct for all of us to say today that Michael’s win is one of New Zealand’s greatest sporting achievements, on top of it being, of course, as has been mentioned, his personal triumph over many setbacks. So we thank Michael today for inspiring all of us here in New Zealand.

The Progressive Party also, like other political parties, would like to bask in the glory of the talent and hard work of Michael Campbell. We hope, like other parties, that this praise will assist us in our poll ratings! We would like to note further that the designers Charmaine and Dan Love of Kia Kaha Clothing have been duly recognised for what they have done, and that many male members of this Parliament wear their ties, as do people outside.

Motion agreed to.