New Zealand Olympic Team — Congratulations

I seek leave to move a motion without notice to congratulate the New Zealand Olympic team.

💬 SPEAKER: Is there any objection? There appears to be none.

I move, That this House congratulate the New Zealand Olympic team for their outstanding achievements at the Tokyo Olympics, including winning our country’s largest ever medal haul at an Olympic Games.

For the 17 days of the Tokyo Olympics, our New Zealand team have kept the country enthralled and inspired. In winning 20 medals, the team has achieved a record haul. That these medals were won across 11 sports is also a record. We finished a strong 13th on the medal table. More than all of that, the team has exemplified our values: competitive, resilient, and respectful. On and off the field of play, they have done us proud and given a new generation of athletes extraordinary role models to aspire to emulate.

This has been an Olympics like no other. Our first thankyou needs to go to the people and Government of Japan, who have sacrificed much to host the games. They were superbly organised and delivered in the most trying of circumstances. All New Zealand athletes and support crew report feeling safe and incredibly well looked after. The New Zealand team achieved excellence at the highest level. From the most experienced members of the team to the first-time Olympians, they constantly outperformed expectations and looked at home among the world’s elite athletes.

Singling out athletes in this team is hard, but we cannot go past New Zealand’s most decorated Olympian, Lisa Carrington. Her three gold medals give her six in total and put her at the very top of our long, rich history of Olympic success. Interestingly, if she were a country, Lisa Carrington would have finished 32nd on the medal table, ahead of Turkey, Ireland, and Georgia, among others. Her domination of kayaking events, along with Caitlin Regal in the K2 500, was clinical. She was an awesome athlete and a humble and proud Kiwi, and in turn we are so proud of her.

I feel it’s worth noting that six of our seven gold medals were won by women. These wāhine toa provided highlight after highlight at the Olympics. As if it were needed, the quality and excitement provided by our women athletes at the games shows that we should see more of them on TV screens every year, not just once every four years.

Each of our gold medal winners has a remarkable story: from Emma Twigg’s extraordinary determination after the heartbreak of successive fourth place finishes at the last two Olympics, to the men’s rowing eight and their unexpected but audacious win to repeat the victory of 1972, to Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler’s dominance—they were outstanding. But those Black Ferns Sevens—I’m not sure I’ve ever been more stressed watching a game than during their win in the semi-final over Fiji. This team is so dedicated to each other and to their country. They were calm, tactically superb, and the most wonderful ambassadors for their sport and for Aotearoa New Zealand.

The same can be said for all our other medallists: Hayden Wilde in the triathlon, the women’s rowing eight, Brooke Donoghue and Hannah Osborne in the double sculls, the men’s sevens, the doubles tennis combination of Marcus and Michael, Dylan in the trampolining, the incomparable Dame Valerie in the shotput, Tom Walsh in the men’s shotput, David Nyika in boxing, Peter and Blair in the 49er sailing, Ellesse Andrews and Campbell Stewart on the cycling track, and the amazing Lydia Ko in golf—she’s such a class act. Each and every one of them has given us unforgettable moments. These moments come about as a result of intense effort, incredible sacrifice, and bursting talent.

And among those who did not medal, we saw the future of our success at the Olympic Games, like Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt in the pool, Anton Down-Jenkins in diving, Maddi in shotput, and many, many others, and also from the guts of Rebecca in the BMX to the courage of Laurel Hubbard in weightlifting. This was a team that, in their totality, made us so proud in so many ways.

Behind that team is a group of people who we owe a huge debt of gratitude to. The New Zealand Olympic Committee, led by president Mike Stanley, chief executive Kereyn Smith, and chief of mission Rob Waddell; the team at High Performance Sport New Zealand and Sport New Zealand; and the officials and support crew—we thank you all. A note to the family and friends of our athletes: we know it was tough not being there, but we hope that you felt the love and pride that we had in your loved ones too.

And now, we look forward to the Paralympics, where another team of talented New Zealand athletes head to Tokyo to do us proud amongst the world’s best. And I look forward to another statement in this House acknowledging their success as exceptional athletes at the conclusion of their games.

Sport has the power to draw us together as a nation. This New Zealand team has done that and more. In the uncertain and anxious times in COVID-19, they’ve given us such joy and pride. We congratulate them and we thank them with all our hearts.

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to support the notice and also the comments after it. Isn’t it wonderful: in the Olympics, we all become experts in sport. It’s amazing the people who have told me all about the finer points of gymnastics and swimming—synchronised, that is. It is one of those ones which draws us together, and particularly when we’re winning. We see about seven gold, six silver, and seven bronze—that’s an extraordinary effort from a team of athletes and their supporters from a little country at the bottom of the world. And it is right to acknowledge the people of Japan and the Government that showed leadership and withstood all of the pressures that they had to not carry on with the games. Our athletes, all those who got to the games—you think about what they have actually gone through to get there. I think it is important to acknowledge the mental toll on athletes, who have to compete, train, compete, win, lose, get bronzes, don’t get bronzes. Those people, what they go through, and their families—I think it is extraordinary the effort that they put in.

I am now fast reading everything that I already haven’t read about Lisa Carrington. My goodness! Well, I have friends in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and they are always full of telling me, as we pass through Ōhope, “That’s where she comes from, you know. That’s where she comes from. That’s our girl.” And it is easy when things are going right in the Olympics and athletics for people to say, “Oh, that’s great, we know her.” Born in Tauranga, grew up in the Ōhope area, training with the Eastern Bay Canoe Racing Club—wow. Isn’t that amazing? And there she is—not just one, but just a whole collection of golds.

I also think it’s important to acknowledge those athletes who, having trained so hard, were not able to join the Olympics team. It’s easy to forget that they have all tried their very best, too. We hear about how tough it is for them, and particularly if they don’t make that team, so I do want to give a big shout-out to them, because out of all of those people, others will come through to represent their country.

Also, you know, Lisa Carrington, known as “GOAT”—which is a GOAT in a boat—“greatest of all time”, a tremendous accolade: three golds to become our most successful Olympian. Dame Valerie Adams, third in the shot-put: this is her fourth time in the Olympics. Unbelievable: continuing to do this, a mother of two able to get back into the training, get back into her focus, and getting it done. Our rowing eights, the men’s eight winning gold for the first time since Munich in 1972, and our women winning silver—extraordinary. The cycling—I mean, everything was just fantastic, and every one of our athletes did us proud, whether they won, they got second, they got third, or they weren’t successful in the medal tally. They all did us proud, not only on the track and in the pool and everywhere else, but actually in their behaviour in Japan. We never heard one thing about that. The only thing I did hear was that some of them might have had a drink or two on the way back, and so what? Why wouldn’t they, and good on them.

I just think it’s important that we understand that these are Kiwis—to me, many of them are very young people, and, I would think, to many New Zealanders. We can be so proud of them, but the people who should be most proud of them are themselves, because they have been part of a team that did us proud. This is something that New Zealanders wanted to see. I will also shout out to our women athletes. It’s OK, guys, that you didn’t get quite as many as the girls. Maybe you should try a bit harder next time. Oh! Ha, ha, that is so unfair. They all try so hard. Thank you, Mr Speaker, a great honour to be able to congratulate our Olympian team, their managers, their coaches, their families, and everyone who gave up so much for them to do their job. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of the Green Party to support this motion and the comments of the two speakers beforehand.

I don’t claim to be an expert in sports, to be fair, but what I do know is about the fantastic people and heart-warming stories from the New Zealand Olympics team. So I would like to take a moment to make a few acknowledgements, starting with Hayden Wilde winning our first Olympic medal and dedicating it to his father, who never got to see him race; the outstanding teamwork and culture of the New Zealand Women’s Sevens team; Emma Twigg, who finished fourth in London and Rio, winning gold in her first Olympics as an out gay athlete; Lisa Carrington, the “GOAT in the boat”, as another member to the right mentioned.

I also want to pay tribute to the Black Ferns and Portia Woodman for her visible support of the tino rangatiratanga flag and the aroha which she’s shown throughout the leadership as the Black Ferns have played. I think this is notable, as many athletes have—despite the restrictions on political activism at the Olympics—tried their best to raise many issues, whether it’s the toll that high-performance sports takes on their mental health, issues in their home countries—we know that the Olympics are inherently political and so commend the many athletes who have taken many powerful messages to the stage, on top of their amazing performances. This includes trailblazers like Laurel Hubbard, who has shown humility, courage, and paved the way for many people in the Olympic scene; and Valerie Adams winning another medal and proudly leading the team as the flag bearer and in the closing ceremony.

I also want to pay tribute to the athletes who will be participating in the Paralympics shortly, an opportunity to see so many wonderful athletes on stage. And I do want to reflect as well on the issue of whether sometime in the future, we could see the Paralympics and the Olympics being held jointly, getting equal coverage and support from the international stage.

So I hope, as well, that we continue supporting community sports, who continue to be the lifeline and the growing ground for talent who we end up taking to the world stage. Kia ora.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of the ACT Party as sports spokesperson. Initially we’d like to offer our sincerest condolences at the sad passing of Olivia Podmore, who was our Olympic athlete in 2016 and a Commonwealth Games cyclist. ACT offers, and I’m sure the House does, Olivia’s family heartfelt condolences. We’ve seen at the Olympics and in life there’s sacrifice and a price for triumph and tragedy. So I’d just like to take a moment to say: rest in peace, Olivia Podmore, Olympic athlete No. 1333.

We wish the best to the Paralympians who are coming up shortly. We congratulate the nation of Japan and, like the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, we’d like to point out what a great games it’s been for both sexes and, in particular, Lisa Carrington, who topped Ireland—what the hell’s going on in Ireland?—Georgia, Turkey just by herself. Her three golds, alongside Caitlin Regal’s, also matched the whole of Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium, leading us to 13th in the medal table on a per capita basis. So congratulations to everyone. Somebody, a Stuff reader, actually wrote that for all the nations that have never hosted an Olympic Games, New Zealand came out on top, which I thought was a sort of interesting statistic. And I’d like to congratulate the Minister and High Performance Sport and the Olympic Committee on exceeding targets for medals by four over what was anticipated in the strategic plan and in the funding document.

All these athletes have been supported by friends and families and their local communities, businesses, private patrons, New Zealand Olympic Committee, and High Performance Sport New Zealand, and I think, having led some university initiatives in the sports field, the Chef de Mission, i.e., Rob Waddell, must be congratulated for continuing the legacy of our Olympic teams.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee was established in 1911, and more than 60 teams have crossed the globe in those years on Olympic and Commonwealth Games crusades. It was Baron de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic movement and manifesto, who made the case for his vision of how a modern Olympic Games could help build a better world through sport and promote world peace. As for sports in general, he said, “I do not know what its fate will be, but I wish to draw your attention to the important fact that presents two features: it’s democratic and it’s international. The first of these characteristics will guarantee its future and anything that is not democratic is no longer viable today. As for the second, it opens unexpected prospects to us.” ACT still believes these are good values to aspire to and we hope to see them in Paris in 2024.

For me personally, one of the deeper moments of the games was when Dame Valerie Adams was named to carry the flag at the closing ceremony. She said, “It’s an amazing Games for us and I’m looking forward to walking out there with pride and holding the flag up as high in the sky as I possibly can.” And to conclude, there was a great quote from a New Zealand TV journalist, who said that when given the opportunity, New Zealanders are great at gold and silver mining, and that royalties should abound. So here’s to Paris in 2024 and congratulations to everyone involved.

I support the sentiment of the Opposition leader, Judith Collins, talking about the many people who have become experts in different sporting events, and I’m sure if Cook Islands dancing was part of the Olympics, Simon Bridges might make the podium cut!

Tēnā tātou, tēnā tā, tēnā koe te Pīka, otirā kia ora tātou i te Whare. Ka tū au i runga i te āhuatanga o te Paati Māori ki te tautoko i tēnei mōtini, ā, e pā ana ki Ngā Taumāhekeheke O te Ao me ngā mea kaitā kua riro i a tātou i roto i ngā rā kua hipa ake nei.

[Greetings everyone, greetings Mr Speaker and to everyone in the House. I stand today for Te Paati Māori to support this motion, which pertains to the Olympics and the great feats achieved by us in the last few days.]

First of all, I want to begin by acknowledging all of our sportspeople who competed in this year’s Olympics, and particularly our 33 Māori athletes and those who have won medals during this campaign. Like everyone else, I do want to single out one of our own. If I ever had the privilege of attending the Olympics, I would definitely go straight to the rowing venue. It was with immense pride over the last few weeks that I watched our rowers, who were out in front from the starting blocks, leaving everyone else in their hūkatai and rehutai. When it came to Lisa Carrington’s race, no one else even stood a chance. He tipua, he taniwhā, he atua, he wahine Māori.

[She is a legend, a powerful leader, a supernatural being, a Māori woman.]

I stand here today and acknowledge that the most successful Olympian in the history of Aotearoa is not from the Bay of Plenty; she is from the Waiariki. And I know for a fact, ladies and gentlemen, that she is also on the Māori roll. Now, I hear Willie Jackson over there saying she is of Ngāti Porou descent. If she is Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, she is definitely Ngāti Porou; if she is Ngāti Porou, she is definitely Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. Born in Tauranga, raised in Ōhope, and schooled at Whakatane High School, Lisa Carrington demonstrates what Te Waiariki has to offer this nation. Lisa’s a shining example of Māori excellence: she inspires our rangatahi to be proud of their whakapapa, to strive for their dreams, and to never give in to adversity.

Lisa has said that connecting to her heritage and identity as tangata whenua has helped keep her steady during this historic Tokyo campaign. In her own words: “To know my ancestors and what they did and the challenges that they went through so I could be here now has been a really cool realisation.”

Nō reira e hika mā, tēnei rā te mihi atu ki a tātou. Kia ora tātou.

[And therefore, I greet you all. Be well.]

Motion agreed to.