Sharples Pita: Motions — Air New Zealand—Airbus Crash France Barack Obama—Election as President of the United States New Zealand Sports Teams—SuccessesText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSharples Pita: Motions — Air New Zealand—Airbus Crash France Barack Obama—Election as President of the United States New Zealand Sports Teams—Successes[Sitting date: 09 December 2008. Volume:651;Page:23. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader—Māori Party): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Tēnā tātou e te Whare. When one enters the Barack Obama website there is a simple statement that says it all. I quote Barack Obama’s words: “I’m asking you to believe not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington. I’m asking you to believe in yours.” It is a profound affirmation of faith: faith in a future that saw millions of Americans stand up to proclaim “Yes I can”. It is an action of celebration and pride which has had its ripple effects right throughout the world including here in Aotearoa.The motion describes the Obama election win as historic and it is historic on many levels. Obama will of course become the first African-American President of the United States—a fact recognised by the Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki who immediately declared a national holiday to acknowledge his Kenyan whakapapa. Indeed the African-American President-Elect inspires the whole world to celebrate as we collectively reflect on the shame of a history of slavery segregation racism and discrimination—a history we must never forget. Obama has broken through the highest ceiling in the land. What greater statement is that? But he is also the first person of colour to govern a country with a white majority.For indigenous peoples across the world the election of Barack Obama has heralded a new dawn of hope that we can find our own solutions. The man named by the Crow Nation as Barack Black Eagle has told American Indians: “You will be on my mind every day I am in the White House”. But his commitment goes further and again I quote: “My Indian policy starts with honoring the unique government to government relationship between tribes and the federal government and ensuring that our treaty obligations are met and ensuring that Native Americans have a voice in the White House. Indian nations have never asked much of the United States only for what was promised by the treaty obligations made by their forebears. So let me be clear: I believe that treaty commitments are paramount law I’ll fulfil those commitments as president of the United States.”I wanted to honour the new President’s commitment to the American Indians as just one of the many attributes that are based on the ideal of creating a better future; transforming the political culture so that it is responsive to the people and not what he describes as the corporate fat cats. Variously described as this generation’s politicalrock star there is no denying that Barack Obama is a transformational figure. And although his campaign inspired people like Oprah Winfrey Bruce Springsteen and even Colin Powell to publicly endorse him his greatest wealth quite literally lay in the millions of Americans who opened their hearts to come together to heal the divides that have hurt their nation; opened their minds to the possibility of change; and opened their wallets to invest in his campaign.The Māori Party is proud to stand with the House and convey our congratulations and our best wishes for the Obama administration and we can do no better than end with the vision articulated in the election night address of the man himself: “The true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy liberty opportunity and unyielding hope.” Thank you.