Ardern JacindaMOTIONSNew Zealand Paralympics Team—CongratulationsRt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): I seek leave to move a motion without notice to congratulate the members of our Paralympic team.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action? There appears to be none.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Mālō e lelei. I move That this House congratulate the members of our inspiring Paralympic team on their outstanding achievement of winning 12 medals. I want to on behalf of the Government acknowledge all of the Paralympians who were members of the team competing in Tokyo and congratulate them collectively on their achievements. Our team contained 18 new Paralympians. Their performance gives us enormous confidence for the future of para-sport. This truly has been a Paralympics that has captured hearts and minds of New Zealanders and provided countless hours of incredible and inspiring sporting moments including six gold three silver and three bronze medals for the New Zealand team. Among the achievements it is hard to go past New Zealand's greatest Paralympian Sophie Pascoe. She once again showed the world what an absolute champion she is winning two gold a silver and a bronze medal from her five events in the pool. She returned the biggest individual medal haul for the Paralympic team and now sits on a career tally of 19. Sophie is a legend: a dedicated trainer a tough competitor a leader and a mentor. She is truly one of our finest ever sportspeople.I'd also like to congratulate Tupou Neiufi the pride of South Auckland for her breakthrough gold in the 100-metre backstroke S8 a first for New Zealand. Lisa Adams and Anna Grimaldi both set Paralympic records with their gold medals in shot put F37 and long jump T47 respectively and Holly Robinson claimed a rather nerve-wracking gold in javelin F46 when she left it to her sixth and final throw to move from third to first and claim the title. Holly's determination after getting silver in both London and Rio has been well rewarded. Holly's coach Raylene Bates deserves enormous congratulations for her commitment to training para-athletes and shares in the success of this team. Young track stars William Stedman and Danielle Aitchison also shone at these Paralympic Games with William snaring silver in the long jump T36 and bronze in the 400 metres T36 and Danielle winning silver in the 200 metres T36 and bronze in the 100 metres T36. And obviously what a wonderful pedigree Danielle has. Hon Grant Robertson: Oh that's Morrinsville.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yeah thank you.I'd also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Paralympics New Zealand for all the fantastic work they do to support disabled athletes in particular chief executive Fiona Allan and board chair Jana Rangooni. Thank you for your continuous efforts to make New Zealand a more inclusive and diverse place for those with disabilities. I'd also like to acknowledge the hard work of chef de mission Paula Tesoriero. I'd also like to praise the work of the team behind the team who have done a phenomenal job of ensuring all our Paralympians not only were ready and able to perform at their peak but were able to travel and compete safely at the Paralympic Games. Given the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the lead-up to these Paralympic Games has been incredibly challenging for all the athletes involved. This team have shown incredible determination and resilience to deliver such great performances and their outstanding achievements are a great reward for the years of hard work and training they've put into their sport. The Paralympic Games in Tokyo had significant and operational safety challenges and I'd like to commend Japan and the International Paralympic Committee for delivering an event of this magnitude despite the challenges of the global pandemic. To the members of the New Zealand Paralympics team I hope that you achieved and even exceeded your aims. Your friends your family and the rest of New Zealand are so proud of you and were right behind you cheering you on. Again I offer on behalf of the Government our congratulations to all the members of the 2020 Paralympic team. They've made us extremely proud and are an inspiration to all New Zealanders. Thank you for showing us that achievement is limitless and can I say personally I am very much looking forward to welcoming you home as much as I enjoyed farewelling you as you endeavoured to achieve greatness.SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.