Robertson GrantNEW ZEALAND WINTER PARALYMPIC TEAMCongratulationsHon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister for Sport and Recreation): I seek leave to move a motion without notice to congratulate the New Zealand Paralympic Winter Games team.SPEAKER: Just with a warning that we take a little longer over these things now. Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I move That this House congratulate the New Zealand Winter Paralympic Team for their outstanding achievements at the Beijing Winter Paralympics.With one gold one silver and two bronze medals this was the most successful Paralympic Winter Games for New Zealand in 20 years. This was the biggest Paralympic Winter Games to date so for the three person New Zealand team of Adam Hall Corey Peters and Aaron Ewen to win a total of four medals is quite remarkable. All three athletes can be very proud of their Paralympics campaign which saw Corey Peters win gold in the men's downhill sitting and silver in the men's super-G sitting and Adam Hall won a bronze medal in the men's slalom and in the super combined event the most technical of the alpine skiing disciplines. New Zealand's newest Paralympian Aaron Ewen finished ninth in the men's slalom a brilliant achievement in his first Paralympics.Corey Peters' gold in particular was a remarkable achievement given that that he hadn't competed in a downhill event for two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also missed the world championships two months ago after catching COVID himself. Adam Hall's bronze in the men's standing slalom was described by commentators as millimetre perfect" a reflection of his skill in this discipline.Qualifying for the Winter Paralympics is an enormous achievement and it's made New Zealanders so proud to see the skill determination and hard work of our Paralympians come to fruition in Beijing. I'd also like to acknowledge the enormous contribution of chef de mission Jane Stevens head coach Ben Adams and assistant coach Scott Palmer to the team's success as well as Paralympics New Zealand and their chief executive Fiona Allan and all the other team officials and support staff.The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions including the challenge of competing in Beijing without their friends and whānau on the side line for their events meant that the support staff on the ground played a crucial role in our success at these Games. We have a great tradition of achievement at the Paralympics and that also serves as a platform to challenge misconceptions about disabled people. These athletes have shown us that achievement can be limitless.Audiences for the Paralympic Winter Games continue to grow and this was the first time New Zealanders were able to watch every Paralympic event with TVNZ providing extensive coverage of the Games. Seeing the incredible performances across the full range of Paralympic winter sports has no doubt inspired disabled people and all New Zealanders. Again I offer on behalf of the Government our congratulations to the members of the 2022 New Zealand Paralympic Winter Games team. They have made us extremely proud and are an inspiration to all New Zealanders.SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to."