Key John: Motions — All Whites—Qualification for Football World Cup Finals 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Key John: Motions — All Whites—Qualification for Football World Cup Finals 
[Sitting date: 17 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7675. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 I seek leave to move a motion without notice congratulating the All Whites on qualifying for the finals of the Football World Cup. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There appears to be none. 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: I move  
That the House congratulate the All Whites football team on its victory over Bahrain and its qualification for the 2010 Football World Cup finals in South Africa 
. Saturday night’s win by the All Whites was one of those rare sporting occasions that truly grip the nation. The largest football crowd in New Zealand’s history created a highly charged atmosphere that helped to get our team through an extremely tense match. Many thousands more Kiwis throughout the country and across the globe celebrated together when the final whistle blew. 
My congratulations go to coach Ricki Herbert a man who was in the All Whites team that played in the 1982 Football World Cup and who will proudly return to the tournament next year as coach of the All Whites. I congratulate captain Ryan Nelsen a man who led the defensive line superbly and brought his experience at the highest level of English football back to the turf of Wellington’s Westpac Stadium to lead this country. I congratulate goalscorer Rory Fallon who brought the nation to its feet when he leapt in the air and thumped a header into the back of the net. I congratulate goalkeeper Mark Paston who must have felt the weight of the country on his shoulders before he dived brilliantly to his right—it is always best when one goes to the right in my view—to save Bahrain’s penalty and keep the All Whites in front. I congratulate the entire team who ran themselves to a standstill and showed the kind of courage bravery and never-say-die attitude that New Zealanders love to see. 
Tragically I was not able to watch the match firsthand; I was at APEC in a meeting with amongst others Ron Kirk the US trade negotiator and the President of the Philippines. But I can report that at the time of the match I left my phone on vibrate. It was as if I had a pacemaker in my pocket. I looked down and there were 27 text messages all of which told me we had won. There was great celebration and I interrupted the meeting to tell them. I bring with me today the hearty congratulations of people from around the world. It was difficult being such a long way away from the event but people around the country have raised this victory with me and their sheer delight— 
Hon Member 
: Deloitte? 
Hon JOHN KEY 
: Well Deloitte as well. I was pleased to be able to get a full report from Mr English who had been to the All Whites’ dressing room. 
As we share in the glow of this win the All Whites can look forward to competing against the world’s best in South Africa next year. We wish them all the best and we will be supporting them all the way. As we all know the Football World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events and New Zealand can be extremely proud that our team made it through the qualifying stage to take its place on the international stage. 
New Zealand is a country with the finest sporting traditions. Kiwis play hard but fair and we give it our all. I say to Ricki Herbert’s All Whites that we wish them well and thank them for their superb performance. They were great ambassadors for New Zealand on Saturday night and now they are true sporting heroes.