Labour MP Willie Jackson has made history by becoming the first Māori to debate at the Oxford Union - and winning it for his side.
His performance at the prestigious event echoed former Prime Minister David Lange’s famous 'uranium' moment in more ways than one.
Oxford put on a very British show on Thursday night (local time).
The bow ties were fastened, the boutonnieres were pinned, and the fine art was looking on with a stiff upper lip.
And there was Willie Jackson - checking his notes again and again.
"I was a little bit nervous, there’s no doubt about it. I shouldn’t have been but you just are," Jackson told Newshub.
He was the first Māori to take to the despatch box since debates started at Oxford two centuries ago.
Jackson went against his instincts and argued that British museums are very British.
"Because it's very, very, very British to take from indigenous people and never hand it back!" he said.
He brought the house down before any interjections could.
"British museums are without doubt, any doubt, very British," Jackson said.
When asked for a point of information, he had an answer for that too.
"No not right now, we’ve waited 200 years for this, for this opportunity!" he said to rousing applause.
It was reminiscent in more ways than one - of another famous Oxford debate speech, delivered by former PM David Lange.
"Lean a bit closer, I can smell the uranium on your breath from here!" said Lange during his debate.
Jackson couldn’t resist.
"I can smell the colonialism on your breath from here!" he said, which got a few laughs from the crowd.
Over the years, the Oxford Union has welcomed some of the world’s most prominent people to speak - Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Winston Churchill, Richard Nixon, Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa and Queen Elizabeth II.
But the debate has always been the flagship event.
The Labour MP added to New Zealand’s legacy in the chamber.
"Willie Jackson - what a guy!" said one attendee.
"I thought it was very rousing. I thought the way he was able to utilise the motion to talk about a point he was passionate about was amazing," another said.
And ultimately still fighting for the return of Māori artefacts.
"We hope your British tradition of justice brings my ancestors home," Jackson said, speaking of seven mokomōkai (preserved heads) still held by the British Museum, which has refused to repatriate them in the past.
