Labour's Willie Jackson says it is a "great honour" to be invited to participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate later this month.
Jackson will be the first ever Māori to debate at the Oxford Union, and the second-ever member of New Zealand Parliament to do so. Other New Zealanders such as the late Labour MP Georgina Beyer and former Prime Ministers have addressed the Oxford Union but have not participated in an actual debate.
Jackson follows in the footsteps of former Labour Prime Minister David Lange, who championed New Zealand's nuclear-free policy. Lange became internationally renowned after he argued the motion that nuclear weapons were morally indefensible at the 1985 Oxford Debate.
It was that debate where he delivered the iconic line: "I'm going to give it to you if you hold your breath just for a moment ... I can smell the uranium on it as you lean towards me."
Appearing on AM, Jackson said he's got everybody giving him suggestions of one-liners that could potentially live up to Lange's.
"It's been pretty good, actually, in terms of support from everywhere, across the House," Jackson said.
He was invited for his work as an MP and former Māori Development Minister in advancing indigenous causes.
Jackson will be debating the motion "This House Believes British Museums are not Very British" which he will be arguing against.
Jackson will be joined by Gary Vikan, American author and former director of the Walters Art Museum in opposition to the motion.
They will be debating against Rt Hon. The Lord Vaizey of Didcot PC, former Minister of Culture and Communications and Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Shadow Minister of Immigration.
"It's a great honour. I don't think I'll get half as good as Lange but I'll give it my best shot and I want to thank people for their support," Jackson said.
The debate will be held on May 23.
Newshub.
