National's Simon Bridges wants the Blackcaps to be welcomed home with a parade so he can get his photo taken with them.
The New Zealand cricket side made history on Thursday, winning the first-ever World Test Championship. It was their first international tournament win since 2000, when they took home the ICC Champions Trophy.
Cricket fans generally consider test cricket - which can take five days to play, and often ends in a draw - the pinnacle of the game. New Zealand triumphed over India in the final, winning by eight wickets.
Bridges, the MP for Tauranga, told The AM Show on Friday he's keen for a celebration when the side returns home.
"Ya-hah! We're the world champions. It's amazing. Five million people, we beat what is it, 1.3 million? A billion, I should say... I think it should be in Tauranga. Kane, Trent, they live there - there's no place like home. So I'm pitching for Tauranga."
"Rev the car, fantastic," added Labour MP David Parker, who appeared with Bridges on The AM Show.
Bridges admitted a selfish motive for wanting a parade, particularly in his hometown.
"We love to be associated with that - we'll all be lining up to get our photo with them and all those things, shallow but true."
Former National leader Sir John Key made sure he was regularly seen with high-profile and successful sports stars. The most infamous incident came in 2011, when he took part in a three-way handshake with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset on the podium directly after New Zealand won that year's World Cup.
Bridges said a parade would also be "for the kids".
"If you want to stay test champs, you need to make sure the kids are into it."
In contrast, Parker expressed disappointment that our world champion yachting team is taking the America's Cup offshore for their next defence.
"I think most New Zealanders are disappointed they're not going to stay here. The Government and Auckland [have spent] a lot of money on that infrastructure."
