Category: New Zealand Governor General

Source: New Zealand Governor General

Waheguru Ji Ka Khulsa, Waheguru Ki Fateh

[Hail the Guru’s Khalsa, Hail the victory of God]

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.

Thank you for inviting Richard and me to join you today for this very special celebration of Vaisakhi at Gurudwara Sahib. It’s an honour to be the first Governor-General to visit your temple.

I wish to begin by acknowledgingyour holy book the Guru Granth Sahib. I also join you in celebrating the bounty of harvest-time, and in your expressions of gratitude for the food that will nourish our communities.

As Governor-General, one of my over-riding goals is to encourage a sense of inclusion and unity in New Zealand. I enjoy meeting New Zealanders of all faiths and backgrounds, and appreciate the contributions, expertise and aspirations we all bring – in our different ways – to Aotearoa.

This afternoon’s celebration is one of those occasions – in this instance, I welcome this opportunity to meet members of the Sikh community – and learn more about Sikhism, the sacred space of Gurudwara, and the traditions associated with visiting this temple and the celebration of Vaisakhi.

I was interested to learn that Sikhism is the fastest-growing religion in New Zealand, and about the role Gurudwara play in bringing your communities together and enabling you to hold fast to your cultural and spiritual heritage.

The last few years have tested our resilience in ways we could never have imagined. Last year, when we visited Hawkes Bay communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, it was a great privilege to meet Sikh people there who had showed such extraordinary compassion and generosity to people who had, in many instances, lost everything in the floods.

I want to acknowledge your efforts to not only promote egalitarian and humanitarian values, but also for doing your best to live them on a daily basis. Your generosity and compassion to those in need are deeply appreciated, and a reminder that true spirituality is expressed in our actions towards others.

My thanks once again for welcoming us into your temple and sharing this special occasion with us.

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khulsa, Waheguru Ki Fateh

Source: New Zealand Governor General

Kia kotahi mai ki te ao nei

Kia kotahi mai ki te whenua nei

Kia kotahi mai ki nga wai e rere nei

Kia kotahi mai ki te hauora

Ko te whakakotahitanga a te hāpori o Kaitaia, te kaupapa o te rā, anei e tū ake te whakatinanatanga o te moemoea

Te whare e tū nei, tēnā koe.

• Be as one with the universe
• Be as one with mother earth
• Flow as one with the sacred waters
• Breathe as one with the winds
• You, the community of Kaitaia
• worked as one to realise
• his vision for all.

Thank you all for the wonderful welcome, and thank your Worship Moko for inviting us to be here today. May I also congratulate you on being amongst the five winners of the One World Young Politician of the Year Award in 2023, and for recently being voted New Zealand’s most popular mayor.

I always look forward to coming to this complex. In particular, this circle of poupou that so beautifully conveys pride in the diverse cultures of your region, while at the same time affirming kotahitanga and a shared vision for the future. It is the perfect place to begin our final day of a very memorable official visit to Te Tai Tokerau.

Haami Piripi saw this building as realising the dream of our Māori, Pākehā and Dalmatian forebears to co-exist peacefully and work together to achieve common goals. He said: ‘In order for us to be successful and prosperous, we must all beat with one heart’.

Te Ahu both perfectly expresses and embodies that goal and has itself become a beating heart for the Far North.

The kuaka above us remind me of a recent visit to Pukorokoro on the Firth of Thames, where I saw many thousands of these birds congregating on the mudflats, in preparation for their long journey to Alaska.

Like these remarkable birds, we each have long journeys over the world’s oceans embedded in our histories. And like them, we too face challenges, and find strength from those who support us on our life journeys.

In Te Tai Tokerau, we are blessed with warmer weather, as well as picturesque harbours, sweeping Pohutukawa, native bird and fauna and stunning beaches. The region also experience the realities of extreme weather events with drought and flooding, infrastructure demands, employment and housing gaps.

This week we have met people in Whangārei, Kaikohe and Whangaroa who are using their energy and talents to take on some of those challenges and serve their communities. We are looking forward to seeing more of such good work in Kaitaia today.

When one of my predecessors, Sir Jerry Mateparae came here to celebrate the opening of Te Ahu in 2012, he agreed to fire a replica mortar. No doubt he did so with great aplomb – given his military training.

Firing mortars isn’t really my thing, and so I am delighted to be planting a kauri tree instead.

On this, our final day of our official visit to the North, I want to thank everyone who has given up their precious time to be with us.

We will not forget your manaakitanga, or your passion and commitment to nga iwi me nga taonga o Te Tai Tokerau. It has been our privilege to be here and spend time with you, and I look forward to catching up with you on my visits home in the future.

 

Source: New Zealand Governor General

Kaka Porowini

Terenga Paraoa

E te kōpuni kauika kua ū mai,

tēnei ka mihi.

Tēnā ra koutou kei āku rangatira

Nōkū te maringa, ki te haere mai ki roto I a koutou, kei nga uri o Te Whare Tapu o Nga Puhi, o Ngati Hine, o Ngati Wai, o Ngati Whatua,

Mihi mai!

Mihi mai!

Mihi mai!

Kaka Porowini (wharenui)

Terenga Paraoa (Marae)

to the gathering of esteemed ones

who have arrrived here,

I greet you my chiefs.

I am pleased to be able to be amongst you today, the descendants of Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai and Ngāti Whatua.

Thank you for inviting Richard and me to be here today.

As you can imagine, my role takes me to all points on the map in Aotearoa. What makes today special is that Te Tai Tokerau is my ahi kaa.

My story begins with the connections I share with you, and which have sustained me throughout my life. I am grateful for the aroha and support I have received over the years, and I am so proud to be the first Governor-General from Te Tai Tokerau.

I take inspiration from two of my predecessors – Sir Jerry Mateparae and Sir Paul Reeves – who was the first Māori in this role.

Like them, I too come from a modest background. I hope our stories show what’s possible.

No career path can really prepare a Governor-General for the unique constitutional and ceremonial duties we undertake. These include dissolving Parliament as per our constitution, swearing in new governments and opening a new Parliament after elections.

I give Royal assent to legislation passed by MPs in the House, I host investiture ceremonies, formally recognising outstanding New Zealanders for their service to the country. Richard and I have the privilege of welcoming visiting royalty, heads of state and governments along with diplomats – and from time to time, I represent Aotearoa at significant occasions overseas – such as state funerals, coronations, the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

It’s impossible to fully engage with all 160 of my patronages, but we do try to support them wherever we can.

I know how important it is to maintain those close and special links with all the people that I represent, including in our realm countries such as the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau and the Ross Dependency.

Within Aotearoa, I try to visit outside the main centres whenever I can. Last year, our extended visits included communities in Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, and a visit to Rēkohu, the Chatham Islands.

So much of what is good and just in our communities is due to the efforts of good-hearted people, driven by their sense of service and manaakitanga to others. I know we will meet many more such people over the next few days.

In this instance, Whangārei is the starting point for a four-day visit that will also include Whangaroa, Kaikohe and Kaitaia.

I have lived here and worked with some of you, I have close whānau here, and I know something of the challenges and opportunities for nga iwi o Te Tai Tokerau. I welcome this chance to catch up with old friends and hear what’s top of mind for you.

Over the next few days, I will also make new acquaintances, with people who, in various ways, have seen a need, and have done something about it – whether it be in developing new enterprises, educating tamariki, providing leadership in local government, caring for people with addiction issues, building healthy affordable houses, growing food for their community, or nurturing and celebrating toi Māori.

I will spend time with our precious tamariki and rangatahi, and listen to what they have to say about their concerns, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future.

In these uncertain times, one thing is certain – and that’s our responsibility to bequeath to our young people the sustainable and prosperous future they deserve.

In my dealings with hapu and iwi in Aotearoa, I see a renewed kotahitanga – unity of purpose that drives a desire to share their unique contribution with others. New migrants are contributing and enriching our communities, cementing new bonds with our increasingly diverse peoples.

Iwi Māori are also drawing on the expertise of our tupuna with an understanding of matauranga– and in our dealings with each other ensuring that we reflect our core values such as kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga and whakawhanaungatanga.

By working together to improve the lot of our whanau and communities, we will continue to enrich the country as a whole. Let us celebrate this together.

Source: New Zealand Governor General

E nga rau rangatira mā, e huihui mai i tēnei ra, tēnei aku mihi mahana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Whare o Te Kawana Tianara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Kia ora mai tātou katoa.

I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: Her Worship Tory Whanau, Mayor of Wellington; Diana Wolken, Chair of the Executive Committee of Community Networks Wellington; Debbie Delaney, Coordinator of Community Networks Wellington; and Theresa Hall, Maddie Clark, and Amanda Ashby, Executive Committee.

And to all our distinguished guests here this morning, including of course, members of Wellington’s community and social sector – tēnā koutou katoa. As Governor-General, I’m delighted to have this opportunity to acknowledge the powerful and important work that each of you do in support of the Wellington, Hutt Valley, and Porirua communities.

I wish to firstly acknowledge what a difficult time this must be for many of you here this morning, as well as the organisations you represent – knowing, as I do, the enormous financial hardships being experienced by community sector providers and families throughout the country. However, I also acknowledge that your work could not be more important, and I commend each of you for remaining steadfast in your support of those members of our society who find themselves cut off, in crisis, and – so often – with nowhere else to turn.

Having spent much of my own life and career advocating for the wellbeing of tamariki and whānau, I understand the importance of the community and social sector for maintaining the fabric of our communities – and I know that your work is all the more impactful, when it is done in close connection with those who share your values and objectives. As the whakataukī says: ‘Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa. Let us keep close together, not far apart.’

Last year, Dr Davies and I visited the Hawkes’ Bay and Tairāwhiti regions, to see how those communities were recovering following Cyclone Gabrielle. The theme that we encountered again and again, was how essential local organisations had been in supporting whānau in their recovery – and the better-connected those organisations were, both with each other, and into their communities, the more effective they could be in supporting families through that time of such terrible devastation and loss.

I wish to acknowledge Community Networks Wellington specifically, for bringing together this group here today, whose work so often goes unacknowledged. I also wish to recognise your own work in supporting this sector, so integral to the wellbeing of our society. By providing such an active and effective platform for local charities and community groups to come together, you give your member organisations new avenues, invaluable insights, and powerful means for supporting the needs of those they serve.

It was St Francis of Assisi who said: ‘Remember, when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.’ As Governor-General, on behalf of all New Zealanders, I wish to thank everyone here this morning – for all that you do and that you give in support of those most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society.

I wish finally to offer my most heartfelt encouragement: please, keep going. Your work remains so acutely important, and I have no doubt of the great positive impact you are having, and the comfort you are providing to so many. I invite you to please enjoy the hospitality of this House – and I wish you all the very best in your ongoing work across our communities.

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.

Source: New Zealand Governor General

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.

I specifically acknowledge: His Worship Phil Mauger; Commander Rob Hall and Sub Lieutenant Amos Kamo; Mishele Phillips Radford, Chair of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke; Bennett Medary, President of Coastguard New Zealand and acting CEO Phil Harkness; and Mark Leggett, President of Coastguard Canterbury.

It’s wonderful to be in Lyttleton today in support of two significant  community institutions. This morning, I visited Cholmondeley Children’s Centre to celebrate their 100 years of operation – and now it is my privilege to join you all in celebrating a new era for Coastguard Canterbury.

I am also pleased to have this opportunity to see some of the latest progress in the rebuild after the Christchurch earthquake. Some people here today were no doubt severely affected – and I imagine all of you will know people who lost loved ones, homes and businesses.

I cannot imagine how distressing it must have been to see the extensive damage to your town, port and landscape – including to your precious marine rescue centre.

This wonderful new building is another great step in the rebuild, and an expression of confidence in the future. I am sure it will be a great amenity for Lyttleton.

I come here today both as Governor-General, and also as Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand Defence Forces. Commander Hall, I am delighted to see HMNZS Canterbury here in port, and to be able to personally thank you for hosting my husband during what I hear was an unforgettable voyage to the Sub-Antarctic Islands.

Your presence here reminds us that our Navy not only plays a role in military operations, disaster recovery, meteorology and scientific research – but also as a vital partner in our coastguard services.

New Zealanders are so blessed to live on these beautiful islands, and we are never far from our stunning coastline and harbours. We have inherited great seafaring traditions, and our affinity with the sea runs deep.

Tangaroa commands our respect as the origin of all living things on our planet, giving us life and sustenance. It can also be unforgiving for the inexperienced or foolhardy. As Ernest Hemingway once said: ‘The sea finds out everything you did wrong.’

The thousands of historic shipwrecks on our coastline could suggest our forebears lacked skill and judgment as seafarers – but we know plans can go horribly wrong for even the most seasoned boatie or sailor.

The sea is a great leveller. We can all become victims of tides, the elements, unfortunate accidents or medical events.

The coastguard volunteers here today deserve our deepest gratitude for helping others who have got into difficulties – and for putting their own lives at risk.

Martin Luther King said: ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “what are you doing for others?”‘ So much of what is good and true in our communities is due to the commitment of volunteers – people who are prepared to devote their time, energy and skills in the service of public good.

I also want to acknowledge the individuals and organisations who saw that Lyttleton’s coastguard volunteers needed a new home, and were determined to make this project become a reality.

Lyttleton can be justly proud of this purpose-built facility, as well as the unwavering commitment of your coastguard volunteers to bring people in distress safely to shore. I wish you all the very best with that mission in the years ahead.

Kia ora, kia kaha, kia manawanui, huihui tātou katoa.

Source: New Zealand Governor General

Rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.

I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: Nettles Lamont, Chair of the Cholmondeley Children’s Centre; Darel Hall, General Manager; and Tutehounuku Korako, Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, Patron.

And to all the very special guests with us here this morning, including members of the Banks Peninsula community, and most importantly, our tamariki – tēnā koutou katoa.

I am delighted to join you here today, in this beautiful part of our country, to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Cholmondeley Children’s Centre. This extraordinary achievement stands testament, not only to the generous and deeply caring vision of Hugh Heber Cholmondeley, but also to all of the staff, supporters, and volunteers who have worked to uphold that vision over this past century.

Now before I get too far, some of you in the audience might be wondering who I am and what my job is. I wonder – how many of you have heard of someone called King Charles III?

King Charles is the King of England – but he is also the King of New Zealand. He lives on the other side of the world, and my job as Governor-General is to do his work for him here in New Zealand.

I meet all kinds of important people in my job – I meet world leaders and Olympic athletes and award-winning artists – but if I can tell you a small secret: my favourite bit is meeting young people like you. I hope that while you’re here at Cholmondeley, you make new friends, and enjoy learning and playing as much as you can in this beautiful place.

To all the staff of the Cholmondeley Children’s Centre here today – thank you for the work that you do to make this such a safe and loving environment for our tamariki. Your whakataukī, ‘Whakanuia a tatou tamariki. Value our children’, I see so clearly reflected and embodied in every detail of this wonderful facility – but most of all, in your own commitment and manaakitanga as carers and educators.

The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child states that childhood should be a special, protected time – a time in which children should be allowed to grow, learn, and play with freedom and dignity. Even in my short time here, I see that Cholmondeley is a place that wholly upholds that promise – a place for tamariki to feel protected, nurtured, and loved; a place for learning and play, and seeing again the beauty, goodness, and wonder of this world, with that very particular vividness of childhood.

I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge all those who support this facility, from the Banks Peninsula and wider Canterbury region – knowing that Cholmondeley relies upon the generosity of this community to carry out its invaluable work.

My sincerest thanks, finally, to all who have made today possible, and for inviting me here to mark this significant milestone with you all. The beautiful wairua of this place represents the courage and resolve of so many dedicated people, and carries the hopes, dreams, and wellbeing of many more. I wish everyone here, all the very best for your future.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Source: New Zealand Governor General

Kia ora koutou. Nga mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai haere mai, ra ki te Whare Kawana o Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging:

• Clive Lansink, Chair of the Board of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind
• Judy Small, Deputy Chair
• Dan Shepherd and Sue Emerali, panel members
• Jelena Zidov, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Blind Low Vision NZ
• Gwen Green, General Manager of Engagement and Marketing, Blind Low Vision NZ

And to all our very distinguished guests, including Members of Parliament and representatives from Whaikaha – tēnā koutou katoa.

It is my pleasure to host you here today at Government House Wellington, for this reception for Seeing Streets Differently. As Governor-General, I am proud to be patron of Blind Low Vision NZ – an organisation which, for 135 years, has been supporting and advocating for blind, deafblind, and low vision New Zealanders.

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to engage regularly with Blind Low Vision over the course of my term, and to see first-hand the impactful work you do across New Zealand communities.

Back in June 2022, I helped to launch the Vision Bus at Auckland University – a mobile optometrist which travels to remote and high-needs communities, to provide low-cost eyecare and eyewear. I also had the pleasure of visiting Blind Low Vision NZ in Manurewa, to see some of the guide-dog puppy-training in action at that remarkable, world-leading facility.

I was deeply touched that one of the new puppies I met that day was named Kiro – and, a few months later, came for morning tea, here, at Government House. He didn’t remember me, sadly.

The link between Governors-General and Blind Low Vision NZ is a strong and long-standing one, which I am proud to continue. One of my predecessors, Dame Cath Tizard, went to the extreme of a tandem parachute jump, to help publicise the launch of Braille Week back in 1992. Upon learning of this daring stunt, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sent a telegram to Dame Cath, containing just two words: ‘Well jumped’. I must say, I am relieved no-one asked me to repeat such an effort for the launch of this initiative here today.

Like so much of Blind Low Vision’s work, I am confident that Seeing Streets Differently will have a profound impact of the lives of blind and vision-impaired New Zealanders – by advocating for truly inclusive environments, and making the streets and neighbourhoods of New Zealand communities safe spaces everyone can navigate with confidence and independence.

We know how fundamentally important walking journeys are for allowing those with low vision to live independently – and that sudden changes to street layouts, uninclusive design, and cluttered footpaths, reduce the ability of those members of our community to get around safely.

Research has shown that such safety concerns are a major deterrent for those with low vision from leaving their homes, and contribute significantly to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. By making our streets safer and more inclusive, New Zealand lives and communities will be immeasurably improved – ensuring that everyone can access healthcare, education, and work; connect with each other; and, ultimately, lead full, engaged, and happy lives.

It was the English political and religious thinker William Penn who said: ‘I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.’

As Governor-General, on behalf of all New Zealanders, I wish to extend my very sincerest thanks to all staff, volunteers, and supporters of Blind Low Vision NZ – for the great goodness you do and embody so fully through your work. I am truly proud to be your patron.

And, finally, my sincerest congratulations on the launch of this wonderful initiative, which I know to be the result of so much work and care – and which I am sure will come to make such a positive difference to so many New Zealand lives.

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.

I’d now like to invite Jelena Zidov, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Blind Low Vision NZ, to speak.

Source: New Zealand Governor General

E nga rau rangatira mā, e huihui mai nei I tenei wa, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.

I specifically acknowledge:

• Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
• Bernadette Cavanagh, MFAT Deputy Secretary, Pacific and Development Group, and
• Peter Rudd, Peter Glensaw, and Heidi Coetzee from the Council for International Development

A warm Government House welcome to you all. This evening’s dinner celebrates a significant milestone for the Council for International Development, and acknowledges your legacy after forty years of dedicated service and collaboration.

It is my privilege to be Patron of the Council, as well as several of your member organisations: the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ; the United Nations Association of New Zealand; Volunteer Service Abroad; Save the Children; and UN Women.

I appreciate the role the Council plays in helping Aotearoa New Zealand meet our responsibilities in the international development sphere. You create space and platforms for the voices of people who may not otherwise have their voice heard, while also enabling the sector to speak with a collective voice when it is beneficial to do so.

A whakatauki sums up the Council’s approach;

Ki te kotahi te kakaho ka whati, ki te kapuia e kore e whati “A reed standing alone breaks easily, but gathered together, they will not break”.

Your collaboration – with each other, with governments, civil society, the private sector and communities delivers results.

During times of crisis, it must be invaluable to have NGO people on the ground, providing insights about what is truly needed in affected areas – as well as the Council’s convening role, which helps New Zealand respond with urgency and to assist those most in need.

It must be very gratifying to see NGO expertise and knowledge shared, and resulting in cross-country learning – such as when ADRA brought local staff from Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Myanmar together to discuss their experiences and share innovative farming practices.

The professional training opportunities provided by the Council, along with its code of conduct, affirm and reinforce a principled and consistent approach to development work.

I appreciate the ethical and responsible use of AI will be a hot topic for you all, and the Council is to be commended for running a workshop for members on this.

All Council members are working to change people’s lives for the better through a broad range of programmes – whether it be addressing climate change impacts, supporting health and education interventions – or ensuring access to clean drinking water and sanitation infrastructure.

As a former Children’s Commissioner, I was particularly pleased to learn about UNICEF Aotearoa New Zealand’s efforts to improve the health of children in Kiribati, supported by MFAT’s Partnering for Impact programme. Providing schools in Kiribati with clean water and toilets, along with soap, drinking bottles, dental hygiene kits and menstrual hygiene kits can be life-changing for these children.

It is gratifying to know that your support reaches groups who struggle to be able to access resources or services, including women and girls, people living with disabilities, and young people.

In these challenging and uncertain times, the demands on your services will undoubtedly increase, and the support of the Council and its advocacy for NGOs and the people you work for, will be even more vital.

In all that you do, I hope you will be inspired by the words of anthropologist Margaret Mead, who famously declared: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’

My sincere thanks to Peter Rudd, along with the team at the Council – past and present – for representing a significant group of thoughtful, committed organisations that are working to uphold human dignity and build a more just, sustainable and resilient world.

I appreciate the role you all play in representing Aotearoa New Zealand on the world stage, through your contributions to our nation’s humanitarian efforts and your partnership in development initiatives.

The Council’s work in advocacy, capacity-building and collaboration will continue to be crucially important for New Zealand and for all those you support. I wish you all the very best in the years ahead.

Tonight is your night – so please enjoy the company of your colleagues and the manaakitanga of the House.

Kia ora, kia kaha, huihui tātou katoa.

 

Source: New Zealand Governor General

Kia ora koutou. Ngā mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai haere mai, ra ki te Whare Kawana o Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: The Honourable Karen Chhour, Minister for Children, and for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence; Linda Surtees, Chief Executive of Caring Families Aotearoa; Tatum McKay, Interim Chief Executive of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren; and Matt Reid, Chief Executive of Barnardos.

And to all our very distinguished guests, including of course this afternoon’s award recipients – tēnā koutou katoa.

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to Government House Wellington, for this year’s Excellence in Foster Care Awards. These awards hold a very special place in my heart – having spent so much of my life and career advocating for the wellbeing of tamariki and whānau – and I am honoured to host you here this afternoon.

During my time as Children’s Commissioner, I saw first-hand the profound and heartbreaking consequences for children who did not grow up in safe and nurturing environments; children who so often suffered neglect and abuse at the hands of those who should have been caring for them most. And I saw how devastating that impact could be on the rest of their lives, and on the lives of future generations.

New Zealand is home to the world’s foremost longitudinal study, The Dunedin Study, which has conclusively proven these very things: that children exposed to adverse psychosocial experiences are more likely to suffer enduring emotional and physiological problems over the course of their lives. And we know the inverse to be true: that children are more likely to lead long, happy, healthy lives, when they are part of a loving and nurturing family and home.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified in 1989, contained what was, at the time, a profound idea: that children are not simply objects who belong to their parents, and for whom decisions are made – but that childhood is a special, protected time: a time in which children should be allowed to grow, learn, and play with freedom and dignity.

I wish to thank all of this afternoon’s recipients for doing just that: for protecting that most sacred time of childhood, and for allowing children this precious and fleeting moment in their lives to simply delight in the world, and, over time, to come to understand and begin to shape their place within it.

I know that many of you receiving awards today might feel you are not worthy of any kind of recognition. I wish to insist on the opposite: I can think of few more deserving of acknowledgement and thanks for the work you do, and the deepest care you show to these most vulnerable members of our society.

The awards you will receive this afternoon are given in acknowledgment of your extraordinary manaakitanga, as well as your willingness and indeed your desire to go beyond what could reasonably be expected of you as foster parents.

It was the American puppeteer and animator Jim Henson who said that children ‘don’t remember what you try to teach them; they remember what you are.’ In being such models of selflessness, commitment, and love, you are instilling those very virtues in the children you’ve taken into your homes and care.

Speaking as a mother and a grandmother, I wholly believe that children should be limited by nothing other than the strength of their imaginations, and the reach of their dreams. I am sure that those children who have experienced the care of each of you here today will have the best possible opportunity to become whoever and whatever they wish to be in this world.

As Governor-General, on behalf of all New Zealanders, I extend my very sincerest thanks to you all – for filling the lives of these young New Zealanders with such hope, goodness, and love – and I congratulate you once again on your awards, which could not be more truly deserved.

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.

Source: New Zealand Governor General

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.

I specifically acknowledge

• John Forman, founder of Rare Disorders New Zealand
• James McGoram, Board Chair; and
• Chris Higgins, Chief Executive of Rare Disorders New Zealand

My warmest welcome to members of the Rare Disorders community, to whānau, and to carers and supporters.

I am very pleased to be Patron of Rare Disorders New Zealand, and to support your work by joining you in celebrating your 25^th anniversary with this afternoon’s reception and awards ceremony.

It’s a truism worth repeating that we judge a society by the way it cares for its most vulnerable people. Twenty-five years ago, Rare Disorders New Zealand took up the challenge of representing people who understand what it is to feel alone and isolated, and appreciate the huge difference the right diagnosis and treatment can make to their lives. By helping them and representing their interests, you have helped Aotearoa New Zealand to be a better place.

The concept of an ‘umbrella organisation’ evokes manaakitanga, support and shelter from the elements.

I like to think you will also relate to this whakataukī: ‘Ki te kotahi te kakaho, ka whati; ki te kapuia, e kore e whati’ – which translates as ‘a reed that stands alone can be broken, but it will not be broken if it stands alongside others’.

Rare Disorders New Zealand has enabled people to experience strength and support by standing together in whanaungatanga.

You have been tireless advocates for a more coordinated approach to diagnosis and treatment, and your mahi bore fruit with the launch, last year, of New Zealand’s first national strategy for rare disorders.

The Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy is a significant milestone, responding as it does to the lived experiences and needs of your community, as revealed through your own surveys.

I appreciate the impact of the Strategy has yet to be felt – and you will be eager to see meaningful progress – whether that be with earlier diagnosis, clearer pathways for clinical care, better access to support and medicines, appropriate training for the health workforce, or the gathering of research data.

With my own background in health and academia, I am delighted to see the establishment of the Rare Disorders Research Network,  based in Victoria University. The Network will enable New Zealand researchers to experience the support of colleagues working in similar fields, and encourage coordinated research programmes.

Their findings will have real-life implications for your community, and contribute to global understanding of rare disorders and their treatment.

I appreciate that as a charitable organisation, Rare Disorders New Zealand is reliant on the tireless dedication of a small number of staff and a large number of volunteers. I welcome this opportunity to thank you all for devoting your time, energy and expertise to such a worthy cause.

Today we are also formally acknowledging award recipients for their steadfast commitment to the rare disorders community, and thanking them, on behalf of all New Zealanders, for what they have achieved.

Once again, I welcome you all to Government House. Please allow me to extend to you all the aroha and manaakitanga you so often extend to others, and are so deserving of receiving yourselves.

Kia ora, kia kaha, huihui tātou katoa