Rural Women Conference

To: John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand;  Margaret Chapman, National President of Rural Women New Zealand; the members who are gathered here in sunny Wellington from all over the country; and to other distinguished guests:  Greetings, Kia Ora,  Kia Orana,  Fakalofa Lahi Atu,  Taloha Ni (sign ‘good afternoon').  These are the languages of the Realm of New Zealand.

I am pleased to have been invited to open Rural Women New Zealand's 2009 Annual Conference.

As Patron, I salute Rural Women New Zealand for achieving yet another progressive year.  It is clear that you have had huge success with the fund-raising for Anou Dreyfus and Leptosirosis Research.  Soon after last year's conference, former Rural Women president, Sherrill Dackers and a Massey University researcher, Dr Jackie Benschop got together to address leptospirosis.  Sherrill represented the "community" approach to the disease and Jackie the "science" approach.  They were able to show the Public Health Association that putting the two approaches together can lead to the reduction of suffering from this disease.

I believe that there has been a very good response to Rural Women New Zealand's national awareness campaigns on speed past schools and school bus safety and for better early childhood education facilities for children in rural areas.  Things that affect our young families affect the future and we know that children have an ideal environment on the farm in many ways as long as it is backed up by excellent education.

I would like to mention the morning tea that I had in June at the Kaimai Cheese Factory with Sue Saunders and a number of her members.  These connections make the patronage real for me and I delight in them.

I'm sure that the ‘onwards and upwards attitude' of your members will attract new members.  Recruitment is also encouraged by initiatives like the Enterprising Rural Woman Award.

Looking back over the successes of the past year for Rural Women New Zealand, I can see some interesting links with my own year.  In December, for instance, we visited the Chatham Islands.  Our accommodation was at a farmstay and our kind hosts were young farmers with lots of progressive ideas and energy.  We were impressed by the character of the Islanders who we met: they seemed to have the toughness required to cope with their circumstances, and to have fostered a strong sense of community.  Many have fishing interests as well as farms and some of their problems are unique.  Because the Chatham and Pitt Islands are hot-spots for biodiversity, many islanders are involved in conservation projects, some of which we were lucky enough to visit.  I can heartily recommend a tour of the Islands. They are more accessible than you think, especially if you book in advance. 

With my husband, I visited Turkey and Gallipoli last month, and I am left with a warm memory of the people there.  Mr Gul, the President, told us that on the Sunday afternoon before Anzac Day he watched a travel documentary about New Zealand.  In it he saw a number of memorials to the fallen in the Great War throughout towns and cities in our country. He had not until then realised that nearly every family here lost someone to that war.  The Gallilpoli campaign was for the Turks, of course, a visceral struggle to retain their homeland.  A charming man, Mr Gul hopes to visit New Zealand to see some memorials and to meet more Kiwis.  On Chunuk Bair, Anand quoted a poem about the Anzacs:

"Not many are left, and not many are sound.
And thousands lie buried in Turkish ground
These are the Anzacs;  the others may claim,
Their zeal and their spirit, but never their name."

We are honoured to have with us today the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr John Key.  May I thank you Mr Key for honouring us with your contribution.  Rural Women New Zealand plays an important role in national affairs in the interests of rural New Zealand businesses families and communities.  May I say that your presence, Prime Minister, reveals a perceptive respect for this organisation as a strong and influential network of rural women.

May I also congratulate our President, Margaret Chapman, who is respected by New Zealanders throughout all regions of the country.  Margaret, you have had a wonderful year and I would like to commend you for your wise and innovative approach. I know too that you are well supported by both outstanding staff and a committee made up of sound women with varied expertise.

Already today you have participated in a range of workshops, and I have been encouraged by the scope of the subjects covered by this grand get together.  You have much to look forward to this weekend, as well as all the fun of fellowship.  You are together with women who, as the phrase goes, know ‘where you're coming from'.  After seeing the Topp Twins movie, coming to this conference must "feel like calf club day" to you.

I am delighted to declare your Annual Conference officially open.  I wish you well and hope that enthusiasm gives rise to ideas that lead on to personal, family, and rural well-being, and to happiness and prosperity. 

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.