Winter Games opening

May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.    Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon  (Sign)

May I then specifically greet you: Sir Eion Edgar, Chairman of Winter Games New Zealand Charitable Trust and President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee; Arthur Klap, Chief Executive of the Games and your staff and volunteers; Your Worship Clive Geddes, Mayor of Queenstown Lakes District and other local authority leaders from the Otago region; Competitors, visitors and spectators; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It has been with pleasure that my wife Susan and I have accepted the invitation to attend the opening of the inaugural 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games here in Queenstown today.

As Governor-General of New Zealand I have been asked to formally open these Games and just before I do, I would like to speak briefly about the significance of this event.

I would first like to welcome the visitors to New Zealand and to Otago.  I trust that as well as having the opportunity to view the many sports on display throughout the region that you also take the opportunity to travel more widely throughout our beautiful country.

To you all I say: Nau mai Haere mai ki Aotearoa!  Welcome to New Zealand.

Winter Games New Zealand is a bold initiative that sets it apart from other comparable winter events.  I see five qualities that make these games special.

The first defining quality is timing.  Occurring just six months before the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, these Games provide a thrilling opportunity for the world's skiers, snowboarders, curlers and ice skaters to compete against the best.

The organisers are confident this will not be a one-off and Winter Games have been scheduled for every two years.  I understand that some 800 athletes and a further 200 support crew from 30 countries are competing in these Games, making it the Southern Hemisphere's largest winter sports event.  

The second defining quality is location.  Otago is an ideal region to hold this event.  A host of world-class facilities, including airports at Queenstown and Dunedin, all exist within one compact region.  Those facilities include the ski fields at Cardrona, the Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Snow Farm, the Maniototo Curling Rink at Naseby and the ice rink in Dunedin.

The third defining quality is accessibility.  Winter Games New Zealand is an elite winter sports competition for all athletes to compete together, regardless of whether they able bodied or have a disability.  This is a new and refreshing concept in high performance competition.   The organisers rightly believe no distinction should be made between athletes that perform at the highest possible level.

The accessibility of these games also extends to the public.  With the exception of the events being held at the two stadia, all the other events are free for everyone to enjoy. 

The fourth defining quality is organisation.  The Games are an initiative of Olympic Committees of China, Korea, Japan, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.  The Winter Games New Zealand is a subsidiary of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.  With the event estimated to have a multi-million dollar economic impact, it not surprising that the New Zealand Government and the region's local authorities have given these Games their wholehearted support.

The level of organisation shown in getting to this point has been outstanding.  I wish to congratulate everyone involved in bringing these Games to fruition.  We all owe you a great debt of gratitude.

The fifth and final defining quality is all around us-it is New Zealand and its Otago.  It was with good reason that New Zealand's beautiful landscape formed the backdrop of the Academy Award winning trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.  

From the thundering coast to the snow-capped mountains and the forest and pastures between, New Zealand is a land apart. Wellington journalist Alexander Sydney Fry made the point well when he wrote many years ago:  "Not many peoples are upstaged by their own countries. We are."

So to the organisers I say, "Well done".  To the competitors, I say "Play hard but play well."  To the spectators and visitors, I say "Have a great time."  To everyone I say: "Enjoy Otago and enjoy New Zealand."

And on that note, it gives me great pleasure to declare the inaugural Winter Games New Zealand officially open.

I will close in New Zealand's first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.   No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.