ReStore 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 specifically greet you: Malcolm Cameron, Chair of the Malcam Charitable Trust; Colin McLeod, from the Board of Habitat for Humanity; Margaret Cook, South Island affiliates representative on Habitat for Humanity National Board; Sarah Macandrew, Manager of ReStore Dunedin; volunteers and supporters from all three organisations; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It is with pleasure that my wife Susan and I join you for the official opening of the ReStore shop, a joint venture between the Malcam Charitable Trust and Habitat for Humanity and may I say that the speeches you have made preceding me have filled my sail, as it were, and made my task easy and pleasant. 

As Patron of Habitat for Humanity, I have been asked to officially open this new place and cut a ribbon, but before I do, I would like to speak briefly of the significance of this occasion.

Habitat for Humanity, the Malcam Charitable Trust and the ReStore Dunedin are part of what makes New Zealand special.

Each works in different areas.  Habitat works to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness by building adequate and basic housing.  Internationally it has now built more than 300,000 homes.  In New Zealand, I am advised that more than 300 families have been helped into homes and later we are to visit the 13th house to be built by Habitat Dunedin. 

Habitat's model is very much that of a hand up rather than a handout, with each recipient family investing 500 hours of "sweat equity" into their home and the homes of others.

The Malcam Trust works with young people, running a range of programmes to address the barriers that some young New Zealanders face to developing their potential and helping them gain fulltime employment.  It is also increasingly offering these and other training programmes to the wider community.

Both organisations are supported by the work of the ReStore shop, a 50/50 joint venture between Habitat and Malcam.  The donated goods from furniture, clothing, home ware, books and electrical equipment and then on sold, with the profits going back to the two organisations.

All this is valuable work, providing a helping hand to those in need.  It also ensures goods that would otherwise go into landfills are recycled, and generates profits for the community.

But the key link between all three is the spirit of volunteerism.   I have already referred to the "sweat equity" that Habitat recipients have to put into their homes.   But there are also the significant donations from suppliers and the countless hours of voluntary labour from plumbers, carpenters and electricians. 

Malcam Trust programmes equally rely on the support of not only donations and funding from this shop but also the work of many volunteers who support a core of hardworking paid staff.

And then there is this store.  So esteemed is the work of Ms Macandrew that I understand she has been dubbed the "empress".  Again, this store would not be able to return the profits it does to the community if it wasn't for the band of volunteers who assist in keeping the shop running.

The spirit of volunteerism is the glue that holds our society and economy together. 

I don't think many New Zealanders realise that our health, education and social service sectors would grind to a halt without the countless hours of voluntary work many people provide.

Voluntary work has a host of benefits.  I'm sure many people, new to this community, have made friends by assisting in this store.   I'm equally sure that many people have had offers of employment from helping out voluntary organisations such as these three.

But equally as important, although a little difficult to quantify, is the strength that voluntary gives to our wider communities.   As British Prime Minister and author, Sir Winston Churchill once said:  "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

And on that note, it is with great pleasure that I declare ReStore Dunedin 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.