Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand AGM Reception

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 evening [sign].

May I then specifically greet you: Heather Hayden and Brian Lynch, Chief Executive and Chairperson of the Interim Board respectively of Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand; Grant Robertson MP; Jenny Brash, Mayor of Porirua City; Joris de Bres, Race Relations Commissioner; James Kember of the United Nations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Distinguished guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen

It has been with great pleasure that my wife Susan and I have accepted the invitation to attend the Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand Annual General Meeting Reception this evening.

The last occasion on which I addressed this organisation was in July 2008, at a reception at Government House in Wellington to formally launch Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand under its new name.

Over a year on from that occasion, it is appropriate to mention the achievements and to note also the travail of the year that has passed for Refugee Services and to acknowledge its place as a principal NGO partner of the Government in New Zealand’s refugee resettlement programme.

During the more than 30 years of this organisation’s existence it has helped, I am told, more than 40,000 refugees settle and integrate into a new society. That is a daunting task. Many have suffered violence, abuse, and even torture and some will go on to suffer the symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome well after arriving here.

A crucial factor in the operation which I would like to applaud is the work of the several hundred volunteers who donate their time and energy to work with refugees. That service is invaluable.

Accordingly, each volunteer holds the trademark Kiwi virtues of hospitality and compassion. As and American Howard Critchfield, American Fulbright scholar, to New Zealand, once said very well about our country men:

“Their climate is cold but their hearts are warm.”

How true that is, in that refugees entering our beautiful country are welcomed by volunteers from Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand who can be trusted and relied upon as they go through a process of enormous transition.

The success of the service provided by this organisation is evident in the accomplishments and contributions of refugees in their local communities.

To this end, I have been pleased to learn of a wonderful sewing project initiative that began recently in Cannons Creek, Porirua in which 20 women from Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia and Afghanistan are being taught how to sew, with a goal of starting their own business.

It is heartening to learn of the new hope in life that these refugees have been gifted. An element of that new sense of hope can be attributed to the support that Refugee Services Aotearoa New Zealand have provided.

I have endeavoured to strike a note both of respect for work in the past and anticipation of what lies ahead.

It is on that conclusion I would like to close, offering greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours in our country’s first language, Māori:  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.