Saxton Stadium 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: Roger Ledingham, Chair of the Saxton Field Sports Stadium Society; Your Worships, Kerry Marshall and Richard Kempthorne, the Mayors of Nelson City and Tasman Districts respectively; Minister of the Crown and Nelson MP, Hon Dr Nick Smith; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

It was with great pleasure that my wife Susan and I accepted the invitation to attend the opening of Saxton Stadium here in Stoke this afternoon.  I have been asked to officially open the Stadium, but before I do, I would like to speak a little of the significance of this new facility.

The Governor-General role has happily created many opportunities to come back to the Nelson and Tasman areas.  We last visited here in July 2008 to open the new YMCA Nelson Y-Kids Learning Centre. 
This return to this beautiful part of New Zealand is to open another community facility, albeit on a much larger scale. 

The opening of anything new in the community provides proper opportunity for outpouring of local and regional pride.  I suggest that the people of Tasman and Nelson districts can rightly take great pride in this stadium for a number of reasons.

The first reason for pride is that the complex caters to the needs of a number of sports and sports administrators.  As one with some experience in with sports administration, I have seen sports codes build facilities to meet only their own ends.  The results can be fine buildings that are not used to the fullest extent possible.

In contrast, I am advised that this Saxton Stadium will benefit some 8,000 players from the participating sports of basketball, netball, volleyball and table tennis.   As well, there is created a new home for the Tasman Regional Sports Trust, which is to manage the stadium on behalf of Nelson City , and there are other office spaces that may be used by a variety of other sports.

The second reason for pride is summed up by the words, collaboration and co-operation.  At the sporting end of the spectrum, the Saxton Field Sports Stadium Society is to be congratulated on bringing together these diverse sporting codes.  By working together, the sporting codes now have a centre that would have been beyond their individual abilities to maintain, let alone build.

At the local government end of the spectrum, both Nelson City and Tasman District are to be congratulated for working together and contributing their weight.  That co-operation was physically symbolised by the ceremony in May last year when Your Worships Kerry Marshall and Richard Kempthorne jointly turned the first sod to begin the construction phase.  

The collaborative spirit is also symbolised by location of the stadium.  By being situated in Stoke at the southern end of Nelson city, just a kilometre from the boundary with Tasman district, it is ideally placed for people from throughout Nelson and Tasman to use it.  Moreover, the wider Saxton Field reserve is also used for a number of outdoor sports.

The third reason for pride is that this project is very much a community initiative.  While the stadium is to transfer to the ownership of Nelson City with its completion, the project was innovatively promoted, developed and built by an incorporated society. 

In these tight economic times, funders are rightly keen to ensure that public and charitable monies are put to the best possible use.  The approach taken here in the construction of Saxton Stadium—where four sports came together to bring this project to fruition—is to be commended. 

By taking the lead in gaining community support, seeking funding, letting the contract and managing the construction, has no doubt given both councils and the sponsors confidence that the society was serious about delivering a stadium on time.

The Saxton Stadium is somewhere that, if you will excuse the pun, grown from the ground up.  It is a place that reflects the culmination of a vision of a healthier, fitter community.  As Lord Horatio Nelson, after whom the city of Nelson is named, once said in different circumstances:   “The measure may be thought bold, but I am of the opinion the boldest are the safest.”

To that end, I would like to add thanks to everyone involved in its development, including the sponsors and community funders, the builders and project managers.  In particular, I would like to praise the members of the Stadium Society and the countless hours of voluntary work they have contributed.  The wider community owes you a great debt of gratitude.

In conclusion, Saxton Stadium is a fitting symbol and tribute to the vision, tenacity and spirit of the peoples of Nelson and Tasman.   I feel confident that John Waring Saxton, the pioneering farmer, provincial councillor and treasurer of the Nelson Institute, would no doubt approve of seeing his surname adorn this new facility. 

Accordingly, as Governor-General of New Zealand, it gives me great pleasure to declare the Saxton Stadium officially open.

And on that note, I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, offering greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours. 

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