Remembrance Day

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 morning [sign].

May I then specifically greet you: Rt Rev Dr Thomas Brown, Bishop of Wellington; Very Rev Frank Nelson, Dean of the Cathedral; Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force; Representatives from the Royal New Zealand Navy, the New Zealand Army, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the New Zealand Police; Representatives from the Diplomatic Corps; Distinguished guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It was with a mixture of duty and pride that my wife Susan and I are present for this Remembrance Sunday service at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul.  I would like to speak of the concept of remembrance and of the service of New Zealanders in times of conflict, past and present.

Remembrance Day has its origins in the period following the Second World War.  With Armistice Day specifically associated with those who died in the First World War, there was a need to remember, additionally, all those who have served their nation, defending democratic freedoms or working to bring peace in troubled lands.

Since being appointed Governor-General more than three years ago, I have attended a number of poignant reminders of New Zealanders’ service.  While Armistice  Day, with its connection of the 11th hour of the 11th of November, is  linked with the end of the First World War, Remembrance Day has an important place in reminding us of New Zealanders’ service in other fields of conflict.

Two important reminders of New Zealanders’ service in the First World War have been, first in 2007 when Susan and I represented New Zealand at the commemorations in Belgium to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele.  In October 1917 more than 800 New Zealanders died, and more than 2000 New Zealanders were injured, on one morning alone, this having been the most disastrous day in New Zealand’s military history.  Visiting cemeteries in Belgium, where many of those valiant young people lie buried, and where headstones seemed to stretch as far as one could see, was a moving experience. 
Secondly this year, came the further honour of representing New Zealand at the ANZAC Day commemorations at Gallipoli in Turkey.   The horror and calamity that unfolded on the fateful day in April 1915, is readily apparent when one sees the barren cliffs and the exposed beach on which the troops landed.    It is not surprising that those who were not cut down in the water found themselves pinned down on the beach, which was soon littered with dead, and wounded.  Of the 1500 New Zealanders who saw action on that first day, some 600 were lost, while those who survived went on to endure conditions far beyond ordinary reckoning.
There have also been reminders of New Zealanders’ service in many other fields of conflict, both past and present.  Last month, for example, I attended the national conference of the Malayan Veterans Association.  While not as well known as the Korean War that preceded it, several thousand New Zealanders, from the Army, Air Force and Navy served in Malaysia from the late 1940s through to the mid-1960s.  They were involved in combating a Communist insurgency and then later in responding to a confrontation with Indonesia.  Likewise, we attended Tribute 08, a long delayed welcome home for veterans from the Viet Nam War, which has been one of the most divisive conflicts in which New Zealanders have been involved. 

Just a few weeks ago we undertook State Visits to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.  In Port Moresby, we toured the Bomona War Cemetery which contains the graves of six New Zealanders who died in the Second World War.  It is a reminder that in addition to the well known service in North Africa and Italy, New Zealanders also served in the Pacific, at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and later in the occupation of Japan.

Visiting both of these Pacific nations was also a reminder of more recent service.   New Zealand, it will be remembered, played a key role in facilitating peace on the Papua New Guinean island of Bougainville and New Zealand military personnel and police officers have continued to serve with distinction to bring peace to that region.   New Zealand military and police officers are serving today as a part of RAMSI, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands.   That service includes, for example, the work of New Zealander Peter Marshall as Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.  In both visits, it was repeatedly brought to our attention, both at an official and at a local level, how much the work of New Zealanders is appreciated in assisting both nations maintaining peace and stability.

New Zealanders’ service has also been highlighted at investiture ceremonies hosted by us. While the awarding of the Victoria Cross to SAS Corporal Willie Apiata in 2007 for his valour in Afghanistan is well known, I have also awarded several other decorations to military and police officers for exemplary service in Timor Leste and Afghanistan.  

I would now like to examine this service in the context of the readings to which we have listened, and in particular that from John’s Gospel, where Christ speaks to his disciples.  The phrase: “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friend” resonates strongly with themes of service and remembrance. 

As the examples I have outlined amply illustrate, both as individuals and as a nation, New Zealanders have never shied away from making the ultimate sacrifice.  As a nation we have stood resolutely with other like-minded nations in the face of totalitarian regimes – with New Zealand’s engagement in the Second World War being an example. As individuals, there are many more examples in history of New Zealanders risking death to come to the aid of their comrades, and also of the innocent and defenceless.

However, like many readings from The Bible, single phrases should never be seen in isolation or taken out of context.  The words, as recorded by St John, were spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper, immediately prior to his arrest.  At that meal, he had already spoken of his betrayal by Judas Iscariot  and denial by Simon Peter  and he knew that he was going to die.

Equally important is the sentence that immediately precedes it: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” which repeats a similar exhortation in St John 13 .   When placed in this context, the phrase that follows is not a glorification of death or war, but a call for peace.   Within the call for Christ’s disciples to love another, is a direction to all of us to better understand our fellow man.   It is a call for a respect for humanity.  In essence, while we should never forget those who have served and died, we should continue to work for peace. 

The vision of a more harmonious international order can also be seen in the words of the Old Testament prophet, Micah, who foresaw a future where the Lord arbitrates between strong nations.  Those nations are seen as forsaking the sword for the plough so that “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they war any more.”  In a modern context, this reading can be seen as a call for all nations, large and small, to work collaboratively and co-operatively together to resolve their differences. 

Our country has a proud history of a principled contribution to international affairs and of working multilaterally through international organisations to bring peace and stability to the world.  New Zealanders played a key role in the establishment of the United Nations and the creation of its Charter, and in a host of international agreements and organisations since that time.  Examples include participation in the Commonwealth, the Antarctic Treaty system, UNESCO and the Pacific Islands Forum to name just a few.

New Zealanders have also been prepared to back principle with action.  So it is that New Zealanders have served as peacekeepers, helping to bring some semblance of peace and stability to some of the world’s more troubled places.  At the end of October, there were 805 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on 14 peacekeeping operations, United Nations missions and defence exercises in 10 countries .  In many of these conflict zones, New Zealanders have been injured and, tragically, some have lost their lives.

New Zealand’s commitment to multilateralism has not just been in peacekeeping roles.  Individual New Zealanders have played prominent roles in a host of international organisations.  The lengthy list includes Sir Donald McKinnon’s service for two terms as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, former Prime Minister Helen Clark’s work as Administrator of the UN Development Programme and Sir Kenneth Keith’s contribution as a member of the International Court of Justice.

In conclusion, on this Remembrance Sunday we remember all those who have served under the New Zealand flag or the banner of the United Nations.  For a young nation, New Zealand men and women have a proud record of service.  New Zealanders have never sought conflict and have assiduously worked to promote international peace and stability.  This tradition reminds us that as we remember those who have served and died, we should also recommit ourselves to the cause of peace.

And on that note, I will close in our country’s first language, offering everyone greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours.   No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.