South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation Reception

May I begin by greeting everyone in the official languages 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: Dr Bill Mansfield, Chair of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation consultation process and Robin Allen, Executive Secretary of the Interim Secretariat; Delegates to the Negotiations; Distinguished guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

Thank you for accepting the invitation from my wife Susan and I to join us for this reception to mark the start of the eighth session of negotiations to establish the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation.  As we are in a South Pacific setting, reflected by this room, it seems fitting to add some further Pacific greetings: Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, Bonjour, Hola, Kam na mauri and Mi likum yu tumas.

As Governor-General, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Auckland and to New Zealand.  I trust that as well as your involvement in these negotiations, you will also have some opportunity to explore a little more of our beautiful country while you are here.

When Susan and I agreed to host this reception, it was in the context of supporting the six days that follow of negotiations towards the establishment of a Fisheries Management Organisation.

The importance of such an organisation from national, regional and international standpoints, and from economic, scientific and environmental perspectives is well known.   Negotiations towards this end began in Wellington in early 2006 and further meetings have since been held in Hobart, Australia; Renaca in Chile; Noumea in French Polynesia; Guayaquil in Ecuador, Canberra in Australia; and Lima in Peru.

These ongoing negotiations recognise that gaps exist in the international conservation and management of non-highly migratory fisheries and protection of biodiversity in the marine environment in high seas areas of the South Pacific.

The gap extends from the most eastern part of the South Indian Ocean through the Pacific towards the Exclusive Economic Zones of South America. While vessels of a number of states already fish in this area, there is not any coverage by an organisation able to establish and provide appropriate conservation and management measures.

The laudable goals and aspirations in setting up such an organisation are in stark contrast to the vivid memorial service that we and many here attended earlier today at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.  The service was a memorial to the many people who lost their lives in the tsunami that struck islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga just a few weeks ago.

The tsunami was more than just a tragedy for the people of those three island groups.  In Auckland, which is the largest city in Polynesia, and where many thousands of New Zealanders of Samoan and Tongan descent make their home, the distress was felt very keenly. 

The tragedy was also felt by the thousands of Kiwis with Samoan and Tongan friends, or who had visited the islands as tourists or for business and professional reasons.  A number of New Zealanders and tourists from other nations also lost their lives in the tragedy.

There had also been the enormously sad loss of life after the foundering of the ferry vessel in Tongan waters just weeks before.

What the outpouring of grief, and also the public and private assistance which followed these events have showed, is that the nations of the South Pacific are linked together by more than just the waters that lap against our shores.  If as the English poet John Donne noted almost 400 years ago that “No man is an island, entire of itself,”  it demonstrates the need for all the nations of the South Pacific to work collaboratively to manage the ocean’s mighty power as well as its bounty.

I know you have a challenging week ahead of you and I encourage you all to continue your important work together in a spirit of collaboration and that there will be a successful conclusion from your efforts.
 
In conclusion, I welcome you again to our country and to Government House Auckland and on that note, I will close in New Zealand’s first language, Māori, 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.