Patronage Reception

Ladies and Gentlemen, 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 evening (Sign).

Thank you for accepting the invitation from my wife Susan and I to join us for this patronages reception at Mona Vale in its beautiful grounds here in Christchurch.  I would like to take this opportunity to make a few comments about the work of patronages.

Since being appointed Governor-General in August 2006, more than 150 organisations have received vice-regal patronage, either from me, or from Susan, and in a few cases, jointly from us both.

Those organisations vary in texture and nature.  From the Amputees Federation, Antarctic Heritage Trust, and Barnardo’s at the beginning of the alphabet to the Kidney Foundation and Life Flight Trust in the middle to Volunteer Service Abroad, the Youth Hostels Association and YWCA at the other end.  Indeed apart from the letters, Q, X and Z, the entire alphabet is covered!  Most are national in focus but some, such as the Canterbury Youth Development Trust, are regionally focused. 

Since taking on the Governor-General role, we have hosted receptions at Government House in Auckland and Government House in Wellington to thank the many people who work in those charitable, cultural, sporting, health and social organisations.

However, Susan and I are very conscious that we are vice-regal patrons for people working in charitable organisations throughout New Zealand and not just those within travelling distance of Auckland or Wellington.  Indeed, I am reminded that in 1910 the MP for Avon, George Russell, said in Parliament: “My point is that if you have a Government House at Auckland, we want one at Christchurch.”

That has not come to pass, but wherever we go we make an earnest effort to make contact with people working in patronages.  We held functions for patronage organisations in Taranaki and Dunedin last year and it is to that end that we have invited you here tonight.

As patrons, we want to register thanks for your hard work and the contribution that you all make to the social and cultural fabric of New Zealand. 

The significance of the sector was highlighted in August 2008 when a significant report was released by the Centre for Civil Society Studies at John Hopkins University in the United States.  The report, which analysed New Zealand’s non-profit sector, was prepared in collaboration with the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector in the Ministry of Social Development, and a team of researchers at Massey University.

Using criteria applied by the Centre in 41 other nations, the report compared New Zealand’s non-profit sector with the rest of the world.  The researchers found the New Zealand sector was a significant economic force, worth $9.8 billion.  This figure represented, using 2004 data, $6.5 billion of expenditure and volunteer labour worth $3.3 billion. 

Moreover, the sector was a significant employer with more than 200,000 fulltime staff and volunteers. The authors found the non-profit sector engaged a larger workforce than many industries, employing more people, for example, than the construction, transportation and utilities industries combined. 
 
The study also found New Zealand had a proportionally larger non-profit workforce than most other nations studied.  Of that workforce, 67 percent were volunteers, a proportion that much higher than the average and higher than similar Western nations such as Australia.    As the authors noted in conclusion:

“Aotearoa New Zealand has not only one of the largest non-profit sectors in the world in proportional terms, but also one of the most distinctive, at least for a country with a significant Anglo-Saxon heritage. These features can be traced to the coexistence in this country of two populations with distinct cultural identities and heritage, European and Māori, and the nature of the welfare state developed …from the 1930s.”

The significant achievements of the sector in New Zealand reflects the contribution of time and energy of volunteers and the support given by the small paid workforce.

In essence, the spirit of volunteerism is the “glue” that holds our society and economy together.  Many of our health, education and social service sectors would grind to a halt without the countless hours of voluntary work many people provide.

While volunteering offers its own intrinsic benefits for anyone who gives up their time to help a worthy organisation, for many people it also provides an opportunity to meet new people and make friends outside their normal social circle and often leads to employment opportunities.

The generosity and dedication of the thousands of New Zealanders who volunteer their time, energy and skills to assist sporting, cultural and charitable organisations, not only helps build strong and sustainable communities, but also makes a significant economic contribution to our country and what can be called its civic strength.

As I am sure you are well aware, that civic strength has been tested by recent turmoil in the global economy.  While there are signs that things are slowly improving, I think everyone realises it is too soon to start celebrating and that there will continue to be difficult days ahead. 

It is the work of the volunteers in patronages and other charitable organisations—and the small teams of hardworking paid staff that link them together—that continue to play such an important role in holding the fabric of the nation together. 

This work of voluntary organisations is not only important in its own right, but also to the wider economy.  The point was made well by then United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.  While his comments were particularly focused on issues related to globalisation, they apply equally to the world’s current situation: “Certainly it is true that neither corporations nor voluntary groups can take over the indispensable role of the State. But we cannot wait for governments to do it all. … [B]usiness, labour and civil society organizations have skills and resources that are vital in helping to build a more robust global community.”

And on that note in support of volunteers, I will I 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.