KiNZ Sandringham Opening

Ladies and Gentlemen, Students, I greet you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and Sign Language.

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and (Sign)

Specifically I greet you: Jeremy Drummond, President of the Auckland Kindergarten Association; Ian Kendall, Chairperson of KiNZ; Tanya Harvey, General Manager of Auckland Kindergarten Association and KiNZ; Rosemary Vivien, Principal of Edendale Primary School; Teachers and Children.

Thank you for inviting me to officially open the KiNZ Sandringham early learning centre. And thank you for the warm welcome you have shown my wife Susan and myself.

It is a pleasure to be here this morning - both as Governor-General, and as a parent. It reminds me just how energetic and cheerful young children are and how they can be an inspiration to those of us of the older persuasion.

Children are so full of promise. They represent the future of our country and we have a duty to provide them with the best possible start to life.

The Auckland Kindergarten Association had this in mind, I suspect, when it made the decision to fund KiNZ Sandringham. They identified a need in this diverse and busy community for a full-day early learning centre and they took up the challenge to establish such a centre independently.

We often find that when things are meant to be, many things fall into place. It is perhaps not surprising, then, that Edendale Primary School approached the Association to offer this former Kohanga Reo building to be used for the centre.

The co-operation of the two organisations, and the support of a great many people, has resulted in this excellent early learning centre that we are opening today.

It brings to mind a well-known Samoan proverb, which speaks to the importance of many people working together to achieve a common goal:

Ua o gatasi le futia ma le umele

While the fisherman swings the rod, the others must assist him by paddling hard.

I congratulate all of you who have had a hand in establishing KiNZ Sandringham.

Quality early childhood education is one of the most important gifts we can give our children - and our country's future. Therefore, your time and energies in bringing this initiative to life have been well spent. This community, and its children, will be the beneficiaries of your hard work.

It gives me great pleasure to now declare KiNZ Sandringham officially open.

I began speaking in all the New Zealand realm languages.  May I close by speaking in Maori, issuing greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa