Order of New Zealand 20th Anniversary Dinner

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

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

It is a great pleasure for my wife Susan and I to welcome you to Government House for this 20^th Anniversary Dinner for the Order of New Zealand.

It is of particular significance that there are so many outstanding New Zealanders gathered together in one room this evening. It is a rare gathering and I hope that many of you will see it as an opportunity to connect with others you know, in as warm and friendly an environment as can be arranged.

I would like to acknowledge, by name, some Members of the Order, who have sent their apologies for not being able to be here, those who have passed away since the last gathering of the Members of the Order in August 2005, and those who have been appointed to the Order since then.

This seems appropriate, given that this evening is about marking the anniversary of New Zealand's highest honour - and acknowledging the people who have been appointed as Members of The Order of New Zealand for having made a signal contribution to our country.

It can be said that each of you, by your effort and example, has demonstrated to other New Zealanders the sense of the Chinese proverb that says,

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials"

To this end, then, may I first acknowledge those Members who have sent apologies for not being able to be with us. They are:

The Hon Michael Duffy (of Australia)
Sir James Fletcher
Professor Lloyd Geering
Sir Edmund Hillary
The Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt
Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith
Dr Ivan Lichter
Sir Roy McKenzie
Miss Margaret Mahy
The Rt Hon Mike Moore
Sir Sonny Ramphal
The Most Rev and Hon Sir Paul Reeves
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa

I would also like to acknowledge those Members of the Order who have passed away in the recent past. I understand that we are joined tonight by spouses and family members of some of those Members.

Sonja Davies
The Rt Hon David Lange
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu
The Rt Hon Lord Cooke of Thorndon
Professor Sir Hugh Kawharu
Professor Alan MacDiarmid

I sense that I speak for us all in saying that these people are greatly missed in New Zealand.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge those New Zealanders who have been made a Member of the Order of New Zealand since a luncheon occasion in August 2005, some of whom are present tonight.

Dr Doreen Blumhardt
Professor Lloyd Geering
Sir Brian Lochore
Professor C K Stead
The Rt Hon Sir Owen Woodhouse
The Rt Hon Sir Ken Keith

Each of these last mentioned Members has been appointed since my appointment last year as Governor-General and I am delighted to have had occasion to meet with a number of them again so soon.

May I lastly mention as being present, former colleagues in the Office of Governor-General, officials of the Department of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Office and Government House who, down the years, have serviced the administrative and logistic requirements of this high office.  And your spouses, partners and accompanying family members.

Welcome everyone.  Please enjoy yourselves.

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