Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Madame Speaker, Your Honours, Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen.  Goode Arvon.

Greetings, and in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.  Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa lahi atu Taloha Ni.

Your Royal Highnesses the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands.  I want to thank you for coming to visit us on this other side of the world.  My wife Susan and I are delighted to be able to extend a very warm welcome to you on behalf of all New Zealanders.

The relationship between Netherlands and New Zealand is one that is steeped in friendship and tradition.  We are connected in so many ways that a few words of welcome will never be enough to describe the full extent of our friendship.

This goes from Abel Tasman's discovery of New Zealand, some 364 years ago, over the naming of our country after the southern Dutch province with its resonance of land and sea, the significant influx of people from the Netherlands to New Zealand after World War II, right through to the present day. Your visit here demonstrates that we are likeminded countries with the utmost respect for each other.

Both New Zealand and the Netherlands are multicultural and we thrive on the diversity of our populations.  We both have a strong spirit of enterprise and innovation.  We are both relatively small countries which compete successfully in the global market place and hold our own in a competitive world.

The Netherlands is an important trading destination for New Zealand, not least because a lot of New Zealand's product enters Europe through Rotterdam and other ports.  Our trade is diverse, active and remarkably balanced. 

Our two countries share similar viewpoints on many international issues and often cooperate closely in multilateral forums.  We share a principled approach to international relations, but recognise that as small countries, we have to be pragmatic if our principles are going to have an effect.  The Netherlands has traditionally been a close ally for New Zealand in Europe and I want to thank you for the support you have given us time and time again. 

Your Highnesses, I briefly mentioned the Second World War just before.  New Zealand airmen took part in raids over The Netherlands or flew across the country for bombing raids on Germany.  In the latter stages of the war, New Zealand airmen flew in Operation Manna dropping food supplies to the Dutch population in The Hague and Delft.  Some 256 New Zealand airmen who were killed in the war today lie buried in The Netherlands.  It is another dimension to our relationship, a sad one but one not to be forgotten. 

The most important aspect of our friendship is, I suggest, our people.  It is estimated that today some 4% of New Zealanders have Dutch ancestry.  Similarly, more and more New Zealanders spend time in the Netherlands, attracted by its friendly, modern style and warm hospitality.  It is through these people-to-people links that our friendship will continue to grow and prosper.

Your Royal Highnesses, you may be assured that your visit here will cement further the warm and close ties that have been built between our countries over the decades and in the case of the Netherlands and New Zealand , literally the centuries. 

Welcome to New Zealand.  Tena koutou katoa.  May I now ask you all to raise your glasses in join me in a toast.

"To Her Majesty, Queen Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands".