Dame Patsy Reddy - New Year's Message 2017.
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Kia ora koutou - ngā mihi o te Tau Hou.
New year greetings to you all.
New year is traditionally a time of reflection; as the old year disappears from view, it's a time to think about what we remember. The successes we celebrated, transitions and change...
[fade in] "I, Patricia Lee Reddy, solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that as Governor-General..." [fade out]
...and the poignant farewells for those who left us.
In 2016, New Zealanders were reminded again of the impermanence of the ground beneath our feet. The Kaikoura earthquakes, and the devastation that followed, show how the world around us can change in mere seconds, and that we all need to be prepared.
Events like this remind us that what really matters are friends, family, and our connections with our communities.
Wherever you are, and whoever you're with, I hope you're looking forward to the new year, and the promise it brings.
I hope you can take time for yourselves, and take time to be with the people who're precious to you.
All the best for 2017.