Top Scholar Awards

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Opening remarks

Kia ora.  Nga mihi o te ra ki a koutou.  Nau mai, haere mai ki te Whare Kawana o Te Whanganui-a-Tara.  Greetings to you all and welcome to Government House. 

I specifically acknowledge:  Andrew McKenzie, NZQA Board Member; and Karen Poutasi, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority - tēnā korua.  I also acknowledge Tim Fowler, Chief Executive of the Tertiary Education Commission; Peter Lind, Director of the New Zealand Teachers Council; Angela Roberts, President of the PPTA; and Dr Graham Stoop, Chief Executive of the Education Review Office – tēnā koutou katoa.

Award recipients, your family and friends, Members of Parliament, school principals, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure for Janine and me to welcome you to Government House and to join you this afternoon for the NZQA Top Scholar Awards Ceremony.  Ceremonies like this one are important, and I’ll say a bit more about that later, because today we will recognise 39 young men and women, who are New Zealand’s most outstanding young academic achievers.  I’m looking forward to sharing your delight as we recognise the young men and women who excelled in their academic studies, in 2012. 

Concluding remarks

Prime Minister, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and most importantly the award recipients, we have watched and acknowledged the presentation of 44 Awards this afternoon.  There is something very special about celebrating successful endeavour, and especially when that endeavour features young New Zealanders succeeding at the highest level. 

The awards presented today represent excellence and industry.  During this ceremony we have recognised students who have applied themselves diligently to achieve outstanding results.  The challenge ahead for these top scholars, as they prepare for life beyond secondary school, is to find an appropriate pathway.

There are three observations that I want to share about the achievements we’re marking today.  The first is excellence.  Some may say that the young people here today are here because they’re geniuses - there’s no doubt they’re all very clever.  However, their intellect, their talent, only accounts for part of why they’re here.  Achieving at the highest level, demands a mind-set of excellence – being the best you can be, and only being satisfied with excellence, day in and day out: persistently, habitually.

The second observation I would make is about their endeavour.  These young women and men have matched a habit of excellence with a strong work ethic: working hard to achieve at the highest levels.  They are here today because of a positive attitude, together with a committed and dedicated effort to achieve their goals.  The work they did throughout their secondary schooling - the classes, study, homework and prelims before the 2012 end-of-year exams - represents the culmination of years of hard work. 

My third point is about challenge.  Your achievements are a fantastic endorsement of your individual capacity and capability, and also of young New Zealanders collectively.  Savour your awards, because they are well deserved.  However, they reflect past efforts. 

The challenge for you is to continue where you left off six months ago, and to maintain delivering results in your tertiary studies and beyond at a high level.  It’s an important assignment, although given your track records to date it’s something you’re capable of meeting.

The bigger challenge, however, lies over the longer term.  Unlike an examination, which is all over in three or four hours, it is a long term obligation.  Undoubtedly, the monetary award you’ve received today gives you a three-year kick start, but your efforts require a singular commitment. 

In time many of you will be the leaders of this wonderful country.  We need your imagination and industry to lead and shape the future of Aotearoa New Zealand.  New Zealand needs innovators, entrepreneurs and achievers who have the creative and critical thinking skills to improve our country’s environment, our prosperity and our international standing.  We need energetic people who demonstrate leadership in our universities and research centres, in our schools, in our businesses, in politics and in government, on our farms, in the arts, in medicine, and in service and community organisations. 

What is that commitment?  These awards show that New Zealand supports its most capable young people to pursue their talents, passions and dreams.  By being here, you have demonstrated you can release your intellectual potential.  And you have developed a personal foundation on which to build your future - a work ethic based on intellect, diligence, persistence and committed effort. 

That’s the how - now a suggestion for where.  With such talent and determination, I’m sure you’ll achieve at the highest levels wherever life takes you.  If you choose to do that overseas, that’s fine.  I’m not one of those people who bemoans that New Zealanders seek to advance their careers or educational opportunities overseas.  I think it does a disservice to those who choose to remain, and ignores the positives that come from international travel.  Living overseas and experiencing other cultures widens our horizons and helps us grow as people.

It is important to consider, when thinking of the future, what New Zealand has to offer and what you in turn can offer New Zealand.  The late Sir Paul Callaghan, an extraordinary New Zealander, challenged young New Zealanders to make their contribution here.  After completing his doctorate at Oxford, he could have easily carved out a fantastic research career wherever he chose to live.  In his last interview before his death, he laid out the following challenge:

“What greater sense of fulfilment can there be but to make a difference to the community in which you live?  It’s one of the reasons I wanted to come back home and make my life here, as I say to our diaspora, that’s the real opportunity New Zealand offers.  It’s hard to make a difference in New York.  Here everything you contribute makes a visible difference.”

Before we congratulate the scholars one more time, collectively, I want to acknowledge their parents, caregivers and family.  They have played an essential part in encouraging you all to excel.  Parents, I think that you can look forward to celebrating the achievements of your progenies many, many more times! 

I also want to congratulate the schools and principals, both in respect of the young people representing your schools today and the environment you created that enabled them to achieve.  Your schools have provided the right environment and the encouragement to achieve and that is why parents will continue to choose you to educate their children. 

Finally, the looks on the faces of the award recipients and your supporters tells of achievement and pride.  Enough with the speeches! Let’s get on and celebrate your outstanding achievements.  Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.