Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards

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Kia ora koutou, nga mihi māhana ki a koutou.  Kia ora tātou katoa.  Good evening everyone and warm greetings to you all.

I specifically acknowledge: Sir Ron Carter, Chair of the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards Selection Panel and Lady Lewell Carter - tēnā korua; members of the Blake family - Fiona and Tony Blake and Jan and Les Stokes – kia ora; Shelley Campbell, Chief Executive of the Sir Peter Blake Trust; Members of the Trust Selection Panel and Board of Trustees - tēnā koutou; and the Blake Leadership Award Supporters and Blake Leaders – kia ora koutou katoa. 

It is a great pleasure for Janine and me to be here tonight for the 2012 Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards.  As Patron of the Trust, I have the specific privilege of carrying out three important tasks this evening – the first is this address, the second, in a short while, presenting Lifetime Membership Honours, and the third conferring the Emerging Leader Awards and the Blake Medal. 

I guess the Trust wants me to be working hard for my supper tonight.  Better that than having me sing for it!  Seriously though, I consider it an honour to be able to do those things, and to pass on the thanks, praise and congratulations of all New Zealanders to the award recipients this evening. 

Tonight we celebrate the legacy of Sir Peter Blake.  We remember his special personality, his enduring character and his outstanding leadership in action.  He was a living legend and brought great honour to New Zealand. 

We contemplate that despite being taken far too soon from his family, from his friends, from our nation, and from this world, he left us having succeeded as a sailor, environmentalist and leader.  During his 53 years, Sir Peter provided a wonderful example to all New Zealanders of how one person, one leader, can make a big difference.  His legacy lives on, and is carried consummately by the Trust that bears his name.

His attitude towards the many challenges and risks he faced throughout his adventures was that of determination and optimism – and these things are key attributes of great leaders the world over.  Another great New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary believed that: “if the going is tough and the pressure is on; then the quality to see in a person is neither great strength nor quickness of mind, but rather a resolute mind firmly set on its purpose”.

Sir Peter’s example is one of challenging New Zealanders.  New Zealand needs people who are prepared to take on the mantle of a leader, to take on the responsibility of leading in our communities, towns and cities, and to be leaders in our nation and globally.  The log entry Peter wrote on the 28th of February 2001, during his Antarctic Expedition voices his position: “Our problems are not new: they are as old as the men who hunted the prehistoric hills.  When they hit one another on the head with stones the matter was confined to a few caves: now it shakes a crowded world more complicated than any watch.”

While challenges may well shake us, they should not unnerve us.  We are a nation that cares deeply about protecting and upholding our heritage, our virtues, and our way of life.  We are a closely connected family of more than four million people.  New Zealanders continue to show that we are prepared to get stuck in, to help, and to contribute to building a prosperous country.

During the past two years, tragic events seem to have dominated our otherwise blessed country.  However, we have seen many positive initiatives, and inspiring leaders have emerged in those difficult times, providing an excellent example to us all.

During my time as Governor-General, I have had the privilege of honouring some of those leaders.  They include ordinary people who risked their lives in the immediate aftermath of the February 22 earthquake – residents, the Student Volunteer Army, the Farmy Army; they include young people who are daring to dream and youth enviro-leaders; and they include people who dedicate their lives to helping others in the emergency services, the Police and the Defence Force.  These are people who didn’t only talk about taking the lead; they took action and have demonstrated leadership.

And this leadership-in-action is a characteristic carried by all of those who are to be honoured this evening.  The Sir Peter Blake Awards rest on the legacy, the example and the mana of Sir Peter Blake.  Leaders and dreamers they say: leaders get things done and dreamers have a vision.  Then, there are the truly exceptional people, like Peter Blake who was both a leader and a dreamer. 

Tonight we will recognise, honour and celebrate those who have taken on the mantle of leadership, and who are striding confidently into the future, and who are preparing the next generation for their part in the race. 

As I said earlier, it is my honour and privilege to, in a short while, congratulate those who have taken on the mantle of leadership, and who have turned dreams into goals, actions and results.  Kia ora huihui tātou katoa. 

I now move to my next task - the presentation of Lifetime Membership Honours.  The Honour was introduced this year to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of two individuals who, as founding Trustees, have dedicated considerable time and energy to the Trust, over the past decade.

The honour serves as an award of leadership in its own right, and without doubt both of these individuals have “stepped-up”and “gone beyond the call of duty” for the Trust, and also for the wider New Zealand community. 

What is remarkable is that despite their multiple commitments and responsibilities elsewhere, both of the recipients continue to be closely associated with the Trust and its programmes – Sir Ron Carter as Chair of the Leadership Selection Panel and Chris Mace as a crew member on the Kermadec expedition later this year in August.  Sir Ron and Chris epitomise the view that if you want a job done give it to a busy person.

The Trust wishes to acknowledge the commitment and leadership demonstrated by these two men.  They have ensured that Sir Peter Blake’s legacy is guarded and well cared for through the on-going programmes and activities of the Sir Peter Blake Trust.  Through their vision and guidance the Trust has become a well-respected and productive charity and one which Trustees, the alumni, the Blake family and friends are proud to be associated with.

I invite Sir Ron Carter and Chris Mace to come forward to receive this honour.