Waikato University Student Centre

For more images, click here.

Mihi and acknowledgements
Ka tangi te Tītī,
Ka tangi te Kākā,
Ka tangi hoki ahau.

Rau Rangatira mā e pae nei,
E te Māngai o te Kingitanga

Te Tumuaki o Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, Jim,
Te paepae powhiri, Tom kōrua ko Koroneihana,
Tātou e hui tahi nei,
Kia ora huihui tātou katoa .

Distinguished guests, University staff, students, and alumni, Tainui representatives, supporters, architects, contractors, ladies and gentlemen, warm greetings to you all.

I specifically acknowledge: Rt Hon Jim Bolger and Professor Roy Crawford, Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively of the University of Waikato; Tom Roa and Koroneihana Cooper; Deni Tokunai, President of the Waikato Students’ Union; David Bennett, Tim Macindoe, Sue Moroney, members of Parliament, and Kingi Turner who is representing Te Rōpū Manukura.

It is great to be here today and to have the honour to officially open this new University of Waikato Student Centre - Te Manawa.

Connections
On a personal level, as an alumnus of this University, it makes the occasion even more special.  I have always been made to feel welcome here so it is good to be back among friends. 

In addition to my personal connections to the University, there is also a direct connection with the role I hold as Governor-General.  In 1964 this University was officially opened by then Governor-General, Sir Bernard Fergusson.  And as recently as March of this year my predecessor Sir Anand Satyanand spoke to the Law Faculty.

In opening this Student Centre I thought that I would frame my comments around how this University promotes those things that are important to New Zealanders and for our country’s success – that is a commitment to community, a commitment to distinctiveness, and a commitment to excellence.

Community
As to community – like most universities, Waikato fosters a learning environment that encourages students to associate with each other.  Those links build a special community within the University – a community that is connected.  University connections are for the most part enduring, lifelong friendships are forged here which spill over to other networks – professional and personal.  Our university friends know all of the untold stories about us, as we do about them! In this community we can build trust.

In the context of community, and my earlier acknowledgement in Te Reo, is the University’s special and lasting links with the Kingitanga, Tainui and Maori.  Working closely with iwi to make university courses better accessible to Māori students has always been important to this university.  That commitment is exemplified by the University's decision to set aside 21 April each Year as Kīngitanga Day. In this environment we can celebrate our heritage.

Distinctiveness
As to distinctiveness – this building is one that stands out, both aesthetically, and environmentally.  I congratulate the architects, those who provided the brief for the building and the builders for a fantastic build.  True to the University’s vision of providing “a full and dynamic university experience which is distinctive in character”, This Student Centre will do just that. By bringing together many aspects of the tertiary experience, and providing a learning and social hub, I expect this Centre will become the heart of the University. In this way we show that modern and environmentally responsible are compatible concepts.

Keeping with the analogy to the body, the holistic approach that has been taken, in recognising the benefits of bringing services together, acknowledges the importance not only of the heart, but also of the head, hands and feet that make the University a living, breathing, dynamic entity.  Centralising services here will save “hands and feet” time.

However, it is the commitment to a better approach that has distinguished this new Student Services building.  It is New Zealand’s first educational building to be awarded the New Zealand Green Building Council 5 Star Green Star rating for its environmental and sustainable features , and I understand it’s also the Waikato region's first building to receive a 5 Star rating.

Celebrating Excellence
This building project demonstrates excellence – something of which this University places at the forefront of its vision.

This building also demonstrates New Zealand excellence in sustainability and commitment to protecting the environment.  I was fascinated to learn that features of this building include New Zealand's largest building-mounted vertical wind turbine to generate electricity. I wasn’t aware of Hamilton having a reputation for strong winds, but judging by the size of that turbine, perhaps you could challenge Wellington for its title as New Zealand’s windiest city?

On a more serious note, however, today we celebrate a University which can now provide a truly unique student experience. It seems to me that this Centre encompasses all that this University encourages – excellence, distinctiveness, connectedness, and the ideal of a sustainable future.

My congratulations go to all of those who worked tirelessly to make the concept a reality, turning dreams, thoughts and words into a concrete facility. 

No reira, E aku Rangatira, me ngā tauira, Tēnā tātou katoa, Ka huri.

Keeping with tradition, it now gives me great pleasure to declare the University of Waikato Student Centre officially open.