Scouts New Zealand reception

I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.    Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening (Sign)

I then specifically greet you: Luc Panissod, Secretary General of World Scouting; Chris Hooper, chief executive officer of Scouts New Zealand, George Fairbairn, International Commissioner, Scouts New Zealand; Stuart Fleming, National Commissioner, Scouts New Zealand; Mark Inglis, Adventure Plus Ambassador for Scouts New Zealand, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I would like to thank Scouts New Zealand for inviting me and Susan here for this evening.

I am here tonight as Governor-General of New Zealand and Chief Scout, two roles that will soon be ending as tonight marks the point of 58 sleeps left to go.

As I look back, I consider that the Chief Scout connection has been one of the most enjoyable during the five years because of its exposure to the country’s young doing well.

This has meant literally shaking hands with hundreds for example at the Christchurch Jamboree in 2008 when I presented Queen Scout Awards to more than 200 scouts or at the Mystery Creek jamboree when an epic golf cart ride was taken to almost everything operating on the morning of the visit.  In addition, Susan and I have hosted regular ceremonies at the Government Houses in Auckland, Wellington and elsewhere in New Zealand where we have had the pleasure of presenting honours to Scouts and Guides.  We will be holding our last of these ceremonies at the end of July at Government House in Wellington.

These presentations have an aspect to the presenter that is perhaps not recognised by those who are coming forward. 

That aspect is that on top of the skills the Scouts have demonstrated, and on top of the endurance that has kept them going, on top of the ‘mateship’ they have enjoyed along the way, there is the indefinable element of which Sir Edmund Hillary was addressing when he said, “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”

Once the path to the mountain peak, or the Queens Scout Award, has been taken, the way forward to other important achievements in life can be more easily canvassed, whether in the arena of school and career or leisure activities and family life.

I believe that Scouting is well suited to the New Zealand way of life and has contributed a great deal to it through the years and it is pleasing to listen to people like Stuart Fleming describing contemporary resurgence of interest in Scouting.

It is interesting to note that Scouting came to New Zealand only one year after Sir Robert Baden-Powell began the movement in Britain, when he held the first Scout camp at Brownsea Island, in Dorset in England.

According to his entry in the New Zealand Dictionary of Biography, the founder of Scouting in New Zealand, Lt Colonel David Cossgrove wrote to Baden-Powell asking him if he could set up the organisation here in 1908 – that being the year in which Baden-Powell had published Scouting for Boys and the movement began its life in Britain.

The organisation, to my observation, is very much alive and well in a new century and new millennium.  This can be ascribed mainly, I believe, to continuing quality leadership and the willingness to adapt and change with the times.  

This will be one of the last times that I will be in a position to address the organisation and its supporters, and I would like to end by paying tribute to those who are leading Scouting in New Zealand today, and to leave you all with a challenge.

It is this.  New Zealand today has a much more diverse population than it did when scouting began.  The last census found about 23 percent of New Zealanders were born overseas.  Auckland is considered by demographers to be “super diverse” because 40 per cent of that city’s people were born in other countries.

The challenge to Scouting is to remember this diversity and in its thinking about the future in order to devote attention to making sure that young people of all backgrounds will be attracted to the movement and gain the advantages of so doing. 

In the publication marking the movement’s 50th anniversary in New Zealand, S.G. Culliford noted that no-one in 1920, could have foreseen what the movement would be a decade later, and it was therefore difficult in 1958 to say what the future might hold. 

However, noting how, even in its first 50 years, the movement in New Zealand had experienced considerable ups and downs, he concluded by saying and I quote: “Scouting has learnt much from experience in applying the principles laid down 50 years ago.  Those principles remain sound today and on the broad and honourable foundation they provide, the Movement can look forward to continued growth, even greater efficiency, and still more widespread support in the years that lie ahead.”

Now, more than 50 years on from those remarks, it can be said that Scouting in New Zealand remains in good heart, holding true to its founding principles, but seeking to apply them in new ways to meet the needs of new generations.

And thus on a note of congratulations, as well as challenge for the future, I will close in New Zealand’s first language offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.   No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.