Finnish Parliament

Speaker of the Suomen Eduskunta, the Parliament of Finland; Leaders of the Parliamentary Groups; Distinguished Guests otherwise, Ladies and Gentlemen.   I begin with the New Zealand Māori greeting, "Kia Ora" and may I add the following greeting: Kiitoksia ystävällisestä tervetulosta.

Thank you for inviting me to visit Parliament Buildings here in Helsinki.  It is a great honour.

While there is great distance between New Zealand and Finland, there is much that we share in common, including a commitment to democratic values and traditions. 

Both New Zealand and Finland are similar in having single legislatures and our Members of Parliament are each elected by systems of proportional representation.

New Zealand and Finland share a proud tradition of social progress.  New Zealand was the first country to introduce female suffrage in 1893, and Finland the first country where women were provided with full political rights, including the eligibility to stand for election – in 1906.  Nineteen women were elected in the first election of universal suffrage in the following year.

New Zealand and Finland are also linked by each having an Office of Ombudsman, who are appointed by their respective Parliaments to investigate complaints of maladministration.

Prior to being appointed as New Zealand’s 19th Governor-General in 2006, I served 10 years as one of New Zealand’s Parliamentary Ombudsmen, dealing with complaints against government agencies and cases arising out of requests for official information. 

While New Zealand was the first English speaking nation to adopt the Ombudsman concept in 1962, Finland was, of course, the second country after Sweden to do so some forty years before, in 1920.

These shared matters form a key foundation that underpins the warm and friendly relationship between New Zealand and Finland, despite the distance that separates our two nations.

New Zealand greatly values its very friendly and co-operative relations with Finland.  New Zealand has similar views to Finland on many international issues and there is, I am advised, a high level of co-operation and sharing of information between officials.  On the international stage, Finland, like New Zealand, takes a strong multilateral approach to global security and is an active member of the international community

Finland is of interest to New Zealand for many reasons.  We both have populations of similar size and New Zealand, as a leading agricultural exporter, admires how Finland, has transformed itself from an agriculturally-focused economy into one with a strong emphasis on uses of innovation, technology and design.  

It is a relationship, however, that has considerable potential for growth in education, research, trade and tourism.  Our visit aims to build on those links, to learn more of your people, your plans, and to foster enhanced co-operation.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the welcome we have received.