The opening of Government House

To see more images from the opening ceremony, click here.

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

I then specifically greet you: Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister and Ministers of the Crown; Hon Phil Goff, Leader of the Opposition and members of Parliament; Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice and members of the judiciary; Maarten Wevers, Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and other public sector chief executives; Your Excellency Anthony Mongalo, Dean and members of the Diplomatic Corps; Your Worships Celia Wade-Brown and Wayne Guppy, Mayors of Wellington and Upper Hutt respectively; Rt Rev Tom Brown, Bishop of Wellington; Rt Rev Muru Walters, Bishop of Te Pīhopatanga o te Upoko o te Ika; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It is with great pleasure that my wife Susan and I welcome you all for this ceremony to open Government House in Wellington.  I will shortly unveil a plaque to mark the occasion. 

I have deliberately used the word “open” to describe this ceremony rather than “reopen” because history shows that the House was never formally opened in 1910.  Despite extensive work undertaken on this site during the last two-and-a-half years, no evidence of any foundation stone or an opening plaque has been uncovered.

This may have been due to the fact that official court mourning was in place for the late King Edward VII who had died shortly before making gala events not appropriate. 

Alternatively, the cause may have been a mysterious illness, which was attributed to faulty drains, and saw which saw several staff fall ill and the Governor and his wife, Lord John and Lady Anne Islington leaving to seek refuge elsewhere. I am reliably informed that the new drains are in fine working order and that none of us have anything to fear today.

An intriguing anecdote of that kind underscores the history and heritage of this House and its role in New Zealand’s governance arrangements.  A century ago, it was primarily the stately home for New Zealand’s Edwardian Governors, who came here to represent the interests of the Sovereign and the British Government. 

A century later New Zealand is an independent nation and this House plays an integral role in supporting a 21st Century Governor-General in undertaking the constitutional, ceremonial and community leadership duties applicable to our times and our country.  The historic status of the House has been recognised by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust with a category 1 rating.

Today we celebrate the dawning of a new day in the life of Government House Wellington with the successful completion of the Conservation Project, some months ahead of schedule.

The House has been closed for more than two years whilst the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet supervised strengthening and refurbishment.  As Susan and I had lived in the House for more than two years before its closure in October 2008, it now reminds us of a television programme covering an “extreme makeover”.

Once you enter within, I think many of you will agree that Government House looks magnificent after the work it has undergone and that it has been through a process that is much more than skin deep.  If it was “comfortable and elegant” beforehand, it is “smart and elegant” now. 

Beneath the elegance, however, the House beats with a new and stronger heart. Much of it was pulled apart and put back together again.  Its roof, veranda, stucco panels and all the services have been replaced.  And, with major seismic work, it is now the strongest it has ever been.

Being away from the House for more than two years has seen Susan and I spend more time than ever on the road.  While Governors-General have always travelled widely, it has given us perhaps an unrivalled opportunity to undertake our duties in many guises in the country.

We have, for example, held investitures in Dunedin and Christchurch. The latter, in September last year, occurred just two days before the first of the two major earthquakes that have devastated that proud city.  While we celebrate the conservation of this historic House, we also empathise with all that Christchurch has lost.  Whilst buildings can be repaired and rebuilt, nothing can ever bring back the lives of those who have perished.

I would like to conclude by offering thanks.  In particular, I want to thank the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, led by Maarten Wevers, the project team and all the contractors, particularly L.T. McGuinness and Athfield Architects, for the care and technical expertise they have exhibited in completing this project.

I also wish to thank Official Secretaries, Rob Taylor and Niels Holm, and the team that we affectionately call “Government House Inc” who have helped us make the programme as seamlessly hard working as possible over the last two years.

When I spoke at a reception to mark the closure of Government House in September 2008, I took liberties with lines from Frank Sinatra’s classic hit, My Way, to describe what then lay ahead.

If I might do something similar, some 30 months later, I can say that while the Department “planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway,” that there have been no regrets.  The strengthening and refurbishment has been a major success and congratulations are due to everyone who has brought us to this day.

And on that note I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.