Red Shield Breakfast

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 morning (Sign)

I then specifically greet you: Commissioner Donald Bell, Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army for New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga; John Allen, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our guest speaker this morning; Phillip Meyer, National Chairman of the Red Shield Appeal Committee, Jane Diplock, Chair of the Securities Commission; Distinguished Guests otherwise and I instance Mayors Prendergast and Ogden of Wellington and Lower Hutt and former Mayor Sir Michael Fowler, Member of Parliament Hekia Parata, your husband Sir Harawira Gardiner; former Ministers and Members of Parliament Rt Hon Jim Bolger and Hon David Caygill, Hon Hugh Templeton, and Stephen Franks; Your Excellency Paul O'Sullivan Australian High Commissioner; Howard Broad Police Commissioner, Justice Lowell Goddard; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to this breakfast gathering to mark the launch of the Salvation Army's 2010 Red Shield Appeal.  I would like to offer a short message of support to this year's appeal.

The Salvation Army combines spiritual renewal with a hands-on approach with which to assist those struggling with the demands of modern life. 

From its establishment in Britain in 1865, the services provided by the Salvation Army have expanded, and also adapted to meet changing needs.

The Salvation Army helps our society's most vulnerable people in four ways.  First it is in assistance with accommodation, employment, parenting, family or budget advice.  

Secondly they are there for those who need someone to talk to when undergoing or recovering from hospital treatment.  It is also well known for service that assists family members seeking long-lost relatives.

Likewise and thirdly the Salvation Army assists those facing trial in court or who may have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment. 

The Salvation Army fourthly plays a vital role in civil defence and is there to assist at times of natural disasters.

In essence, like the work of many organisations in New Zealand's voluntary and welfare sector, the work of the Salvation Army enriches our society and New Zealand would be the poorer without its presence. 

When the Salvation Army was established here in the 1880s, New Zealand was in a severe recession which came to be known as the "long depression".  One Arabella Valpy, daughter of one of Dunedin's richest pioneers, wrote to William Booth in April 1882 urging him to send officers to "rescue perishing souls," and included a £200 bank draft-a mighty gift in those days.

A year later in April 1883 the first officers arrived and the Army flourished.  Today there are 316 active officers, 94 corps, 10 recovery churches, 82 social institutions and more than 2500 employees. 

Today New Zealand is again recovering from recession, and one thankfully shorter than that through which Miss Valpy lived.  The Salvation Army estimates that its work helped more than 100,000 in the last year.

Those demands have intensified in recent times as New Zealanders have struggled to cope with the fall out from the global financial crisis.  

While such a crisis hits those at the bottom of society hardest, as Commissioner Bell noted in his preface to the 2009 Annual  Report, for the first time there has been an influx of people who had previously been financial independent, but who have suddenly been faced with redundancy, mortgagee sales and bankruptcy.

Despite the support of a significant number of volunteers, this valuable work itself does not come without cost.   That is where fundraising events, such as the Red Shield Appeal, play such an important role in bolstering funds for the Salvation Army's community service programmes.

Accordingly, on a note of optimism for and about what is achieved, 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.