Consultancy Advocacy & Research Trust

May 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 afternoon [sign].

I then specifically greet you: Superintendent Pieri Munro and your colleagues; Denis O Reilly, Chairman of the Consultancy Advocacy and Research Trust and your fellow Board members; Harry Tam, Founding Trustee; Father Thige O’Leary; kaumatua and kuia; Distinguished guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It was with pleasure that my wife Susan and I agreed to attend the official opening and blessing of the new facility for Consultancy Advocacy and Research Trust.

I have been asked to formally open the facility, but before I do, I would like to speak of the importance of the work of the Trust.

When most people leave secondary school, they either join the workforce or undertake further training or education at universities or polytechnics. For variety of reasons, some people fall through the gaps and find it difficult to transition to work or further study. They are what James K Baxter called Nga Mokai. The late Dr. Michael King described Nga Mokai in his Penguin History of New Zealand as: “the underprivileged or tribeless young people who were having difficulties coping with the materialism and the competitiveness of urban culture”. 

Baxter coined the term “Nga Mokai” in the late 1960s. More than forty years later, New Zealand has changed, but those with difficulties remain. In recent times their struggle has been compounded by two factors. The first, in the short-term, has been the fall out from the global economic crisis. This has affected all New Zealanders but inevitably the heaviest burden has fallen on those at the bottom rungs of society.

The other more long-term factor has been the advance of technology and their increased use in society. An example of this includes the rise of the internet which has revolutionised the way that information is shared locally and globally and is an important part of urban culture. It is now a real disadvantage to lack access to the internet, particularly so if you are young. This is known as the “digital-divide”.

Of course there are many other variables that contribute to the position of those that are most at-risk. However it is by encouraging, supporting and helping Nga Mokai that you, the Trust and its members, are successful in helping them bring about positive change in their own lives.

As is well known, one of the themes I have sought to emphasise during my time as Governor-General has been the importance of community engagement.

The Trust is an organisation that focuses on community engagement, particularly engagement with New Zealand’s “hardest-to-access” and “hardest-to-deal-with”  communities and networks.

It is pleasing to see an organisation such as this extend a hand to those who are most in need. In doing so, you contribute an enormous amount to the fabric of New Zealand society and those that are most in need of assistance.

 I admire the Trust’s core ethos to “make ourselves available”  to those in need. This is a worthy goal for all New Zealanders and the Trust leads by example.

Your work in helping at-risk young people to achieve their full potential through actions such as your advocacy for alcohol and drug minimisation policies to be implemented in universities is highly commendable.

Likewise, I have been pleased to learn that the Trust works with whanau teaching employment and parenting skills. Alongside this is the help given by the Trust and its change agents in setting up businesses to create roofing, labouring and painting work. These are all excellent initiatives.

By this, I am reminded of a very well known Chinese Proverb that reads: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” The act of teaching someone a skill and encouraging them to reach their full potential is much more valuable than simply throwing pre-conceived solutions at them.

Accordingly I wish to congratulate the Trust on the development of this new facility which is the reason we are gathered here today. It includes a community gymnasium, known as the “Achievement Gym”, a discussion room for whanau goal setting and planning, classroom space for educational courses and a workshop for two community businesses; Wellington Workforce and Prolong Roofing.

To everyone I extend my thanks and appreciation for the work you have done and are currently doing. I also look forward with anticipation to the work you will continue to do in the community.

It is therefore with great pleasure that I declare the Consultancy Advocacy Research Trust Mt Cook/Newtown facility officially open.

And on that note, I will close in New Zealand’s first language, Māori, 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.

 For photos of the event, click here.

For more information about the Trust, click here