Asia New Zealand Patron's Dinner

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 evening and the sun has set [sign].

May I then specifically greet you: Hon Philip Burdon, Chairman, and Dr Richard Grant, Executive Director respectively of the Asia New Zealand Foundation; Asia New Zealand Foundation trustees, supporters and representatives of a number of New Zealand's Asian communities particularly from the Auckland region; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

Given the nature of our gathering it is desirable to add a number of other relevant greetings-ni hao, nimen hao, namaste, kem cho, salaam wailaikum, salamat, anyong hashimnika, konichiwa, sawatdi, mabuhay, sok sabai jiete, chao ban and sawatdi-to cover at least a  number of the ethnic groups represented here tonight.

My wife Susan and I warmly welcome you all to Government House in Auckland tonight.  As the inaugural patron of the Asia New Zealand Foundation it is a pleasure to remain connected with this organisation and its supporters.  I would like to take an opportunity to speak of some of the encounters ahead, both for the Foundation and for New Zealand.

Sixteen months ago, Susan and I hosted a dinner for the Foundation at Government House in Wellington, which is currently closed for a major conservation project.  In a speech there, I commented that the Foundation had come of age.  I noted that the Foundation had played a significant role in helping Asian communities retain their own ‘voices' and in helping the New Zealand community to understand and appreciate those communities.

As a one-time board member of the Foundation, I was of course acquainted with the organisation's work prior to being appointed to the Governor-General role in August 2006 and agreeing to become the Patron. 

Nine years ago, as a  Trustee of the Foundation, along with a number of then trustees including Philip Burdon and Lex Henry present this evening, I signed the Consolidated Trust Deed for the organisation.  The document updated that which had established what had then been called Asia 2000 in September 1994.  The deed stated that the Mission of the Trust "shall be to seek to build and sustain New Zealanders' knowledge and understanding of the countries, peoples, cultures and languages of Asia so that they can develop more extensive and effective relationships in the region."

The document then went on to outline a number of ways it might achieve that mission, including promotion through business, education and media, establishing networks, encouraging informed discussion and assisting participation of New Zealanders in activities in the Asia-Pacific region.

It is pleasing to record that as the Foundation celebrates its 15th birthday, it can be said to have done this - and more.  I continue to be impressed by variety of programmes the Foundation initiates or is involved with. They include the Action Asia business programme, the Young Leaders network, Asian regional linkages, community leadership, media exchanges, cultural events, research and professional development.   Through this multifaceted approach it has enhanced the knowledge and understanding of Asia among New Zealanders and has enhanced New Zealand's relationships and profile in a number of Asian settings.

Having established itself as a credible voice, the Foundation now faces new challenges.  The Foundation's research has found that 80 percent of New Zealanders recognise the importance of Asia to our nation's future.  Yet it has also found that few more than 2000 secondary school students were learning Mandarin and that the language was being taught in fewer than 50 schools.  That number is effectively about 3 in every 20 of secondary schools.  

While it is pleasing that there is a greater awareness of Asia, it is vital that it be accompanied a real understanding of the diversity of the continent and its cultures, people, religions, economies and languages.

New forms of media-satellite television and the internet-are providing us with more information than ever before about the world around us.  But while we are better informed, it is questionable whether we are actually any more knowledgeable.  Unless information received is placed in a context, it can just as easily be misinterpreted or be used to reinforce prejudices and stereotypes.

It is the same gap that exists in the debate about diversity and the difference between tolerating and understanding those who are different from us.   Being tolerant - the classic Kiwi attitude of "if you don't bother me, I won't bother you," is inherently passive.  It is only by meeting different people in social gatherings, working together in voluntary groups, that we really get to understand people. 

I was therefore particularly interested to read recently of the Business Education Partnership - an initiative between the Foundation and the business community.  The partnership aims to encourage schools to prepare young New Zealanders for a future with the Asian region by increasing the amount of Asia-related material included in the curriculum.  In particular, this initiative aims to increase the number of students who will be learning Asian languages.

If there was ever a way of understanding people different from ourselves, it is by learning their language.  The Emperor Charlemagne, regarded by historians as the father of Europe, once famously said:- "To have another language is to possess a second soul."   Languages are more than just organised collections of words, they are the gateway to understanding a culture.

In conclusion then, I applaud the Foundation for its ongoing work.  In 15 years, it has become a credible organisation that has ongoing traction.  It has truly come of age and it possesses a record with which everyone involved can rightly take pride.  The challenge I offer to the Foundation this evening, is to harness that growing awareness of Asia and to ensure that New Zealanders understand its significance.   New Zealanders not only need to know that Asia is important, but to know why it is important.  As Asia becomes the  future powerhouse of the world's economy, understanding Asia will be critical to our nation's future economic prospects.

On that note I would like to close in our country's first language by offering everyone greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.