National Council of Women: Hutt Valley Branch

To Jennifer Jameson, President of the Hutt Valley Branch of the National Council of Women of New Zealand,  to Betty Stewart, life member of the Hutt Valley branch of the National Council of Women,  to Teresa Shreves, Mayoress of Hutt City,  to the members here today and  to you all,  greetings, kia ora, kia orana, fakalofa lahi atu, taloha ni (sign ‘good evening').  These are the languages of the Realm of New Zealand. 

Thank you for inviting me to attend this annual end of year function and presentation of the Suffrage Hutt Education Trust scholarships and for the opportunity to address you.

First, I congratulate the recipients of the SHE Trust scholarships.  This scholarship is an initiative established in 1993 to mark the centennial of women’s suffrage in New Zealand.  Undertaking tertiary study comes at a high cost both in time and in money.  By giving financial assistance that can be spent on course fees, textbooks, child care or travel expenses, the women of the Hutt Valley are easing the hardship for those who have received the scholarships, in a practical way.

When you strive to be educated to a higher level, you gain greater self-reliance and a better quality of life.  As with all investments in women, they themselves progress as does their family.  Ironically a news article published in September online by ‘Stuff’ suggests research undertaken in Stockholm had found that “Educated wives can mean a longer life for men”! 

On a more serious note, I would like to share something said by Aung San Suu Kyi the well-known Nobel Prize Laureate of Burma.  She said: “The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all.”

I agree that there is a link between education and women’s rights which leads to a better world.

The National Council of Women of New Zealand, has achieved many for many.  Once, women’s needs were more likely to be put aside.  By staunch insistence on their rights, women have moved forward significantly.  The stories and successes of our heroes in the fight for recognition should encourage more young women to put their effort into head off apathy.

On Friday I had the pleasure of being part of the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Twenty years earlier, the National Council of Women had thrown its weight in behind this important international bottom line, targeting child labour and unfair treatment of children.

I want to commend the many initiatives by the Council to speak in children’s interests.  The way the National Council of Women works as the centre of women’s organisations is a strength.  You hold that ‘every issue is a women’s issue’ and fearlessly debate the big topics.  Values and expectations continually evolve in our communities.  Views will reflect the quality of thought and debate and you can contribute and influence the agenda.  Kate Sheppard eloquently responded to those who questioned whether New Zealand’s women could govern themselves when she said  “Do not think your single vote does not matter much.  The rain that refreshes the parched ground is made up of single drops.”

I note that the Hutt Valley branch of the Council has had a very busy year.  The Reverend Dorothy Howard received a Queens Service Medal in the New Years Honours 2009 for services to the community at an investiture ceremony at the Wellington Town Hall in late March.  We have also had the pleasure of again meeting local Hutt Valley Council stalwart, Dame Miriam Dell, at a dinner for the Members of the Order of New Zealand.

I have been asked to describe life as the wife of the Governor-General.

When asked to take on this five year term there was much to consider.  Before we began, in August 2006, we decided that we should do things together as much as possible.  We believe that this approach has worked well for us.

The position of the Governor-General is often broken down into three main areas known as the three ‘C s’ - constitutional, ceremonial, and community.

Attendance at meetings of the Executive Council and working meetings with individual Ministers is for the Governor-General.  This is the role which Anand does and it is broadly called constitutional.  His legal and ombudsman background has equipped him well for it.

Dame Catherine Tizard described it as the ‘crown and anchor’ and certainly the Governor-General is the Queen’s Representative in New Zealand.  Things the Queen would otherwise do are;  open Parliament following a general election,  dissolve Parliament at the end of its term,  start the electoral process by issuing writs for its conduct,  appoint ministers, judges, military officers and diplomats - and - attend meetings of the Executive Council.

Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh have many warm memories of New Zealand.  We have had the honour of twice lunching with the Queen and Duke and were heartened by their insights and genuine interest.  Recently we enjoyed a visit by the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward.

Ceremonial occasions can be either here or overseas.  We are almost always somewhere in New Zealand each year for Anzac Day, Armistice Day, Commonwealth Sunday and Waitangi Day.  We both attend all these events and try hard to connect with those in charge, many of whom we have now met.  Sometimes ceremonial events occur overseas and this year, with New Zealand being the host nation for the ANZAC commemorations at Gallipoli, we had the privilege of leading the New Zealand delegation to Turkey.  At the events at each of the battle sites Anand laid wreaths and he gave speeches at Anzac Cove and at Chunuk Bair.  After Gallipoli we went to Ankara for the formal State visit to Turkey and there were meetings with the President and Prime Minister.  For these trips, I try to brief myself thoroughly to ease conversations with local people and dignitaries.

Pacific visits have included the New Zealand territory of Tokelau, the self-governing States of Niue and the Cook Islands.  We have made state visits to the independent countries of Samoa, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea which are important countries for New Zealanders.  India, Canada and Mongolia are other countries we have formally made visits to and foreign heads of state and royalty come to our country as well.  The Government Houses perform an important focus for these visits and when the Wellington House is back in use these visits will be enhanced by the possibility of offering secure and elegant accommodation for the high level visitors.

The community aspect of the Governor-General role is the one that takes up a great amount of time.  We make ourselves available as freely as we can to support significant events in the community and these can occur all over the country - on weekends as well as weekdays and at any time of day.  Each week we are part of a team that decides which events can be fitted in and the team chooses things that will bring us close to the heartbeat of New Zealand and we value this enormously.  The joint approach Anand and I have adopted helps us to meet more new people and to properly recall people we may have met on previous occasions.  To promote the Role we enjoy our visits to the regions of New Zealand.  Visiting Taranaki recently we met those involved with the local bodies, rural sector, business and groups representing children, sport, volunteers and the National Council of Women representative.

We have experienced help from the Government House staff who facilitate everything we do in the name of the Governor-General.  The household staff support us in personal ways and we have no parking worries or airport hassles.  These things increase the capacity of the Governor-General.  My involvement means that we are able to attend more events, extend the role and include some things of interest to me.

Traditionally the Governor General takes on patronages and, in addition, I have become patron of some organisations as the Governor General’s wife.  With advice, a review of patronages was undertaken at the beginning of the term and the number reduced so that we can better participate in those we hold.  We make a priority of supporting those organisations, sometimes attending or hosting events at Government House.

Within all of this busy-ness, I am highlighting three ‘themes’.  They are broadly children, protection of the environment and volunteers - and I make a constant effort to look at opportunities to promote them.  I believe that the wife of the Governor-General should take a positive view on things.

The refurbishing of the Government House in Wellington is progressing well and it will be exciting for us all when it reopens in 2011, before Anand’s term finishes.  Expectations are that we will be very busy after the opening with so many New Zealanders wanting to see how it has changed.

We both continue to learn so much that is good about New Zealand and its people every day and this is the overwhelming joy of it.  It is a privilege to be in this role, to be part of representing you and New Zealand and to support the Governor-General.

I wish you good fortune and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.

Susan Satyanand