New Plymouth Civic Reception

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 the evening (Sign)

May I then specifically greet you: Your Worship Peter Tennant, Mayor of New Plymouth District and Mrs Tennant; your Deputy Alex Matheson and Mrs Matheson; your fellow councillors; Barbara McKerrow, Chief Executive of the New Plymouth District Council and your fellow staff;  Council kaumatua Lindsay Macleod, Distinguished guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

Thank you for welcoming my wife Susan and I, and our party to the New Plymouth Civic Centre for this civic reception in honour of our visit to Taranaki.

We are here for a three day visit to the Taranaki region, to meet its peoples and learn more of its future plans.

It is not our first visit to this most western part of the North Island.  Prior to being appointed Governor-General in August 2006, Susan and I visited Taranaki on occasions. 

The Governor-General role, however, has happily created a number of opportunities to visit Taranaki.  We visited the city for the New Plymouth Boys’ High School 125th Jubilee in April 2007 and Your Worship you hosted us to a civic welcome on that occasion as well. 

We also visited New Plymouth for the YMCA New Zealand Dinner in June 2008.  Our last visit was to Manaia in February, when I presented a posthumous award to the owner of George, the Jack Russell terrier that saved several children from an attack by two pit bull terriers. 

I would like to take this opportunity to speak a little of our programme for this extended visit to your region. 

As Governor-General, I have three key roles.  I undertake constitutional duties on behalf of the Head of State, such as giving Royal Assent to laws passed by the House of Representatives, attending Cabinet and signing regulations presented to me at Executive Council and appointing the Prime Minister after an election.

There are also important ceremonial duties, such as opening Parliament, receiving foreign ministers, including Royal Family members, and representing all New Zealanders at key events such as Waitangi Day.  At the request of the Government, we sometimes travel overseas representing New Zealand and New Zealand interests abroad.  This year, both of those aspects came together as one when Susan and I had the great honour to represent New Zealand at the ANZAC Day commemorations in Gallipoli.

The role that takes up most of our time is the community leadership role and it is that role that has brought us to here to Taranaki. 

So far, we have visited the Far North, travelling to Cape Reinga, to the Far South, having visited Stewart Island, and to the Far East—the Chatham Islands that is!  Some might say we completed the quartet when he visited the West Coast earlier this year.  But I do not believe one can say you have truly seen all of the Far West until one has thoroughly visited Taranaki as well.  I might note that we have also made a short State Visit to Australia, which some dub the "West Island" of New Zealand!

But seriously, it is an opportunity to see New Zealand and New Zealanders at their best.  It brings us into contact with so many New Zealanders, both young and old, from all walks of life.  It is an opportunity to learn about the positive and innovative things they are doing in community groups, businesses and the like.

Taranaki, like many of New Zealand's regions, has its own unique character.  Nothing symbolises this region more than Mt Taranaki, standing alone and proud in the heart of the Egmont National Park.

So much of what makes Taranaki special is linked to the mountain and the park.  It not only influences the weather but is a growing drawcard for tourists and trampers, both nationally and internationally. 

The fertile ring plain and the rivers that criss-cross it are the mountain’s bounty and at the heart of the region’s agricultural prosperity.  The point was made well by Taranaki Daily News journalist Chris Lonsdale a decade ago when he wrote:

“Mountain of many moods. Many names. Whatever it is called—Taranaki or Egmont, Maori Cloud Piercer or settlers' Rainmaker—it is the soul of the province of Taranaki.  It is Our Mountain, and we are immensely proud of it, whether we have been here 2000 generations or two.”

We are looking forward to learning more of the successes of Taranaki’s people.  Getting to know your people includes getting to know more about your young people and your schools, the part that is played by Māori heritage, your historical heritage, your businesses and your community, sporting and voluntary organisations.

This morning we were welcomed on to Owae Marae at Waitara and have visited the massive Methanex plant at Motonui as well as being briefed on business initiatives at Venture Taranaki.

Tomorrow we will travel down Surf Highway 45  to Coastal Taranaki School.  We will also make a short detour out to Cape Egmont so we really can say we have been as far west as you can go on the North Island!  We will also be visiting the innovative Tawhiti Museum and checking out the EnviroFur factory at Mahoe. 

In the interests of civic harmony, we will also be meeting the region’s other local government leaders, on as neutral a territory as possible—in the Egmont National Park at the Mountain House!

On our last day, we will learn more of the Department of Conservation’s work before visiting Tupare as a part of the first day of the region’s iconic Taranaki Rhododendron Festival before hosting a dinner for a number of organisations that have vice-regal patronage.

While we are at the beginning of our visit, the programme suggests a region that retains a positive outlook and is moving forward.  Not only was New Plymouth named Top Town by North and South magazine last year but in November last year it had unprecedented success at the United Nations-endorsed International Liveable Communities Awards, being named the best city of its size in the world.  

I understand Your Worship that New Plymouth also won awards for its foreshore walkway and community planning.  Likewise, I have been told the council continues to push ahead with a significant number of civic improvements, from a massive sewerage upgrade in Oakura  to a much anticipated bridge over the Waiwhakaiho River that will extend the foreshore walkway even further. 

As is well known New Zealand and the wider world have suffered this year from the fallout from the global financial crisis.  

From what we have already seen and from what we are yet to see, New Plymouth and Taranaki provide a fine example to all New Zealand about what can be achieved in difficult times.  

Taranaki is clearly not downcast, and neither are the region and its leaders ignoring the reality of the difficulties we all continue to face.  The example Taranaki gives is of the importance of looking for new opportunities and initiatives that build on the strength within our own communities. 

It is from our country’s businesses, both large and small, from our schools and from voluntary, community and sporting groups—supported by local government—that we draw the strength to move forward.

And on that note, I will close in New Zealand's first language Māori, by offering everyone thanks and  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.