Citizenship ceremony

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 specifically greet you: Hon John Key, Prime Minister and fellow Ministers of the Crown and in particular our host this evening, Hon Dr Richard Worth, Minister of Internal Affairs; Hon Rick Barker, former Minister of Internal Affairs; Rear Admiral David Ledson, Chief of Navy; Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott, Chief of Air Force; John McKinnon, Secretary of Defence; Members of Parliament and of the Diplomatic Corps; Brendan Boyle, Secretary for Internal Affairs and the Heads of other Government Departments; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen, but most significantly our new citizens.

Thank you for inviting me to attend and speak at this celebration to mark 60 years of New Zealand citizenship. 

I would like to speak briefly about the significance of that event in the context of the rights, responsibilities and obligations of living in a democracy.

But first, to our new citizens, as Governor-General of New Zealand, and the representative of your new Head of State, Elizabeth II, the Queen of New Zealand, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate you and formally welcome you to your new home Aotearoa New Zealand.

Becoming the citizen of a new nation by choice is a significant event in anyone's life.  For most New Zealanders becoming a New Zealand citizen occurs at the instant of being born and so the significance of an event such as gaining citizenship like today is often lost on people.

By international standards, New Zealand is a young country.  The concept of New Zealand citizenship has only existed for 60 years.  Indeed, it was not until 32 years ago, that our Parliament removed from the law, the anachronistic reference to New Zealanders also being British subjects.

But while New Zealand is a young country, it is an old democracy.  This country has been self-governed for more than 150 years and for more than a century, all New Zealanders, regardless of wealth, race or gender, have had the right to vote.  

It is a record that few other nations can match. The basic democratic freedoms New Zealanders continue to enjoy are denied to millions throughout the world.

The significance of this cherished right was well made by famous New Zealand suffragette Kate Sheppard after New Zealand became the first nation to grant women the right to vote.  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."

Kate Sheppard-whose image graces the New Zealand's ten dollar note-rightly surmised that the right to vote was central to all other rights. 

Those democratic rights include the right to peaceably assemble, the right to petition the government for redress and the right to freedom of speech and of the media.  They include the freedom to freely practice religion and to express your culture and a host of other civil and human rights.

But what binds us all to the fabric of this magnificent tapestry is citizenship.  As a liberal and democratic nation, New Zealand grants these rights to everyone living here.

But by choosing to become a New Zealand citizen, you have made a positive statement you want to be joined in this common bond with all other New Zealanders.

New Zealanders celebrate the cultures of peoples from other lands.  One only has to look at how Chinese New Year and Indian Diwali are increasingly becoming part of the fabric of our nation.  And I urge our new citizens to share your cultural traditions as well. 

And we celebrate the success of all New Zealanders, wherever they are born.  The billboard for this morning's Dominion Post shows New Zealand golfing sensation Danny Lee kissing the latest golfing trophy he has won.  Most telling are the words beneath the image: "Kiwi's Classic Victory."

That Danny Lee, who became a New Zealand citizen in September last year, was born in Korea is not even mentioned in the story-he's just a Kiwi.

Becoming a New Zealand citizen means we are all bound by a common adherence to those democratic values.

But with rights, come responsibilities.  These are responsibilities for all New Zealanders and not just those who have decided to become New Zealand citizens by choice. 

It means voting.  But it also means answering the call to serve on juries and making submissions on central and local government proposals.

But more than anything, it means becoming involved in your communities.  Through voluntarily participating in sporting groups and assisting community and social service groups we strengthen the fabric of our society, our culture and our economy.

And on that note, 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.

To view images from the ceremony, click here.