Speech
Bledisloe High Tea
May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - in English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language. Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign)
May I specifically greet you: Prime Minister, Hon John Key; Leader of the Opposition, Hon Phil Goff; Chief Justice, Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias; Attorney-General, Hon Chris Finlayson; Ministers of the Crown, members of Parliament, Distinguished Guests from central and local government, from our country's Maori, Military, Church and many other communities; Ladies and Gentlemen.
Thank you for accepting my invitation to attend this Bledisloe high tea on the eve of Waitangi Day 2009.
For the first time on an important occasion, my wife Susan is not with me this afternoon. She is in Britain with our daughter Tara who gave birth to a son 18 days ago. As you might well imagine, it has been a cause of great celebration to both of us as first-time grandparents.
This year marks the 75th anniversary since the first Waitangi Day celebrations here in 1934, following the purchase of the former British Residency and its surrounding grounds by my predecessor Lord Charles Bledisloe and his wife, Lady Bledisloe in 1932.
Lord Bledisloe often gave very long speeches. You will be pleased to hear that I have no intention of emulating him in that regard on this warm summer afternoon.
New Zealanders continue to owe Lord and Lady Bledisloe a great debt for their generous gift to the nation, whose care has been the responsibility of the Waitangi National Trust Board.
That two members of the British aristocracy, who probably knew little of New Zealand before arriving here in 1930, and even less of the Treaty of Waitangi, is nothing short of remarkable. It is even more remarkable given that governments of the day had shown little interest in buying the land.
While Lord Bledisloe was a strong believer in the Empire, he recognised, possibly before many New Zealanders themselves, the importance of nationhood. Indeed, he named a collection of his speeches, Ideals of Nationhood.
And he also recognised the significance of the Treaty, particularly for Maori, and hence the symbolic importance of the place where it was debated and signed.
At that first Waitangi Day, Lord Bledisloe famously offered two prayers. The first was that "the sacred compact made in these waters may be faithfully and honourably kept for all time to come".
In the second, drawing on his interpretation of Governor William Hobson's words at the 1840 signing-He iwi tahi tatou or we are now one people-Bledisloe prayed that Maori and Pakeha might unite as one nation through Christianity.
It is estimated that some 10,000 people attended that first celebration but their interpretations of what it entailed varied.
For Maori, the Treaty was important, particularly because of their long-held grievances about its breaches, particularly the 19th Century land confiscations. For Pakeha, especially at the centenary in 1940, Waitangi Day reflected national pride and achievement.
Much has changed since 1934. We continue to debate what the Treaty means. As a former judge and lawyer, I am keenly aware that there was a time when judges dismissed the Treaty as "a simple nullity." Today the Treaty is seen in the courts as living instrument that relates to fundamental rights.
That reassessment has occurred throughout society. There has been conflict, protests, raised voices and what may be termed as ‘rushes of blood'.
But there has also been a lot of sensible and rational debate. Successive governments have made an earnest and ongoing endeavour to address the legacy of the past. Much honour also attaches to claimants who have steadfastly pursued their genuine claims.
In this process, the Waitangi Tribunal has played a key role, not only in addressing the past, but also in educating everyone-both Maori and Pakeha-on the significance of the Treaty.
As we move toward the 175th signing of the Treaty in six years' time, let us not forget the significance of what occurred at Waitangi in 1840. Two peoples were able to sit down, debate and agree on terms for how this land should in future be governed.
It remains a remarkable achievement. Many other countries' national days mark the anniversary of violent events. There are few cases in history where colonisation occurred after the peaceful signing of a Treaty rather than at the point of a gun.
The Treaty gives all of us a stake in this nation. That applies whether we are tangata whenua or, to use the phrase of former Tribunal chairman, Hon Eddie Durie, tangata tiriti, people here by virtue of the agreement made at Waitangi.
I am one of those people. That my parents were able to migrate from Fiji to New Zealand, and my brother and I were both born here, is an example of the Treaty's ongoing significance.
Likewise, my wife Susan was born in Australia but grew up here when her parents, her father having been born here, decided to live in New Zealand.
Our three children are also tangata tiriti and it is my fervent hope that our grandchild, although for the moment he mokopuna ha ingarani, will also come to enjoy the fruits that the Treaty bestows upon us all.
And on that note, I will close in New Zealand's first language, Maori, offering greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.