State Banquet

May I greet you: Your Excellency, Srimati Pratibha Patil, President of India; Hon Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Vice-President; Hon Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and your fellow Honourable Ministers; Your Excellency Rupert Holborow, High Commissioner of New Zealand to India; Your Excellency Kadakath Pathrose Ernest, High Commissioner for India to New Zealand; Former High Commissioners for India to New Zealand; distinguished guests otherwise.  May I use the New Zealand greeting Kia Ora and in the context of this evenings gathering, add the greetings: Namaste, Namashkar, Sat Sri Akal, Kam Cho.

It is, Madam President, you may be assured, a great honour to be present this evening, in these magnificent surroundings which reflect the history of this country.

This is not the first visit that either I or my wife Susan have made to India.  But it is the first by a Governor-General of New Zealand, and for that reason it is very special.

It is also a special occasion for someone of my background.  While I was born in New Zealand and my parents were from Fiji, India is the home of my four grandparents.  Those grandparents all hail from India, maternally from Shahjahanpur near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, and paternally from Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.  They all travelled 100 and 120 years ago to the South Pacific to Fiji where my mother and father were born.  I retain with pride the girmitya shipping papers of my grandparents and the link they represent with my Indian heritage.

This present mission, comes as New Zealand seeks to reinvigorate and deepen its relations with India.  For New Zealand this is a priority. 

That quest does not start with a blank sheet.  Both our countries share a similar respect for, and commitment to, democratic values.  Alongside being one of the world's younger nations, New Zealand is one of the older democracies.  Our country has had a parliamentary system since 1854 and universal adult franchise since 1893—New Zealand proudly being the first nation in the world to grant the right to vote to women.

India is, of course, by far the world's largest and, in many respects, its most vibrant democracy.  It was as democracies that India and New Zealand together became founding members of the modern Commonwealth some 60 years or so ago.

There has also been a very strong relationship - people to people.  People of Indian origin have been migrating to New Zealand since the nineteenth century, and Indians as a community have made a significant contribution to our country.

Since being appointed Governor-General in August 2006, I have held a number of investiture ceremonies where those New Zealanders honoured in our country's honours lists receive their awards. Many of those recipients have been people of Indian origin. 

The people to people links between New Zealand an India are also significant.  Its natural to think of towering figures such as Sir Edmund Hillary and Prime Minister David Lange as well as numerous cricketers and hockey players.

As New Zealand looks at the new India, our country is delighted that there are those common bonds to build on.  Equally we realise that there is enormous untapped potential in the relationship which is yet to be harnessed.

We are aware that India's "Look East" policy reaches as far as New Zealand.  This was put in a striking fashion by media commentator Dr Sanjaya Baru who described India and New Zealand at a 2003 conference in Wellington as "the book ends of Asia". 

As India looks East, its interests increasingly intersect with those of New Zealand. 

Our country also values greatly our growing economic relationship with India.  The number of Indians visiting New Zealand has increased 35 percent in the last five years, while the number of New Zealanders visiting India has almost trebled during the same period. 

On the education front, the numbers of Indian students studying in New Zealand has increased dramatically.  Expectations are that upwards of 6,000 students will study in New Zealand this year.

Trade is also growing and there is significant potential for further growth.  I am delighted to observe that officials from both of our countries are presently exploring options for a free trade agreement. 

Although New Zealand's economy is, of course, small compared with that of India, New Zealand is recognised as a world leader in some areas, particularly in agriculture and in agri-business.  Our expertise in agriculture and agri-business - in terms of research, storage, transportation and marketing - has much to offer in future in concert with India.

Tonight I have set about to capture those elements which mark our relationship with India.  It is fitting therefore that I conclude by reflecting on a person whose legacy has left an enduring link between our two countries. 

Sir Edmund Hillary who passed away in January of this year at age 89 was a towering figure, not only in New Zealand, but in Nepal and likewise here in India.  In acknowledgement of his achievements the Government of India graciously awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, one of the rather few occasions where a non-citizen of this country has been granted that distinction. 

It was, you may be assured, with great pleasure that as Governor-General, I hosted an event at Government House in Auckland in May of this year where His Excellency the Honourable Kamal Nath came and presented the award to Lady June Hillary, Sir Ed's widow.  A number of leaders of New Zealand's Indian community attended what was a memorable occasion.  And in honouring the life of a great New Zealander, there was also honoured the great love and affection he had had for India.  In many respects this visit I am making to India marks something of an official conclusion to our country's period of mourning for Sir Edmund Hillary.

It is therefore with pleasure, that I can announce that the New Zealand Government has agreed to establish the "Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship".  The Fellowship will allow people from India and Nepal, who are emerging leaders in academia, business, politics, the law, culture and other fields, to travel to New Zealand for short periods.  There they will take part in a programme specifically tailored to their background and interest.  The fellowship will be managed by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade with primary input from New Zealand's High Commission in New Delhi.

I see this initiative as a means of emphasising the most important part of any relationship—those between people.  It is one thing to read books and briefing papers about another country, its economy and society, but one can only gain a genuine understanding by meeting the people that make up that society. 

Once again I would like to thank Your Excellency and the Government of India for the invitation that has led to this visit and for the hospitality and friendship that has been extended to me, my wife Susan, and our party.

In conclusion, may I propose a toast which is in three parts:

To the health and prosperity of Your Excellency President Pratibha Devisingh Patil;

To the prosperity and progress of the people of India;

And to the growing friendship between the peoples of India and New Zealand.

And on that note, I seek to close in New Zealand's first language Maori, offering greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

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