Speech
Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association
May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - 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: Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister; Ministers of the Crown, Hon Phil Goff; Hon Rick Barker and Hon Peter Dunne; members of Parliament Judith Collins and Ron Mark; Lt General Jerry Mateparae, Chief of Defence Force; John McKinnon, Secretary of Defence; Howard Broad, Police Commissioner; Robin Klitscher and Pat Herbert, National President and Chief Executive respectively of the Royal New Zealand Returned And Services' Association; Maj Gen (retd) Bill Crews, National President of the Returned and Services League of Australia; Col (retd) Matereti Sarasau, President of the Returned Soldiers & Ex-Servicemen's Association of Fiji; Your Worship Kerry Prendergast, Mayor of Wellington; RNZRSA delegates and distinguished guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
As Patron of the Royal New Zealand Returned And Services' Association, it gives me great pleasure to once again address you again as I did at the National Council last year, and in 2006. Your invitation to my wife Susan and me to be here this afternoon is very much appreciated.
In my contribution last year I made reference to the leadership of outgoing National President John Campbell. A few weeks ago I was very pleased to present him with the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for his outstanding services to returned services personnel.
Since that National Council last year, I have also attended other events at which a number of you have been present. I am thinking of the ceremonies of Anzac Day, of Tribute 08, which commemorated the contribution of those who took part in the Vietnam War and of laying wreaths in regard to New Zealand servicemen at the Commonwealth Grave site in New DelhiIndia 27 days ago.
I know that Vietnam veterans' occasion gave many a final and crucial sense that the nation was grateful for their service. 'Like other New Zealand soldiers before and after them', the Prime Minister noted, they 'undertook their duties bravely, loyally and professionally'.
For myself, I wish to acknowledge the great bravery and sacrifice of all who have served our country, no matter from whichever 'far-pitched perilous hostile place' (to quote poet R.A.K. Mason) they returned to New Zealand.
In this year, 2008, there will be a special focus on the matter of coming home. 11 November 2008 is the 90th anniversary of the Armistice, which marked the end of the First World War.
I am advised that a programme of events based on the 'Coming Home' theme is being co-ordinated by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage with the involvement of a number of agencies, including the RNZRSA.
Highlights will include major exhibitions at the AucklandWarMemorialMuseum, the WaiouruArmyMuseum, the National Library and Archives New Zealand; and a significant event at the National War Memorial on 11 November, to which I am looking forward being in attendance.
Those from this country who had served in the First World War, and survived it, came back to New Zealand as victors. They had helped to bring about a peace which, it was hoped, would be permanent. But they came back changed by the remorseless lessons of conflict, claim and counter-claim; by mud, and blood, and fear, and loss.
They returned to a country itself changed by the efforts of war. And they returned, of course, without so many of their countrymen - those young men who would grow not old, who would not mingle 'with their laughing comrades again', as other lines in Laurence Binyon's famous poem "For the Fallen" continues, who would 'sit no more at familiar tables of home'.
Those familiar tables represent to me now a way of life and a system of values that as a nation we have - over many years, in many arenas - sought to protect and promote. On behalf of this way of life, this system of values, many of you have placed yourselves in personal danger.
In the year when we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the ending of the First World War, it behoves all New Zealanders to maintain a commitment to the qualities that have made this nation fine and safe; that enable us to act with honour in conflict and - very preferably, of course - in peace.
At the familiar tables of the RSA, of course, its members will also continue to give support to each other. I congratulate the organisation on making this possible, and for its ongoing commitment and care.
I wish all of you well for this gathering, and for the year ahead;
And on that note I will close in New Zealand's first language, Maori, wishing each of you good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.
I am pleased now to officially open the 92nd National Council meeting of the Royal New Zealand Returned And Services' Association.