Crown Prince of Perak

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 and the sun is high in the sky  (Sign)

May I specifically greet you: Your Royal Highness Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, Crown Prince and Regent of Perak;  Members of your party Dto Bin Zaini, Dto Daud, Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

My wife Susan and I welcome you to Government House in Auckland for this luncheon in honour of Your Royal Highness' visit to New Zealand.  To our Malaysian visitors, given that your journey comes just after the end of Ramadan and the Eid ul Fitr celebration, may I may I add the greeting: Selamat Hari Raya Aidul Fitr.

Your Royal Highness—I want to first register thanks for your visit to us in New Zealand.  Susan and I have the privilege to declare that to you, on behalf of all New Zealanders.

As a part of your visit to New Zealand, this luncheon provides an occasion to reaffirm the close and friendly relationship between our two nations. 

Malaysia has long been a friend of New Zealand in the Asia-Pacific region, and our country greatly values that relationship.  The relationship had its beginnings more than 50 years ago in the Commonwealth, the Colombo Plan and in shared security concerns.  In recent years, the ties have developed into areas as diverse as education, scientific and technological research, defence and trade.

On the education and scientific front, I know that as part of the your visit, you will tomorrow give the Annual Saad Lecture at Victoria University of Wellington and will also visit the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.  Education has become a key linkage between our two countries.

The Victoria University of Wellington hosts the Chair of Malay Studies, currently held by Professor Dato' Dr Yatmin Othman, who I am pleased could join us today.  Under a long-standing agreement between our two governments, the Chair promotes greater awareness and understanding of Malaysia here.

Victoria is one of a number of New Zealand universities that have well established contacts and formal agreements with Malaysian education providers and many thousands of Malaysians have come to study here.

From a different perspective, Innovation New Zealand Education Malaysia Ltd, a network of New Zealand e-learning development organisations, is helping Malaysia in change of its school system.  I am advised that a pilot initiative in Perak was completed that received high praise from Malaysia's Education Minister Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and am therefore pleased that New Zealand Chief Executive of the programme, David Copeland, is with us today.

A fundamental aspect of any relationship is those between people.  There is a strong tradition of high-level visits between our two countries. My predecessor, Dame Silvia Cartwright, undertook a State Visit in 2004 whilst the visit by New Zealand Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark, in July last year was one of many visits by New Zealand ministers to your country.  I am pleased to acknowledge this afternoon two former New Zealand High Commissioners to Malaysia here Michael Chilton and Tim Hannah.

Likewise, there have been many visits by senior Malaysian ministers, most importantly, the visit by Prime Minister, Hon Abdullah Badawi in 2005.  Before that your Highness's father, HRH Sultan Azlan Shah, visited New Zealand on a State Visit in 1991 when he served as the ninth Agong.

Your Royal Highness, it can be said firmly that Malaysia is one of the Asian countries that New Zealanders know most and we are pleased to have a large Malaysian community in New Zealand.  A number of people formerly of Malaysia have done very well here three examples being Lawrence Ponniah a senior partner in a large Auckland law firm  and Miss Kaiying Chin of the Asia New Zealand Young Leaders network and Radha Nadaraja Immediate past President of the Auckland Malaysian Society.  

As New Zealand's ninth largest trading partner and the eleventh largest goods export market, trade between our countries is healthy and provides a solid basis for further growth.  There is significant tourist travel in both directions. 

In particular, New Zealand hopes the bilateral free trade agreement being negotiated between our two countries will spur the development of more innovative, knowledge-intensive partnerships.  I am advised that the Perak government is particularly interested in moving into higher value-added biotechnology applications.  This is also another area of strength in New Zealand, and here with us is Bronwyn Dilley, the CEO of NZ Bio, a consortium of New Zealand biotechnology companies and researchers.

Malaysia is an important and trusted friend and partner for New Zealand.  New Zealand recognises that as a key member of ASEAN and as a participant in APEC, the East Asia Summit and the Asian Regional Forum that Malaysia plays an important role in the region.  I am pleased to record that Francis Chai chair of the Malaysian chapter of the Asean New Zealand Business Council is here and also Thomas Ching the managing director of Earnslaw One and Richard Downes-Honey of High Modulus Limited.

Your Royal Highness, I trust that you will enjoy your visit to New Zealand.  I am confident it will further enhance the co-operation between New Zealand and Malaysia and will play its part in ensuring an even stronger partnership in the years ahead.

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

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