Launch of No Ordinary Man

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 evening (Sign). 

May I specifically greet you: Joanna Meredith Hardy, daughter of the late Baron Porritt, of Wanganui in New Zealand and of Hampstead in Greater London.; Contributors to public and sporting, civic and diplomatic life in New Zealand in many ways and, in particular, former Olympic and Commonwealth games representatives; authors Graeme Woodfield and Joseph Romanos and families; David Williams, former and long serving staff member at Government House; distinguished guests otherwise; ladies and gentlemen.

It is with great pleasure that my wife Susan and I welcome you to Government House here in Auckland, and to the launch of a genuinely satisfying book. 

I have been privileged to receive and read with pleasure an early copy of No Ordinary Man The Remarkable Life of Arthur Porritt.

There is no doubt that the Arthur Porritt story was overdue for the telling.  He certainly has my personal admiration - and I have been eager to learn more about the man who undertook the role that I now hold, so effectively fifty years ago. 

I was lucky to be in representative mode in Beijing for some part of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in August, and I commented on Sir Arthur Porritt's achievement when I spoke at an occasion welcoming the New Zealand team there.

During that speech, I mentioned 'my predecessor Arthur Espie Porritt, the first New Zealand-born Governor-General referring to him being a Rhodes Scholar, life member of the International Olympic Committee, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, being awarded the American Legion of Merit for his services during the Second World War and the more than 30 years he spent as surgeon to the British Royal Family'.

I then spoke of him being the man who in July 1924 won the bronze medal in the 100 metre Olympic Games race in Paris, and how the eleven seconds it took him to do it had an enormous impact on the rest of his life.  

But although the Olympic medal shines very brightly in the story of Sir Arthur Porritt, even had he stumbled on that track, he would have been a man whose successes went well beyond the ordinary,.  His contribution in so many diverse fields indicate an individual of extraordinary gifts and focus.

And despite eminence in so many areas, he retained the ability to connect easily with other people.  As the authors put it: 'Porritt built a network of friends, colleagues and contacts that spanned the world.'  The book reveals that he always paid tribute to those he felt had given him assistance, and that he called himself "lucky". 

He had the timely support of influential people, and the luck of opportunity.  Crucially, though, he had also the ability to quickly secure the confidence of those with whom he came into contact, and the talent and temperament and character to convert opportunity into success.

I know full well, though, that turning a well-lived life into a compelling book is not necessarily easily done.  It requires persistence and commitment and a great deal of skill.  It was the British writer and barrister of the last century, Philip Guedalla, who said that:  'Biography is a very definite region bounded on the north by history, on the south by fiction, on the east by obituary, and on the west by tedium'.

It is testament to the dedicated work of a number of people that No Ordinary Man avoids so comprehensively the southern (as in fiction) and the western (as in tedium) quarters of that region.

Joanna Meredith Hardy - described as the 'swinging deb of Government House' you are yourself, it is clear, no ordinary daughter.  In facilitating the authors' access to your father's papers and his unpublished memoirs - even typing them up I understand - you have made an enormous contribution to the biography.

And authors, Joseph Romanos and Graeme Woodfield.  Each of you are authoritative, experienced and talented in your own right; well known for the quality of your work.  You have drawn on the material supplied by the Porritt family, and on other sources, and have produced a handsome and very good book. 

The research is properly to be regarded as assiduous - not least the photographs, and I hope that the voluminous tomes of clippings books of Government House in Wellington played their part in this. 

Speaking of Government House may I mention the pleasant opportunity which arose to meet Joanna and Joseph this last Monday when they visited the grounds of Government House in Wellington for a look about at the House before the reconstruction involved in the conservation project begins in earnest. 

Lastly, may I distil all of this by offering warm congratulations to all those who have played a part in ensuring that Sir Arthur Porritt's important story has been so well told. 

And on that note, I will close in our country's first language, Maori, by 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.