Speech
Launch of Deodar III
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 morning (Sign)
May I specifically greet you: Hon Annette King, Minister of Police; Howard Broad, Commissioner of Police; Martyn Dunne, Comptroller of Customs; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and myself to attend the launch of the new Auckland police vessel, Deodar III.
This vessel, which Susan will soon have the honour of officially launching, is the latest in a long line of proud vessels bearing this time.
The first police launch Deodar was given its name in 1960 by the then Minister of Police, the Hon Phil Connolly, who nearly two decades before as Lt Commander PG Connolly RNZVR had commanded a vessel of the same name the HMS Deodar during the Second World War.
According to the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War, that Deodar was one of several Tree class minesweepers in the Royal Navy on which many New Zealanders, members of the Royal NZ Naval Volunteer Reserve, served. It was dangerous work with more than one in five of the minesweepers being sunk or heavily damaged in carrying out their never-ending task of clearing mines from vital seaways.
The bravery of the sailors who did this highly dangerous work is evident in the size of a minesweeper. Like the vessel before us, that very first Deodar was a relatively small craft compared to the larger vessels in any navy. But as can be imagined, compared to a battleship, if a small vessel like a minesweeper made contact with a mine, the consequences for it and its crew were invariably devastating.
Despite their relatively small size, without the minesweepers carrying out their work, the war could have taken a different turn. The importance of those minesweepers was in keeping sea lanes clear, allowing convoys of food, armaments and other goods to get to Britain, which was under threat of invasion. The retention of the name Deodar, which means Himalayan Cedar tree, in this latest police launch is a tribute to those who served and died on the minesweepers.
Just as the sea was important to Britain in the Second World War, so too is the sea important to New Zealand in the 21st century. The issues New Zealand faces may no longer be mines, but we continue to be a maritime nation. Most of the exports and imports to and from New Zealand are carried by sea and so this country places a high premium on freedom and safety of navigation for trade.
As well, most New Zealanders live within an hours' drive of the sea and the foreshore, which are important places for recreation, whether it be picnics on the beach, swimming in the sea or taking a boat out for recreational fishing.
The sea, however, is not without its risks and threats and this vessel's predecessors have been in the thick of it, proudly serving Aucklanders and the police.
The NZ Police are responsible for carrying out close inshore search and rescue operations and Deodar III will play a key role in that work. Crime is not restricted to land and this vessel will again play a vital role in preventing, detecting and resolving crimes.
Particularly to be noted is that will not just be used by the police but also by customs and other government agencies. Police work in search and rescue and in preventing and solving crimes overlaps neatly with the work of the New Zealand Customs Service in protecting New Zealand's borders. The result is a multi-role vessel that not only makes good sense for the two services, but also for the taxpayer.
In conclusion, I congratulate the Police on this new vessel and the designers and manufacturers for building it. I trust Deodar III has a long and happy career.
I will close in 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.