Speech
Civic Welcome for Pilgrims to World Youth Day
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 morning (Sign)
May I specifically greet you: Your Eminence, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin and Bishops and Priests from throughout the world; Your Lordship Pat Dunn, Bishop of Auckland and priests from New Zealand; Maurice Boland, Chair of the World Youth Day Committee for the Auckland Diocese; Mike Lee, Chair of the Auckland Regional Council; Your Worship the Mayor of North Shore, Andrew Williams; International Pilgrims; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
As the other official languages of the forthcoming World Youth Day are French, Italian and Spanish, in the context of this gathering may I add the greetings: Bonjour, Buon giorno; Buenos das.
As Governor-General of New Zealand, it is with pleasure that I welcome to you all to our country prior to your journey to the 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia.
It is a matter of particular delight to see so many faces from so many different countries. I am advised that at last count there are as many as 2,700 pilgrims here, with representatives present from every continent.
That there are so many people here, underpins the fact that the World Youth Day is to be the largest youth event ever mounted in the world. I am advised that the organisers in Sydney are expecting more than 125,000 international visitors—more than the figure that attended the 2000 Olympics. And that figure does not include the 100,000 pilgrims expected from within Australia itself.
As people here will know, World Youth Day is organised by the Catholic Church to bring together young people from around the globe to celebrate their faith and to learn more about it. The event will also mark the first visit to Australia by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
In his missionary intention for July, Pope Benedict signalled that he would be praying for the success of the event. In particular, he is praying that the World Youth Day may (in his words) "awaken the fire of divine love in young people and make them sowers of hope for a new humanity."
To look at you all here today one might respectfully note that his prayers are already being answered.
We often read or see in the media, commentary concerning, and I place the words in quotes, "the youth problem." Adolescence and young adulthood is a challenging time and some people need more help than others in the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Since being sworn in as Governor-General in August 2006, my wife Susan and I have travelled extensively throughout New Zealand. We have visited many schools, polytechnics and universities. We have presented a great many awards, prizes, scholarships and preferments to young people who have succeeded in sport, music, culture and education. Many have succeeded despite facing many obstacles, including physical or intellectual disabilities. We are also Patrons of many organisations with a youth focus, including the YMCA and YWCA, the Girls' and Boys' Brigades, Girl Guides and Scouts, to name just a few.
All this has made clear to us that far from being a problem, the young people of today are, as His Holiness the Pope's prayer suggests, the "sowers of hope."
For what young people can show us all, is the power of enthusiasm and the importance of holding on to our dreams. The late Sir Edmund Hillary, while he was not a religious person, the conqueror of Mt Everest and regarded as the greatest New Zealander of the 20th Century, made a comment that speaks well of what anyone can achieve. He said, and I quote: "People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things."
On that note, and on behalf of all New Zealanders, I welcome you to our country Aotearoa New Zealand. I wish you all the best for the future and the many extraordinary things I am certain you will accomplish in the days, weeks and years ahead.
And on that note, I will close in New Zealand's first language, Maori, by offering greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.