Speech
New Plymouth Boys High School 125th Jubilee
Ladies and Gentlemen, I greet you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean and Tokelauan.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni.
Specifically I greet you: Your Worship the Mayor of New Plymouth, Peter Tennent and Mrs Tennent; New Plymouth Boys High School Headmaster, Lyal French-Wright; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Judge Stephen Harrop; President of the Old Boys Association, Todd Wolfe and Deputy Mayor of New Plymouth and Chairman of the Organising Committee, Lynn Bublitz.
My wife Susan and I thank you for your invitation to officially open the NewPlymouthBoysHigh School's 125th Jubilee this evening.
Tonight's events mark the beginning of four days of celebration. It is pleasing to see such a number of past and present students here, at what looks as though it will be a memorable weekend. I must record the number of people I know in Wellington and Auckland who have said in recent weeks " I see you are going to my old school's celebration."
You are celebrating a milestone of 125 years which is no small feat when it is considered that compared with other nations, New Zealand is still very much in what may be termed its teenage years.
"Teenage" is perhaps no bad metaphor for tonight as an institution that has educated and developed the youth of our nation for 125 years is commemorated.
In a country whose settlement from Europe and elsewhere is relatively recent, only a handful of schools have reached 125 years. Any institution that reaches such a milestone usually has a strong sense of tradition - developed over time.
New PlymouthBoysHigh School to any observer is one such school. It has a tradition of high achievement in many aspects of New Zealand school life - academic and cultural and notably sport, where it is consistently vying for recognition as the top rugby and cricket school in our country.
The boarding houses I am told are also steeped in tradition, with a history of their own that goes back more than 100 years.
Although demand for boarding has, I am told, fluctuated over the years, numbers are, I understand, now steady at 200.
Boarding allows students from outside the province and outside New Zealand a chance to be part of a successful and high achieving school.
And the benefits are double-edged. Boarders can bring different perspectives and cultures to school life, adding diversity to the all-round flavour of the establishment.
This helps to introduce students to the ethnic and cultural diversity which now characterises our New Zealand community beyond the school gate.
New Plymouth Boys has grown to be an integral part of New Plymouth and the Taranaki region, not only in its contribution to education, but also economically because of the school being one of the larger enterprises in the Taranaki province.
This is not an uncommon feature of schools today. The reality is that New Zealand's schools need to operate as businesses in order to provide a first class well-rounded education for students.
This may be a far cry from the way schools were run in 1882, but thankfully the underlying purpose remains the same. All New Zealand schools exist to educate and develop the next generation of New Zealanders.
Since my appointment as Governor-General I have already attended many school functions, opening new facilities and launching jubilee celebrations such as this. This has provided many opportunities to meet many people whose enthusiasm for educating young New Zealanders can properly be described as inspirational.
In my own life, however, I have seen that education is far from being the preserve of youth.
Education in schools is just the beginning of a long stream of education, delivered through many channels.
That is because learning does not begin on the first day of a new job. It does not begin on the first day of college, or even on the very first day of school. Nor does it end on the last day of school.
I am certain that the Old Boys present this evening will vouch for this.
Learning begins the moment one is born and it should never stop. It is the very essence, as well as the foundation of life.
There is a traditional Maori saying which says:
Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro nona te ngahere.
Ko te manu e kai i te mataurangi nona te ao.
The bird that feeds on the miro berry has the bush as its domain.
The bird that feeds from learning has the world as its domain
I would like to extend a challenge or wero to all present, including students, and supporters of the school.
Constantly seek new ideas, new inspirations and new ways of thinking. Do not be content with the knowledge you possess now, but seek always to extend it.
If you continue to be open to learning, you will enjoy many more opportunities, and many more experiences, in life.
I wish NewPlymouthBoysHigh School the best for its 125th Jubilee celebrations. I look forward to seeing this school continue to foster excellence in our nation's youth for many years to come and I have pleasure in declaring the Jubilee open.
I began speaking in all the New Zealand realm languages. May I close by speaking in Maori issuing greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.