Royal New Zealand Air Force Graduation of 05/2 Pilots Course

I greet you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, CookIsland, Niue and Tokelau.

Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni

Specifically I greet you: Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Stockwell; Group Captain Clark, Wing Commander Webb; RNZAF Base Ohakea personnel; Graduating Officers; Invited Guests.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to the Graduation Ceremony of the 05/2 Pilots' Course. As Commander-in-Chief  of the New Zealand Defence Force it is both vital and interesting to take an active interest in the achievements of its personnel.

We are celebrating today six pilots, five from the RNZAF and one from the Royal New Zealand Navy, who are graduating.

I would like to begin by complimenting the parade personnel on their dress, drill and bearing. Today's parade presents the RNZAF as an important member of our country's defence force, one that aims to be judged the best in every aspect of its operation.

It is a force all New Zealanders can be proud of and the six graduates being honoured today reflect attributes of pride, commitment and excellence.

Their graduation continues a history of pilot training extending back to the 1920s and to the days of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force. Then, I am advised that student pilots were taught in former WWI Bristol Fighters and Avro 540K biplanes, a far cry from the CT-4E Airtrainer and Beechcraft King Air used in today's training programme.  I remember as a law clerk sitting in a room with an old colleague who was an RNZAF man of the Second World War describing what it was like to learn flying the Vickers Vilderbeest which I checked on Wikipedia yesterday were described as "particularly unwieldly".

That there are only six graduates reflects the challenging nature of this course. In honour of their achievements they will each receive the coveted award of the Pilots brevet and will officially become operational pilots in the RNZAF and Navy.

This has not come without effort on their part. The RNZAF Pilots' course is an extensive and challenging programme, spanning two years and more than 200 flying hours.

Today there must also be acknowledged, the work and support of a number of others. This includes training personnel, who commit as much time to pilot training as do the pilots themselves.

Equally important are family and friends. No doubt, their support will have been appreciated during difficult times.

These pilots are members of the NZDF which undertakes a number of roles, and represents our country in a peace-keeping capacity around the world.

To maintain our reputation for excellence, high quality training is essential. The RNZAF Pilot training programme upholds exacting standards of professionalism, competence and conduct, producing highly competent personnel of whom today's six graduates are examples.

These pilots represent the future of the New Zealand Defence Force.

I would like to finish by quoting a traditional Maori proverb:

Do not lift the paddle out of unison or our canoe will never reach the shore.

Success is born of working together.

As we celebrate the graduation of these six pilots we must remember that their success is a result of many people's efforts. As operational pilots they will rely on other Defence Force personnel to ensure their safety and the safety of others is upheld. As pilots you have demonstrated an apt piece of advice of Mahatma Gandhi who said "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

By working together, the RNZAF can continue to foster a standard of excellence in its operations.

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.