Speech
St Patrick's Day Celebration
Ladies and Gentlemen, I greet you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, CookIsland, Niuean and Tokelauan.
Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni
Specifically I greet you: Heitia Hiha (Kaumatua) and Margaret Hiha; Ngahiwi Tomoana, Chair Ngati Kahungunu and Mere Tomoana; James Ryan, President Napier Golf Club and Mrs Ryan; Roger Aranui, Regional Director Te Puni Kokiri and Desley Aranuii; Sir Tipene O'Regan and Fr Don Hamilton.
Thank you for your warm welcome here tonight. Susan and I have enjoyed today's festivities.
Today is a day of celebration - not just in New Zealand or in Ireland, for that matter, but right around the world.
St Patrick's Day has become a global phenomenon and it sets a high standard for all other cultures seeking to celebrate what makes them unique.
It is similar in this sense to the Diwali Festival of Lights - now another waypoint and to many a highlight on New Zealand's festival calendar. Diwali is an example of how much good can be done by celebrating a culture, or a mix of cultures - Chinese New Year the same.
As a New Zealander with Indo-Fijian heritage, these celebrations and festivals have always been a source of much pride. They serve to remind me of the rich culture which has helped influence and shape the New Zealander that I am today.
I am certain that St Patrick's Day fosters the same pride for people with Irish heritage.
Tonight, we are also celebrating the relationship between the Irish and Maori. This strong, almost spiritual affiliation, between the two is in some senses a curious thing.
One would be hard-pressed to find an anthropologist who would argue their gene-pools are from the same source. Yet, there are uncanny similarities between both cultures which have seen them build strong friendships and families in New Zealand.
One striking similarity is found in Irish and Maori folklore. Many of the traditional characters and the stories are eerily similar. For example, the distance between the Patupaiarehe and the Leprechaun is very small.
Perhaps what is more striking, however, is their shared journey.
Both have faced more than a degree of hardship and oppression over many years.
Both have had their traditions and culture threatened by assimilation. Yet, both cultures have returned to become strong and thriving.
The Celtic tradition is enjoying a re-birth in Ireland and around the world - its language and culture has been revived. The traditions which stood Irish in good stead for so many Centuries, and which came so close to being lost, are now celebrated and embraced.
Maori culture is experiencing a similar renewal. Since the later part of the last Century, the traditions and language of Maori have returned to New Zealand. Maoridom is an integral part of our political, legal, economic, cultural and social make-up.
The continuing restoration of both cultures has occurred hand-in-hand with an economic revival in Ireland and New Zealand. And each of our countries are much the better for it.
Perhaps, then, this shared triumph over adversity is part of the reason for the close friendship.
New Zealand is a country shaped by a myriad of influences - predominantly from our European, Pacific, Asian and Maori heritages.
We have created a society which, I believe, draws on these influences to create our own identity. We are still in the throes of shaping who we are, of course, and we still have many challenges to over-come.
But I would argue that right now we are building an inclusive and open society which uses the best of all its parts.
As the Maori proverb says:
E raka te mau, e raka te katau
A community can use all the skills of its people
Just consider where we are today - The Napier Golf Club.
Golf - perhaps the most Scottish of all sports - has been embraced and mastered by Maori for which look no further than Michael Campbell.
You may know that Kurupo Tareha and his brother Te Roera helped set up one of New Zealand's first golf clubs, Waiohiki Links, after his return from Queen Victoria's 60th birthday in 1896. During that visit, Kurupo was taken to St Andrews and introduced to the mysteries of golf.
It became a game he and his son subsequently excelled at.
In an interesting twist, the last Governor-General to have visited Waiohiki Links, Lord Cobham, is said to have played a magnificent shot on the 18th. The late Audrey Mullany - herself a Tareha and wife to Irish jazz pianist John Mullany - was said to have congratulated him warmly upon his shot.
So here we had an English Governor-General, playing the Scottish sport on a Maori golf course, being congratulated by the Maori wife of an Irish pianist.
This is New Zealand.
I must, at this point, acknowledge John and Anthony Mullany - both of whom are here tonight. Susan and I both enjoyed your performance earlier this evening.
I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Te Aopehi Kara, whose unveiling was today. Also a keen golfer at Waiohiki, Te Aopehi Kara passed away one year ago. I understand he is sorely missed by the Hawke's Bay community.
Tonight is a celebration, as I have said. Because of this, and because I do not want to hold up the celebrations any longer, I shall shortly return to my table.
Before I do, however, I would like to leave you with a challenge, or a wero.
That is to continue celebrating who we are. We must rejoice in what makes us unique in this world. It is not a hard thing to do. There is much about being a New Zealander that is worth celebrating. But the key is finding ways to mark this celebration - often, and with passion.
Perhaps we can take the lead from our Irish brothers and sisters.
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.
At the end of his address Your Excellency will be invited to remain standing. Brannigan Kaa and troupe will come in and sing Danny Boy in Maori.