The Second International Asian Health and Wellbeing Conference

I greet you Ladies and Gentlemen in the languages of he realm of New Zealand, English Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niue and Tokalauan.

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

Greetings: Pro Vice-Chancellor, Tamaki Campus, University of Auckland, Professor Ralph Cooney; Head of School of Population Health, Professor Alistair Woodward; Professor Edmond Chiu from University of Melbourne; Professor Paul Pederson from Syracuse University in New York; Ross Judge from the Ministry of Social Development; Conference Chair, Dr Samson Tse from the University of Auckland; Distinguished Delegates; Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like to warmly thank you for inviting me here this morning to be part of the Second International Asian Health and Wellbeing Conference.  I acknowledge this place as someone who grew up in the adjacent Glen Innes suburb and add congratulations for what the University has done in making a success of this satellite campus.

I am here today both as Governor-General of New Zealand, but as a New Zealander of Asian heritage.

My own ancestral story is perhaps similar to many others in this room today, in that it draws on not just one, but several cultures and geographies.

All four of my grandparents migrated to Fiji from India many years ago. From there, my own parents migrated to New Zealand and ultimately, Auckland, where I was born.  In the present generation I have relations who are part of communities in Samoa, the United States and Australia as well as Fiji and New Zealand.

So I have a personal, as well as a professional interest in this conference. That is, promoting the health and wellbeing of Asians in New Zealand - both those who, like me, were born here, and those who have migrated here, as my parents did.

For many years, New Zealand has attracted migrants from around the world, including a great number from this sometimes loosely defined area known as Asia.

Today, ten percent of our total population is defined as Asian.

As a result, our national identity reflects the many influences of Asia. The colours, smells and sounds of New Zealand speak of its Asian component. It is this, combined with our many other ethnic influences, which make our country so culturally rich.

It goes without saying that there are also countless differences within the 10 percent of New Zealanders we class as Asian. We have different languages, histories, religions, as well as different socio-economic backgrounds.

Our experiences, our stories and our expectations of life in New Zealand are each our own too.

Add to this the innate difference between a third or fourth generation New Zealand born person of Asian descent, and someone who has just arrived in New Zealand from Asia.

We know there are differences in health between new migrants and those who are born in New Zealand.  We know that new migrants face challenges in establishing a life here that will meet their expectations.

These give rise to their own set of health issues and they are hugely significant in the context of this conference.

This conference recognises there cannot be one easy solution to ensure all Asian people achieve optimal health outcomes.

Rather, it acknowledges that within this grouping there are many unique health needs. There are different paths, too, that lead to the best possible health care, and different barriers to accessing this.

This is why this conference is so important. It gives us a forum to celebrate the positives of Asian health in New Zealand, while exploring ways of ensuring our health is protected and promoted into the future.

There are many people here today who have already given so much towards this vision. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of these people and thank them for their commitment.

Already, Asian health needs are getting greater attention. As a result, more and more Asian New Zealanders are having their health and well-being needs met.

This is cause in itself for celebration. I encourage you all to continue your work in this field, as there is still much work to do.

I have long thought that the most significant thing about Conferences is not the papers or the paper givers and not even the opportunity to share ideas and knowledge with peers - each of those being available anyway.  The important item to my mind is the agenda because it is a contemporary expression of the issues - in a way that will bear attention in 5 years time.  As to that, this afternoon's Plenary Session, Share Moments, Share Vision looks as if it will be a particularly important session examining the vision of Asian health and well-being over the next five years.

Thank you again for inviting me.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora koutou katoa