Speech
IPC Graduation Ceremony
Ladies and Gentlemen 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
May I refer particularly and convey respects to the international guests, in particular Your Excellency Mr Jean‑Marius Raapoto, Minister of Education of French Polynesia, His Excellency Mr Amris Hassan, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Komate Kamalanavin (Minister Counsellor, Royal Thai Embassy), Mr Hidehiko Hamada, Minister from the Embassy of Japan, Professor Sasaki (Dean of International Pacific University in Okayama, Japan), Mme. Typhaine Baird‑Hamon (Cultural and Scientific Counsellor, from the French Embassy).
Warm greetings also to Your Worship Mayor Heather Tanguay (Mayor of Palmerston North), Mr Hiroshi Ohashi (Chairman of the Board of Trustees), Mrs Setsuko Ohashi (Trustee of the Board of Trustees), Minoru Kasuya (CEO of IPC and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees), John Fanselow (President of IPC), Emeritus Dean Ken Cunningham, assembled Deans of the Faculty of International Studies, members of the IPC Advisory Committee, graduates, family and friends, distinguished guests otherwise, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure to be here today to be part of this important ceremony here at the InternationalPacificCollege.
An immediate impression to register upon addressing you is the satisfaction and pride to be here amongst people from nations from around the world who have chosen New Zealand as the place where they want to study. In addition there is an uplifting feeling to be amongst the people whose hard work has resulted in the graduation being celebrated here today.
Ladies and gentlemen, while we are here to acknowledge those who have spent weeks and months of hard study, and to salute their achievements here today, it would be remiss not to revisit the story of the International Pacific College which, in many ways, is a reflection of a much broader New Zealand story, that of globalisation, internationalisation and multiculturalism.
The story of the InternationalPacificCollege goes back to the early 1980s, when the Education Foundation Group, a non profit organisation which had been operating in Japan for 20 years, saw the challenge of establishing an education institution at tertiary level in an English speaking country.
I am advised that the group's Board of Trustees visited the United States, Canada and New Zealand in its search for an appropriate location. Luckily, in the eyes, I am sure, of many, the Board selected New Zealand, and in particular Palmerston North, as the location of its first tertiary institution.
I am informed that one of the reasons that New Zealand became the preferred location was because of our country's safe, secure, clean and green environment - all characteristics of which we as New Zealanders can be properly proud.
The InternationalPacificCollege was then officially opened by one of my predecessors, the then Governor‑General, Sir Paul Reeves, on the 11th May 1990.
This was a new kind of residential tertiary institution for New Zealand. The College began with 69 students - all from Japan. Today, there are nearly 600 students from 21 different countries, including nearly 80 from New Zealand.
This strong growth is due to the efforts of the founders of the College, the Education Foundation Group, which has now become the Soshi Educational Group.
It is because of the vision that we are today able to celebrate the graduation of some 150 students from 9 different countries, namely, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Tajikistan, French Polynesia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea.
Ladies and gentlemen, the fact that so many students from so many different countries are graduating here today reflects not only the success of IPC, but is evidence of the ongoing evolution of New Zealand into a truly multicultural society.
These students do not just come to New Zealand to study. They participate in local clubs, sports events and other activities. They make friendships here and forge bonds, some of which will last a lifetime. All this constitutes a huge contribution to global and cross-cultural understanding, and New Zealanders can be justifiably proud of the fact that our country is seen as fertile ground for this kind of education.
The contribution to global harmonisation is also reflected in the qualifications on offer here at IPC. Your diplomas and degrees all have an international focus, be they qualifications in International Business, International Relations, or, a subject of particular importance today, Environmental Studies. The more that we educate our future generations about these important topics, the better will be the future for all of us.
Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests, I want to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in making the InternationalPacificCollege such a significant success.
But the principal focus for today should be to congratulate the graduates. It is your hard work we are honouring and acknowledging today, your dedication to your studies and your achievements. You have done extremely well to earn these highly-prized qualifications, and they will stand you in good stead as you embark on your future endeavours.
I also wish to register thanks to the families and friends who no doubt have made their own sacrifices in order for you to be able to pursue your studies. A good environment begins in individual homes, with loved ones and with family.
I thank you again for inviting me here today, and I wish everyone well for today's graduation ceremony and for the futures that will now commence as a result of the time you have spent here.
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.