Speech
Leadership New Zealand Graduation Ceremony
Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni.
Greetings: Thank you Your Worship Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere City for your kind introduction. Jo Brosnahan, Chair, Leadership New Zealand; Lesley Slade, Chief Executive, Leadership New Zealand; Leadership New Zealand Trustees, advisors, sponsors, distinguished guests otherwise, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure for me to be here this evening to play a part in the Leadership New Zealand Graduation ceremony here at Soca Gallery.
May I compliment the organisers on the excellent choice of venue, it is very uplifting to be here surrounded by the beautiful and inspiring works of Neal Palmer's latest exhibition 'The Sum of Their Parts'.
It is even more uplifting to be amongst the wonderfully talented people whose graduation we are celebrating here tonight.
A lot of people talk about "leadership"; they talk about vision, they talk about strong hands and new brooms, they talk about people with leadership potential, good leaders and bad leaders. Opinions on what makes a good leader are divided.
Perhaps a good definition is that attributed to the late Right Reverend Godfrey Edward Armstrong Wilson, who is quoted as saying: "When what one believes to be morally right is clearly seen to take precedence over personal ambition and pleasure, that is true leadership."
Ladies and gentlemen, no matter what your definition, one thing is certain: good leaders we need, and on good leaders we depend.
That is why I attach enormous value to the work of Leadership New Zealand. The cross-sectoral make-up of its support network, from business, government and the wider community, reflects a holistic approach to fulfilling its vision - to develop and enhance the quality of our future leaders by building a culture of leadership.
In only two years, Leadership New Zealand has managed to pull together not only a very strong board of high-profile trustees, but also a most impressive network of advisory trustees and, of course, a stellar group of key partners without whom this project would simply not be possible.
Leadership New Zealand's staff have implemented a coherent three-pronged approach to its activities: the leadership programme, the SkillsBank and the Leadership Forum. All three strands combined have already had a strong impact on building the leadership culture in New Zealand that is at the heart of its raison-d'etre.
Ladies and gentlemen, I want to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in Leadership New Zealand as well as all those who have shown their support.
But tonight, the most thanks and heartfelt congratulations go to our graduates. Your determination to enhance your leadership skills, and your willingness to take up the mantle of "leader", are to be applauded. I also wish to thank all your family and friends who no doubt have made their own sacrifices in order for you to be able to pursue this course of action.
I thank you again for inviting me here tonight, and I look forward to formally acknowledging each graduate shortly.
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.