Speech
New Zealand Antarctic Society Reception
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, New Zealand Antarctic Society Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, I greet you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and Sign Language.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and (Sign)
My wife Susan and I warmly welcome you to Government House in Wellington, on this, the longest night of the year.
My role this evening if first to formally open and host this year's New Zealand Antarctic Society Mid Winter reception. In so doing, we recognise Antarctica's longest night, and, indeed, our own.
We also observe the 50th Anniversary of Scott Base and the commemorative book Antarctic Partners, which in turn celebrates 50 years of cooperation in Antarctica between New Zealand and the United States, will be launched.
I would like to acknowledge the support of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for tonight's event. I particularly wish to acknowledge Nicola Jackson, Chair of the Wellington Branch of the Society, and Simon Murdoch, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I also welcome Your Excellencies United States Ambassador William McCormick and High Commissioner of India, Kadakath Ernest, from both of whom we will hear shortly.
Tonight, there is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of Antarctica, not only to New Zealand, but also to the world.
It is a place managed for peace and science and over the past 50 years, New Zealand and other parties to the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, have committed themselves to the protection of its special environment and the dependent and associated ecosystems.
Antarctica is a vast continent of superlatives at the bottom of the world. It is the coldest, driest, windiest and, while it is New Zealand's nearest neighbour to the south, it is also the most remote.
I am advised of the prospect of a visit to Antarctica early in 2008 and, if it occurs, I am looking forward to witnessing and encountering these superlatives personally.
This year, New Zealand celebrates fifty years of being involved in this vast land.
The New Zealand Antarctic Society was an important facet of our country's involvement, and some of the pioneers of that association are here tonight.
Our country's contribution is founded on the Antarctic Treaty - of which New Zealand was among the original signatories.
The Treaty is a unique international agreement which reflects that Antarctica is not owned by a single nation. There is no Treaty like it anywhere in the world and we can be proud of our role in helping it achieve its vision.
Twelve nations signed this Treaty in 1959, and now 46 parties work together in Antarctica for peaceful and scientific purposes. In this, New Zealand shares a desire that Antarctica will continue to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes.
To this end, and like many of the other signatories, New Zealand has a small crew of scientists and base support staff working out of Antarctica at Scott Base, one of the earliest operational bases established on the Continent.
The team is supported not only by the New Zealand Antarctic Society and all those directly involved in Antarctic issues, but also by many New Zealanders who care for this continent.
While we are here tonight enjoying the warmth and hospitality of Government House, we are also honouring these scientists and staff who are holding their own mid-winter solstice celebrations at Scott Base. I understand we will be in touch with Scott Base shortly by means of a telephone link.
In the spirit of peace and cooperation that epitomises the Antarctic Treaty, I again welcome everyone to Government House.
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