State Dinner for the President of Finland
Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen, and in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, English, Maori, Cook Island or Rarotongan Maori, Niuean and Tokelauan - Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa lahi atu, Taloha Ni.
Your Excellency, Madame President Tarja Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajarvi; Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark; Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias; Hon Margaret Wilson; Leader of the Opposition, John Your Worship the Mayor of Wellington Kerry Prendergast; Your Excellencies; Distinguished Guests; ladies and gentlemen.
Your Excellency - I want first to register thanks for your visit to us in New Zealand. My wife Susan and I have the privilege to declare that to you, on behalf of all New Zealanders.
The relationship between our two countries is marked by warmth and co-operation.
Last year saw a growing expression of our ties when Finland hosted many high level visits from New Zealand. These included the Rt Winston Peters, the Hon Ruth Dyson, the Hon Damien O'Connor, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives Hon. Margaret Wilson, who is present this evening and who had the pleasure of attending the centenary celebrations of Finland's parliamentary reform.
We are now delighted, as this visit by you and your significant delegation further symbolises the growing closeness of our countries' friendship, and presents an opportunity to strengthen and deepen our relationship.
Your Excellency, we believe our country and yours are like-minded in our views on many international, social and economic issues. We appreciate the opportunities we have had to date to share experience and information.
We admire Finland's progression from a small agriculturally-focused economy, similar to our own, to an innovative and modern society enjoying strong economic growth and admirable social institutions.
I noted with an interest that will bring a smile to New Zealanders faces, that Nokia - now the world's largest mobile phone producer with a remarkable 35 percent share of the global market - originally manufactured gumboots.
Gumboots are an item of footwear with such iconic status in New Zealand that we even have a well known song extolling their virtues.
Like Finland, New Zealand also recognises the importance of research and innovation as a means to develop a thriving economy and provide quality employment opportunities for our people.
We look forward to building on our shared passion for innovation and ingenuity. I know that we in New Zealand have been studying your Finnish model for the promotion of research and development and new technologies with interest.
One of our recent engagements in Finland was a delegation of our ICT researchers to Helsinki to participate in the European Union's 2006 Information Society Technology event.
We believe we can also learn much from each other in areas of social and economic reform. Indeed we have already shared ideas in these areas.
Perhaps it is because we have similar values that we relate well to each other. We both have progressive, liberal societies with a strong connection to nature and culture, and a global outlook.
It is interesting to note that while New Zealand was the first country in the world to provide women with the vote - Finland was the first to allow women to become members of Parliament.
It is important for nations like ours to forge close bonds. While we are from opposite hemispheres we have much in common.
We have a shared desire to develop our small countries in a sustainable way which ensures the prosperity and cultural well-being of our peoples.
And a common interest in being active members of the global community, another area where we have the potential to work together.
Your Excellency, we have developed warm and close ties and this evening's event registers that connection.
More importantly, however, I believe it signals what will be the beginning of even greater and stronger ties between our nations.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I ask you to rise for a toast.
Her Excellency Tarja Halonen, President of Finland.