Order of New Zealand Dinner

E kui mā, e koro mā, ngā mihi o te pō.  Tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou.  Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Whare Kawana ki Tamaki Makaurau.

Ladies and gentlemen good evening and warm greetings to you all.  Welcome to Government House Auckland.

I specifically acknowledge Members of the Order of New Zealand who are here tonight: Dame Miriam Dell, Sir Miles Warren, Dr Cliff Whiting, The Honourable Dame Catherine Tizard, Professor Karl Stead, Dame Malvina Major, Sir Don McKinnon and Sir Ron Carter.

It is an honour for Janine and me to share a dinner with our most distinguished New Zealanders and your guests.  Tonight, the superlatives will flow!

Our nation makes progress in incremental steps.  This is due in no small part to the actions of outstanding individuals and the influence they wield over time.  The Order of New Zealand was instituted by Royal Warrant to recognise outstanding service given by such people – in the arts, in business, in politics, in the judiciary, in medicine, in sport and in the spiritual and social realms.

As membership of the Order has grown, so too has its standing.  Each member has lent their mana to the Order, and to the whakapapa of the individual medals that pass from one to another.  And so too has the Order added to the mana of its individual members.

Since our last Order of New Zealand dinner we have said our farewells to three Members: one of New Zealand’s greatest and most sublime of artists, Ralph Hotere, in February 2013; June, Lady Blundell, who was highly regarded for her community work, in October 2012; and this year in April, The Rt Hon Sir Owen Woodhouse, who will be remembered as a jurist of great integrity and as the architect of New Zealand’s ACC system. 

The Order has gained two new members since our last dinner: Emeritus Professor Albert Wendt, in June 2013, and the newest member, Sir Ron Carter, just a week ago here in Auckland.

Albert Wendt’s appointment acknowledged his great contribution to a Pacific voice in our literature.  Sir Ron was acknowledged for his tremendous achievements in business, infrastructure development and the not-for-profit sector.

In my role as Governor-General, I have many occasions to reflect on our heritage, on what matters to New Zealanders, and on our achievements.  Most recently, in Glasgow, such reflections were evoked in three very different arenas: the Commonwealth Games; the launch of the New Zealand in Edinburgh season and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo; and a Service of Remembrance marking the centenary of the beginning of the First World War.

As is common when I am representing New Zealand overseas, I felt a strong bond with my compatriots, and quiet pride for the contribution this small nation has made as a global citizen.  I felt pride in our vibrant and unique culture and the more than 200 artists taking part in seven of the 12 annual festivals in Edinburgh; and pride in the international achievements of individuals like Valerie Adams and 18-year old boxer David Nyika.

Tonight is another occasion to acknowledge what is important to us – in this case, exemplified by the role members of the Order of New Zealand, past and present, have played in developing our nation as we know it. 

As some of our greatest servants, it is only fitting that you have been recognised with our highest honour. 

You have also been our visionaries.  You have searched out better ways of doing things; you have shown resilience and determination to achieve your goals; you have been willing to challenge the status quo and in doing so, have guided us to a new, more encompassing way of seeing ourselves and our world.

I think it is fair to say you have displayed the qualities described by Sir Carl Berendson, one of our more distinguished representatives at the United Nations, who said:

“We in New Zealand are not of those who ask what we are not prepared to give; we are not of those who demand which we are not prepared to accord; we are not of those who are content to leave to others burdens which we ourselves should assume.”

Thank you for being exemplars of these fine qualities and for the inspiration and leadership you have provided to your compatriots.

I also must acknowledge the wealth of experience, talent and achievement represented by the guests accompanying the Members of the Order this evening.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming this evening and please enjoy the hospitality of Government House. 

 
No reira, kia ora huihui tātou katoa.