Kei aku Mana Whakaruruhau tēnā koutou. Tēnā koutou Ngāti Tūmatauenga. Mihi mai, karanga mai, e te wāhanga taiwhenua, o Te Ope Kātua, o Aotearoa. E koa ana ahau ki te haramai nei i tēnei rangi.
I’d like to specifically acknowledge:
- Major General Rose King, Chief of Army
- Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg, Land Component Commander
- Colonel Lisa Kelliher, Commander Army Training Group
- Lieutenant Colonel Iain Hill, Commandant Army Command School
- All military personnel and distinguished guests.
I’d like to also acknowledge all of the family and friends of graduates here today and those who are watching via livestream around the world.
Thank you for the warm welcome that you have extended to me this afternoon, as Governor-General, Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, and Reviewing Officer for the 2025 New Zealand Commissioning Course.
I previously attended this graduation ceremony in 2023, and I am pleased to return to review another class of our next generation of leaders.
Today’s graduating class contains twenty-six New Zealanders, two Australians, three Republic of Fiji Military Forces, one member of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, one graduate from Timor Leste and two Tongan Defence Force Officer Cadets. I trust the skills you have acquired throughout this course will ensure you are great assets to each of the countries you serve.
As challenging as I’m sure the past forty-eight weeks have felt, today represents a culmination of your effort and dedication. I can only imagine those moments when you have wanted to give up - when the early mornings and late nights, and intense physical and emotional toll felt too much. But as you stand here today – in front of your families, friends and colleagues – you should all be immensely proud of what you have achieved.
Though you leave today as successful graduates, I urge you not to forget those feelings you felt in the most difficult moments. To know that you have the ability and fortitude to overcome them will guide you throughout your lives and careers.
Your training has tested and conditioned you physically and mentally to prepare you as officers. It has presented you with adversity and obstacles which you have successfully conquered. What will prove the strength of your character now is how you choose to apply and share these skills.
Of course, leadership is far more than simply telling people what to do and expecting that they will do it; it is about exhibiting the behaviours you wish to be reflected back by those under your command.
It was John Buchan who said: “The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.”
I have held many leadership positions throughout my career and have continually strived to uphold the qualities of curiosity and humility – being always open to the ideas and perspectives of others.
I am confident your trainers throughout this course will have helped you identify your strengths and improve upon your weaknesses. I would like to extend my thanks to the training staff, and I am sure that you are all extremely proud of the graduating cohort who stand before you today.
We live in uncertain times where the world is facing greater threats than ever – both man-made and environmental. As members of the New Zealand Defence Force and other armed forces across the Asia-Pacific region, your role will be to respond to these threats in the interests of peace and the stability of our global community.
I know that your training has demanded a great deal of commitment, including time away from family and friends. For the international graduates, it has been undertaken with the additional challenge of being that bit further away from your loved ones. I commend you on your willingness to make this sacrifice.
I know there will be some extremely proud family members and friends here today to witness you receiving your ‘pips’. Their support and encouragement has no doubt been invaluable in challenging moments and I encourage you to use this opportunity to extend your thanks to them.
I hope you can take this moment to reflect upon your achievements and look towards the future with great anticipation of what is to come. I wish you all a safe and happy festive season.
Kia ora, kia kaha, kia manawanui, huihui tātou katoa.