Rere ana nga roimata o Hine tērā te pae o Te Riri. Huihuia mai tātau katoa tēnei te pae o Maumahara. E nga iwi, kei aku rangatira wahine ma, tāne mā tēnā tātau katoa.
I’d like to specifically acknowledge: His Excellency Alfredo Pérez Bravo, Ambassador of Mexico and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps; members of our Diplomatic Corps; Hon Chris Penk, Minister for Veterans; Hon Peeni Henare, Opposition Spokesperson for Defence; His Worship Andrew Little, Mayor of Wellington; Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb, Chief of Air Force; Major General (Rtd) Evan Williams, Chief Executive, Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association; Major (Rtd) Fiona Cassidy, Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council; Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae, Chief Executive, Ministry for Culture and Heritage; guests of the Royal New Zealand Navy from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and United States of America and visitors from the British Army; and representatives of Taranaki Whānui as tangata whenua.
I’d like to acknowledge all veterans and their families who are marking Armistice Day here and around the country today.
As Governor-General and Commander in Chief I thank current serving members of the New Zealand Defence Force for continuing the work of many thousands of brave New Zealanders who have served to protect Aotearoa and uphold global peace.
As the announcement of the signing of the Armistice was made in New Zealand on the morning of the 12th November 1918, I’m mindful of the feelings New Zealanders must have felt - of jubilation, and of relief, but also of the overwhelming national grief that became entwined in the fabric of our nation’s history.
The price of peace was the loss of 18,000 lives - at a time when our population was just over a million.
While this morning at eleven o’clock, we marked the hour at which hostilities ceased on the Western Front 107 years ago, I am reminded that it made for a fragile peace. Though the signing of the Armistice and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles brought an end to the Great War, it sowed the seed for further conflicts.
Looking back a century in time to 1925, as the world began to recover from the turmoil of the Great War, new threats were on the rise as fascist ideals began to take root. In fourteen years, the world would return to war, another 11,900 young New Zealanders would lose their lives, and those who returned would feel the lifelong effect of their service.
The New Zealand personnel who served in the World Wars, and in the subsequent conflicts which have affected so many around the world, did so in the interests of upholding our enduring commitment to peace, the rule of law and global security.
I am proud to see our Defence Force maintaining these ideals in their work at home and abroad. New Zealanders are deeply grateful to the crucial support that has been provided to those impacted by extreme weather events, natural disasters and protecting our most vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The international memorials that surround us here at Pukeahu serve as a tribute to the bonds forged through war. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior reminds us of the price of those bonds.
It is pleasing to see so many representatives from around the world here to commemorate this occasion with us today. New Zealand is grateful for your enduring friendship.
Armistice Day is marked as Remembrance Day in many countries, and I think it is fitting that we commemorate it as such. As we continue to see conflict around the world, it has never been more important to remember the lessons of history. That we choose to gather today and remember a moment of peace - rather than a declaration of war - speaks of these peaceful aspirations.
Today, as we remember all New Zealanders who have so bravely served our nation in times of global struggle I acknowledge once again those in our Defence Force who continue this legacy.
Kia maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou.