Arts Foundation: Icon Awards

Photographs from this event are available here. 

I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening (Sign)

I then specifically greet you: Fran Ricketts, Chair of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand and your husband Geoff and a number of your fellow trustees; Patrons to the Icons, Sir Eion Edgar & Lady Jan Edgar; Founding Patrons of the Arts Foundation, John Todd and your wife Teena; Neil Paviour-Smith, Managing Director of Forsyth Barr; Hon Chris Finlayson, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and Attorney-General; Hon Hekia Parata, Minister of Ethnic Affairs and Women’s Affairs; Distinguished Patrons and Artists; Governors; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It is with great pleasure that Susan and I welcome you all to Government House in Wellington. As Governor-General and Patron of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, it is a delight to host the Icon Awards here this evening.

Government House and the office of Governor-General have for some time been connected with the Arts Foundation.

Sir Michael and Lady Mary Hardie Boys, hosted many of the working party meetings that eventually saw the establishment of the Arts Foundation which Sir Michael launched in this room more than a decade ago.  Dame Silvia Cartwright then presented the inaugural Icon Awards in 2003 at the St James Theatre in Wellington.

I am thus Governor-General Number Three in the role of Patron.  In that regard, Susan and I were pleased to host the 2008 Awards occasion here where Roderick and Gillian Deane were honoured for their contributions to the arts as Patrons.

Government House is pleased to have encouraged the association with the Arts Foundation and to see it having grown from ideas discussed in meetings here into what has become one of New Zealand’s most significant private trusts honouring and supporting this country’s artists.

I have learned of the Foundation having $6 million under management and more than $15 million promised in legacies.  To date, more than
$3 million has been donated to recipients and more than 100 artists have been honoured.  I congratulate the Foundation on those achievements thus far and for the support that that has given to many talented and creative New Zealanders.

Tonight is special because we celebrate the Foundation’s prestigious Icon Award. This award provides an opportunity to honour New Zealand’s most significant artists. It is appropriate to note the Icon Awards were inspired, in part, by the idea of New Zealand’s highest honour, the Order of New Zealand being limited to being held by 20 living recipients.

With past recipients that include the renowned author the late Janet Frame, and actor on stage, screen and television, Don Selwyn, the prestige that accompanies the Icon award is thus obvious. 

New Zealand poet, novelist, and journalist of the first half of the 20th Century, Iris Guiver Wilkinson, better known to most as Robin Hyde, made a poignant observation about valuing our own land Aotearoa and its history, heritage and people over that of anywhere else in the world when she wrote – and I quote her:-

“It’s just dawned on me that I am a New Zealander and surely, surely the legends of the mountains, rivers and people we see should mean more to us than the legends of any other country.”

I would like to congratulate all of tonight’s recipients in advance and, like yourselves, I look forward to finding out who they may be shortly. On behalf of all New Zealanders, as Governor-General, I would like to emphasise the pride that is taken, as a country, in your achievements.

And on that note I will close in New Zealand’s first language offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.