Arts Foundation of New Zealand Patronage Award Reception
May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language (sign).
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni - and as it is evening and the sun has set [sign].
May I specifically greet you: Ros Burdon, Chair of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand; Neil Paviour-Smith, Managing Director of Forsyth Barr; Louise Edwards, Chief Executive of Perpetual Trust; Sir Ron Scott, citation reader; Distinguished guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is with pleasure that my wife Susan and I welcome you all to Government House in Wellington. As Governor-General and Patron of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, I am delighted to be hosting this event here this evening.
The Arts Foundation has had Government House patronage since its inception. In fact, I have been told that many of the working party meetings to establish the Foundation were held here at Government House before it was launched by my predecessor in office Sir Michael Hardie Boys in 1998.
It is admirable to see how the Foundation has flourished since then.
In 2000 it gave its first awards—$150,000 to five Laureate Artists.
To date, it has distributed $1.89 million to 78 recipients—as well as honouring 21 of New Zealand's greatest artists as "Icons".
All this activity and the Foundation doesn't even celebrate its first decade of activity until 2010.
I would like to add congratulations to the Foundation on its achievements.
One of New Zealand's best known philanthropists of the modern era, the late Sir Roy McKenzie, who died in Wellington last year, once said that the giving away of money called for more skill and judgment than the making of it!
I don't think there can be much doubt about the Arts Foundation's skill and judgment - not only in making grants to artists but in being a conduit so that people who wish to support the arts are enabled to do so.
New Zealand has a long tradition of philanthropy. Whilst you may not find this written up as one of the great hallmarks of New Zealand culture, it has always been there. And on that point, I would also like to thank the Foundation's sponsors for their generosity.
Philanthropy, at a local and national level in New Zealand, has funded thousands of organisations and individuals over the years in every field - from ambulances to artists. The previous recipients of the Arts Foundation's Award for Patronage, Denis and Verna Adam, and Jenny Gibbs, are good examples.
Sir Winston Churchill once famously said: "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
Tonight we celebrate philanthropic support of the arts with the Arts Foundation's Award for Patronage.
Thomas Bracken, who wrote the lyrics for God Defend New Zealand, once rhymed in 1906 as follows:
"Here the poet soon might gather subject for a thousand lays,
Here the artist might soon discover rich employment all his days."
Well, ladies and gentlemen, in spite of Bracken's upbeatedness, as we know only too well, very few artists, either in New Zealand or elsewhere, have ever discovered "rich employment" without the support of friends and family and the generosity of patrons and sponsors.
This award then acknowledges the part that patrons play in the making of art - in making sure that artists are in a position to be able to do their work and thereby bringing New Zealand art to life - and bringing New Zealand art to its audience.
And on that note I would like to close in New Zealand's first language - Maori -offering greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.