Awards ceremony for Scouting NZ, Guides NZ and St John

May I first greet everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand—English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and (sign).

Greetings: to you, Jenny Burrow and Jan Murphy, from Guides New Zealand, and to you Tony Hickmore and John Lawson from Scouting New Zealand; and to you, John Hall from the Order of St John, Distinguished Guests; Families; Staff and Volunteers; Recipients.

Today is a very special day and before I go any further, I would like to congratulate all Award recipients. 

The first aspect of today's event has been The Guides whose awards have been presented by Susan who is your Patron.  The most important quality each Guide has displayed in their lives is leadership.

That leadership has ensured they have shared their special qualities and ambitions with those around them, thus the good done is greater than any individual could have achieved alone.

The following comment by a wonderful New Zealander, the late Dame Whina Cooper, on mana and the responsibilities of leadership, captures this sentiment well.  As quoted in Michael King's biography, Dame Whina said:

I can't sleep at night, because even at night I'm worrying about things and planning things.  It's the mana, you see.  If you've got it, it never lets you alone.  You have to be thinking about the people and working for them, all the time.

More broadly, each Guides, Scouting and St John Award represents the culmination of a great deal of hard work, determination and courage.

Even more than that, for everyone present the award you have received is an acknowledgement of goals you have set and reached.

You have drawn on your qualities of motivation, team building and leadership.  Hopefully there have also been benefits such as contact with community and adventures outdoors.

You have also had to build self-confidence.

I bring to mind something written by great writer Samuel Johnson who said: "Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings."

The efforts you are being recognised for today have set you up for great undertakings in your life - great undertakings that will benefit not only yourself, but your community and ultimately your country.

I would like to make some brief reference to the long history of Scouting New Zealand, Guides New Zealand and the Order of St John.

The Scouts and the Guides have, for one hundred years worldwide - ninety-nine years in New Zealand - enabled boys and girls, young men and young women, to reach their full potential and make a difference in the world. 

In the case of St John, its roots in New Zealand go back more than 120 years, and in addition to its wide ranging community, health and ambulatory services, the organisation provides significant programmes for young people from the age of six to 18 years of age.  These programmes focus on teaching young people first aid, healthcare, leadership and life skills. 

The three organisations represented here today are, in their own way, an essential part of the lifeblood of New Zealand society and they provide role models for our youth and encourage participation in the community.  They provide great opportunities to meet new people, experience new things, make friends and, just as importantly, to have some fun.

May I in closing make reference to the support personnel - parents, donors, trustees, and volunteers who may have helped all the recipients get to where they are today.

The collective efforts of all those are a credit to our country.

I began speaking in all the New Zealand realm languages.  May I close speaking in Maori wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

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