Canterbury Club

May 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)

May I specifically greet you: Martin Cummings, President of the Canterbury Club; Rick Hill, immediate past president and Hamish Ireland, incoming president; Alun Wilkie, architect; David Cartwright, Secretary-Manager; Judge David Holderness, President of the Christchurch Club; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to the reopening of Christchurch's historic Canterbury Club.

I have been asked to officially reopen these facilities but before I do, I wish to speak a little of the significance of this event.

I would first like to say how good it is to be in Christchurch today.  Earlier today we had the pleasure of hosting an investiture ceremony at the Air Force Museum at Wigram where I invested 36 South Islanders-and one person from Tokyo-with New Zealand Royal New Year Honours.
I understand that it was the first time since my predecessor Sir Bernard Fergusson was Governor-General in the 1960s that an investiture ceremony has been held in the South Island's largest city.

I have long enjoyed visiting Christchurch, a city renowned for its beauty, its strong cultural heritage,  its historic buildings, world-class education facilities, and of course, famous sporting events.

One of Christchurch's flag bearers has always been the Canterbury Club. Established in 1872, it has been a feature of the city for more than 135 years.

I understand that this building, designed by Frederick Strouts, and completed the following year, is one of only a handful of Christchurch buildings that are still owned and used for their original purpose.

The Club has had many significant members and visitors over the years.  Both Sir Robert Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton stayed here before heading south for their ill-fated adventures in Antarctica.

Likewise, one of New Zealand's earlier premiers, Sir John Hall, the first chairman of the Christchurch Municipal Council, was a founding director.  Fellow premiers Sir George Grey and Sir Julius Vogel were made honorary members while Sir Joseph Ward and Richard John Seddon were known visitors while Sir Sidney Holland was a member during his time as a Member of Parliament in the 40's and as Prime Minister in the 1950s.

Times have certainly changed since the Supreme Court judge, Justice Denniston, joined in 1889.  The Club's centennial historian records regarding: "From his home in Fendalton where he lived for nine years before moving to Avonside, writes his biographer, he used to ride on horse-back to the Supreme Court, a distance of nearly three miles.  To evening functions he was driven in a brougham-‘his coachman wearing on his top-hat the cockade that befitted the judge's position.' One wonders whether this conveyance sometimes drew up at the club's front entrance where the hitching post may still be seen."

While the hitching post-and the period gas lamp-are still there, times change.  While it is important to retain the best from the past, all organisations must move forward if they are to remain relevant to modern needs.  

The renovations the Club has instituted can be said to have taken a grand old lady into a new age while preserving and enhancing essential character and charm.

The addition of business meeting rooms, improved accommodation, new dining and function facilities and a health and fitness centre will assist the club in meeting the current and future needs of its members and the community.

As a long-standing member of New Zealand clubs of a similar and kindred kind, I am keenly aware of the opportunity this place provides to meet with people who share a range of professional, personal and artistic interests.

This is the great value of institutions such as the Canterbury Club, and indeed the Christchurch Club which we had the pleasure of visiting in May last year. They are forums that nurture reflection and discussion outside of a formal professional environment.

A Club such as this is also valuable in that it reflects not only the people who are its members, but also the physical environment in which it operates.

I believe the Club's decision to stay on its current site and renovate its clubrooms was entirely justifiable.  Had the Club sold up and moved somewhere else, I suspect the loss of connection with its past heritage, would have undermined its future. 

The Savage Club in London has a by line which suits all of this.  It goes:"Pursuit of happiness - a quest made infinitely more agreeable by the fellowship of members" - which I think underlines all of this suitably.

The Club reflects not only Christchurch's past, but also the city's business and civic leaders capacity to engage with part of our country's future.

To close, I will quote some words of the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew, speaking of the qualities of the Singapore Cricket Club. He said:  "Perhaps in this [Cricket Club], we have a symbol of what has been happening in [Singapore]. It cannot stay still but there is an indefinable quality about this Club which no other club can match-it bridges the transformation from what was, to what is, and represents our capacity to meet what will be." 

Replacing the word Singapore with Canterbury and leaving out the word Cricket, one can say, so it is with The Canterbury Club.

And on that note, I will close in New Zealand's first language Māori, by 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.

It gives me great pleasure then to declare the renovated Canterbury Clubrooms officially open.