Celebrating 75 years

I begin 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 acknowledge you: Hon Russell Marshall, President of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and your standing committee members; Brian Lynch, Executive Director of the Institute; Your Excellency Anthony Le Clerk Kgwadu Mongalo, High Commissioner for South Africa to New Zealand and Deputy Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and a number of members of the Diplomatic Corps; Members of the Institute, notably life member Bruce Brown; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It has been a pleasure for my wife Susan and I to accept the invitation to attend this function here at the Wellington Club to mark the launch of Celebrating 75 years: The Proceedings of the NZIIA 75th Anniversary Series of Addresses and Lectures.

As erstwhile foot soldier and standing committee member and now Patron of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, I have the privilege to launch this fine duo of books, but before I do, I would like to speak of the work of the Institute as reflected in these publications.

I must say at the outset that I am a little unnerved to be launching these two volumes, so ably edited by Brian Lynch for the reason that one of the items included in the first volume is my speech to the Institute’s 75th Anniversary Dinner held here in the Wellington Club in May last year.  Can you launch yourself?  Given that the phrase “and God bless all who sail in her” is often heard at ceremonial launches, I cannot help but feel that I may be soon to slide down the slipway into the sea as I speak!

That dinner event was a grand evening heartily enjoyed by all and is something of which I have many fond memories.  Both myself and the Prime Minister, Rt Hon John Key, who also addressed the dinner, remarked on how the Institute had flourished since the small group gathered in the Wellington home of founding President Downie Stewart in 1934 to begin the Institute.

Looking at the papers presented during the Institute’s anniversary year, calls to mind a number of observations.

The first is the complexity of international relations in the 21st Century, particularly for a small nation such as New Zealand. Seventy-five years ago, members of the Institute would have concerned themselves primarily with discussions around international diplomacy focused on trade and military strength and aggression.  Those debates would, no doubt, have often been filtered through the lens of the British Empire, then still a major force in world affairs.

Seventy-five years later, issues that could never have been imagined are now prominent.  Who would have foreseen the rise of a major international confederation such as the European Union, particularly one founded on two nations, France and Germany, which had been such bitter rivals?  Or an international gathering such as APEC, that brings together the nations of the Asia-Pacific rim?  While Russia was a major player in world affairs in the 1930s, there would have been few who would have suggested it would be joined by Brazil, India and China in a powerful and influential quartet dubbed by investment bankers Goldman Sachs as the “BRICs”.

Likewise, how many New Zealanders would have foreseen a world where the sun would set on the Empire and Britain would no longer be New Zealand’s key trading partner?  I am absolutely sure that no-one would have suggested that climate change would be a major foreign policy issue?

These and many more matters were debated and discussed in the Institute’s 75th year.  Some things, of course, never change.  In 1934, the world was still dealing with the ramifications of the Great Depression whilst today the international community is continuing to address the fallout from the recent global financial crisis.

A second observation is the quality of the presentations.  It says much of the standing of the Institute in diplomatic, government and academic circles that it continues to attract presenters of such a high calibre.  Moreover, the fact that the audiences attending such lectures include members of the diplomatic corps and senior representatives of the New Zealand government and business community on a regular basis, suggests that the events the Institute organises are meeting a genuine need for debate and discussion around international issues.

A third observation that flows from examining these papers is that the influence of the Institute extends beyond merely organising seminars and publishing the resulting proceedings.  Behind each of these papers and seminars is the work of the individual contributors, and also the significant debates that occurred in the question and answer sessions that followed. 

Robust discussion enriches the experience for the presenter and for the audience.  While few may have had their views changed as a result of hearing a particular presentation, I am sure that many left with their own arguments more finely honed as a result.

This leads to a final observation.  There is often a view that diplomacy and international relations are focused on negotiations about trade and other regional and international issues and that much occurs behind the scenes, out of the public gaze.

While that is part of the story, it is not the whole story.  Equally important are the speeches and lectures that are given at pivotal events where key policy makers are given the opportunity to raise major issues and, more importantly, to float possible solutions. 

In this regard, the Institute, as an organisation with a respected standing in public affairs, provides a space for that sharing of thoughts to occur.  The value of that work is almost impossible to quantify, but it is important nonetheless.

In conclusion then, I want to congratulate the Institute for bringing these papers together into these two smart volumes.  They are a fitting tribute to the Institute’s work in its anniversary year as well as a major resource for those with an abiding interest in international affairs.

It therefore gives me much pleasure in declaring these two volumes—Celebrating 75 years—officially launched.

And on what I trust is a suitable note of congratulations, 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.