Clan Maclean reception

To view images from the reception, click 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: Hon Sir Lachlan Maclean, Chief of Clan Maclean; Hon Dame Catherine Tizard, my predecessor as Governor-General and Patron of the Clan Maclean Association of New Zealand and your president; Ian McLean, former Minister of the Crown, Hon Judith Tizard and members of the Clan from far and wide; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.  In the context of this gathering, may I add the following greeting: Madainn mhath.

It is with great pleasure that my wife Susan and I welcome you all to Government House in Auckland for this reception in honour of the visit of Sir Lachlan Maclean, 12th Baronet of Duart and Morvern and 28th Chief of Clan Maclean.

To begin, I quote the first stanza of a poem written in 1899:

“I cannot boast of wealth of power,
 Of stately halls or treasurers rare:
Yet proudly do I own the race,
 That with the bravest can compare.
A clan well known in olden times,
 And held a proud, exalted name;
The highest feather in my cap—
 I’m of the clan MacLean.
Then gather, gather clansmen all,
 And shout aloud the name,
Borne by the bravest of the brave,
 Hurrah! The clan MacLean.”

As the poem so rightly notes, the Clan Maclean, with its heraldic motto “Virtue Mine Honour,” is one of the oldest clans in the Scottish Highlands with an illustrious past. 

The Macleans fought in the key wars of Scottish independence—the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1296 and  the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 when Robert the Bruce defeated King Edward II.

The Macleans were fierce Jacobites, fighting in all the Jacobite risings.  That I represent the Sovereign whose ancestors “replaced”—I place the words in quotes—the House of Stuart, is a matter which I will dwell on for too long at this gathering!

The Maclean story in Scotland is well known.  Equally as significant is the contribution members of the Clan have made throughout the world in the United States, Canada, Australia and here in New Zealand.

A quick search of the New Zealand White pages online finds more than 1,500 listings for either McLean or MacLean.

In New Zealand, Macleans College in Auckland is named after a clan family that established a farm in the area in the 1850s.  The school uniform proudly carries the Clan motto and crest.

Another was Sir Donald McLean who played a controversial role in New Zealand’s history as the Government’s land commissioner in buying land from Māori tribes.  Sir Donald was later elected Superintendent of the Hawke’s Bay Province and McLean Park in Napier is named after him.  I understand that as a part of your visit, Sir Lachlan, that you will be unveiling a plaque at the park.

Other McLeans, such as the late Sir T.P. McLean, have been award-winning journalists, others such as Ian McLean, served as members of Parliament, Judge  McLean is Chief coroner, and Denis McLean, Secretary of Defence, while one Catherine Tizard (nee Maclean) went on to be New Zealand’s first female Governor-General and her daughter served as a Cabinet Minister.  Another is the Deputy Official Secretary here at Government House, Alec McLean.

Speaking of Dame Catherine reminds me of a story she recounts in her recently published memoirs from a book written by noted ethnomusicologist at Auckland University, Dr Mervyn McLean, about the Clan.  She recounts the story as follows:

“About halfway through the Great Flood, when the whole world was covered with water and no land yet visible, Noah was surprised to see a boat approaching from the distance.  When it got close enough to the Ark, he hailed it.  ‘Ahoy,’ he called, ‘who goes there?’  And the answer came floating back across the Great Deep: ‘Mclean, Maclean. We’ve got a boat of our ain!’”

And what a boat it has been!  The contribution of the Clan Maclean speaks more widely of the contribution of New Zealanders of Scottish descent.  There is, for example, a Scottish Studies Programme, not surprisingly, at the University of Otago in Dunedin.  As many here know, the city takes its name from Dùn Èideann, the Gaelic term for Edinburgh, and is often described as the “Edinburgh of the South.”

A significant number also settled at Waipu, in Northland, which I understand Sir Lachlan you are also visiting. They arrived in New Zealand after an epic journey that saw the migrants initially settle in Nova Scotia in Canada and then in Adelaide, South Australia.
 
Like all migrants, the Scots were far from homogenous. However, they promoted key including a belief in education and equal opportunity, and a strong sense of social and personal responsibility.

Armed with these values, they set about establishing in New Zealand the educational and scientific institutions they had valued in Scotland.  Many of New Zealand’s best schools were founded by Scottish Presbyterians and the University of Otago continues to owe its Scottish benefactors a great debt.  They also focused their skills on the task of building successful businesses.

More widely, their influence has been so strong that many Scottish customs and attitudes have become part of New Zealand life.  Highland Games continue to be popular and Scottish pipe bands are strong.  Many a busker in a New Zealand street has been known to play the bagpipes, often with mixed reviews from the passers-by and particularly the neighbouring shopkeepers!

To close, I will quote another stanza from the poem with which I opened as it summarises well both the spread of the Clan and its ongoing connections to Scotland.

“The clan is scattered o’er the world,
 Where’er the sun doth shine;
But love for the dear old heather land
 Space ne’er can dim nor time.
Oh! Clansmen, stand ye side by side,
 Prove worthy of the fame,
That shed a glory o’er your sires
 The brave old Clan MacLean.”

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