Speech
Cook Islands: Formal Welcome by the Queen's Representative
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.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and (Sign)
May I specifically greet you: Your Excellency, Sir Frederick Goodwin, Queen's Representative, and Lady Goodwin; and to you the Hon Jim Marurai; Prime Minister; and to you Ada Rongomatene Ariki, President of the House of Ariki; and to you Te Tika Mataiapo, President of the Koutu Nui; members of Parliament and members of the House of Ariki and members of the Koutu Nui; Church and Community Leaders; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. Kia Orana to you all.
Thank you for the invitation to Government House and for the warmth of the welcomes, exemplified by the school children, since arriving in the Cook Islands yesterday for our first formal visit to these beautiful islands. In particular, I acknowledge your friendship during the last year. We attended to matters of duty such as at Pacific funerals. It is now a pleasant change to come in circumstances of celebration. May I pay respects to your office and this house and acknowledge the contribution of your predecessors in occupying the office of Her Majesty the Queen's Representative. You, Sir Frederick, have given more than 40 years public service through to the present.
I would then like to publicly repeat the respects and condolences expressed to the Queen's Representative and the Prime Minister on the recent passing of one of the Cooks' most brilliant sons, former Prime Minister, Sir Thomas Davis.
Sir Thomas came to high office late in life after high profile career in medicine, hospital management and academia. His was a distinguished record of service and he will be remembered warmly.
When I was appointed Governor-General, it was decided that it would be a priority to visit and connect with all parts of the Realm of New Zealand, of which the Cook Islands is a part. I have travelled extensively throughout New Zealand and have recently visited Niue and Tokelau.
So just in time - for the anniversary is today - I visit the Cook Islands. Admittedly, I have yet to visit the Ross Dependency in Antarctica, but I'm sure the temperatures will not be as welcoming as they are here!
Each of these visits have been preceded or followed by a community reception with peoples from each of the island groups now living in New Zealand. A reception for members of the Cook Islands community was held at Government House in Auckland in late June.
The formal relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand began in 1901, but since the Cook Islands exercised your inalienable right to self-determination in 1965, we have shared a close friendship that is akin to family.
The family relationship has more of a resonance in a Polynesian setting because Susan and I have been at Ngatangiia in Rarotonga where the three stones point towards Aotearoa and we know of the shared heritage of coming from Hawaiki.
Our common citizenship and a shared currency reflects the unique and lasting nature of this relationship. That was re-emphasised in 2001 when the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and the Cook Islands signed a joint declaration to mark the centenary of the relationship. That declaration emphasised that the relationship is founded on the fundamental principle of partnership and the need to consult closely on matters of common interest.
As I have mentioned we have both been to the Cooks more than once as tourists, we both have Cook Islands friends in New Zealand, and lastly I as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman, I have had and maintain warm personal and professional linkages with many Cook Island people. In particular, it was a pleasure to meet Sir Frederick and Lady Goodwin again, having met you both at King Tuhetia's Koronehia anniversary celebrations earlier this week.
Being here again brings back to us memories of the beauty and peace of these islands, the vibrancy of language and culture, and of the warm hospitality we have received.
And there is also vibrancy in your economic progress. As it is for New Zealand, tourism is one of the Cook Islands' great commodities, followed by fish and pearl exports. I am advised that the industry has been buoyed by an increase in commercial flights from New Zealand and renewed linkages between Rarotonga and Los Angeles.
The traffic, however, is not just one way. Many Cook Islanders visit New Zealand to connect with family and friends living there. The almost 60,000 Cook Islanders living in New Zealand form the second largest Pacific group living in Aoteaora.
That community has enriched New Zealand's society and economy, from sport to the arts and in the business and community sectors.
I will only name a few but they include musicians such as Annie Crummer and Junior Rikiau, and Artist/Designer Ane O'Neil, through to businessmen such as Mike Pero and Hamish Crooks. In the public sector, people such as Adrian Orr, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, are working for all New Zealanders.
Women such as Jean Mitaera, a former National President of the Pasifika Women's Organisation, and the late Jasmine Underhill, who was Deputy Mayor of Porirua for many years, have given dedicated service to New Zealand's community sector.
Like other Pacific peoples, the people of the Cook Islands have given much to New Zealand sport. Margaret Matenga, in netball, the Iro brothers, Kevin and Tony, and John Whittaker, in rugby league, are just a few examples.
Before I close, I would again like to thank everyone involved, and particularly the Prime Minister and his Government, for organising our visit and for the warm hospitality we have been shown.
I began speaking in all the New Zealand realm languages. May I close by speaking in Maori issuing greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa. And being in the Cook Islands I say: Kia orana and Kia manuia.