E ngā rau rangatira mā, e huihui mai nei i tēnei pō, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Rūma mō ngā State Banquet.
Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann, Heads of Bench, Justices and Judges, distinguished members of the judiciary – it is a great pleasure to welcome you all to Government House for this very special dinner.
I must also note that this is Judge Heemi Taumaunu’s first visit here – and I am so pleased that you could join us. We also farewell Judge Jackie Moran, who retires at the end of the month, and welcome her successor, Judge La-Verne King, who starts shortly. I also note that Chief Judge Caren Fox may be retiring next year – I hope I haven’t let the cat out of the bag! There is much to reflect upon, and much to celebrate, as we gather this evening.
As I approach the conclusion of my term as Governor-General, occasions such as this have acquired a particular significance. They offer a chance to reflect, not only on the institutions we serve, but on the people whose wisdom and moral courage give those institutions their strength. And tonight, I wish simply to express my profound gratitude to each of you – for the essential role you play in sustaining the principles, freedoms, and public trust upon which our constitutional democracy depends.
At the very heart of these arrangements is the separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary – and the vital independence and impartiality of our courts. These are fundamental safeguards, providing the necessary checks and balances to ensure that the exercise of power remains always subject to the rule of law.
In 1944, at a time when the world was confronting the terrible consequences of power untempered by conscience, the American jurist Learned Hand gave his speech on The Spirit of Liberty. He spoke of liberty, not merely as something enshrined in constitutions or protected by courts, but as something that must first exist within each of us. And he offered this beautiful understanding of its essential character: ‘The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.’
I have reflected upon the extraordinary humility contained in those words. For there is perhaps no greater test of wisdom than to possess great authority, and yet remain conscious of its limits. To be entrusted with decisions of immense consequence, while retaining the capacity to listen, to question, and to recognise the humanity of those whose lives may be forever altered by them. It seems to me that this is among the most profound, and demanding, expressions of public service.
Throughout my time as Governor-General, I have come to appreciate more deeply the delicate architecture of our constitutional democracy. Its strength lies not simply in the powers vested in our institutions, but in the care with which those powers are exercised – and the trust that must exist between those who serve within them.
My own constitutional responsibilities are distinct from yours. Yet we share, I believe, an understanding that the offices we occupy are never ours to possess. They are entrusted to us for a time, to be exercised with integrity, and ultimately passed into the keeping of others. There is something both humbling and reassuring in that continuity.
And as I reflect on my years in office, I feel a particular gratitude for the relationship I have enjoyed with the judiciary. I know that the responsibilities you carry are not always visible to those beyond your courtrooms. Nor is the personal weight of the decisions you must make, often in circumstances of enormous complexity, and without the comfort of universal agreement.
There is a necessary solitude in the exercise of independent judgement. But I hope you know how deeply that service is valued. For the true measure of our institutions is found not only in their endurance, but in the confidence they give people that they will be treated with fairness, dignity, and humanity.
As I prepare to take my leave of this office, I do so with renewed appreciation for those who safeguard that promise. Thank you for your wisdom, your collegiality, and your steadfast commitment to justice for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
It has been a privilege to serve alongside you, in our different roles. And it is a privilege, this evening, simply to be in your company, and to extend to you the hospitality of Government House that your service so richly deserves.
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā rā tātou katoa.