Speech
Dinner for New Zealanders in Mongolia
Among New Zealanders, may I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the Realm of New Zealand, in English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening and the sun has set (Sign)
May I specifically greet you: Your Excellency Tony Browne, New Zealand's Ambassador to Mongolia and Mrs Browne; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. And in the context of this evening's dinner may I add the greeting: Sain baina uu.
This is an informal gathering and I will keep my remarks brief but I would first like to add thanks from my wife Susan and myself and our party, for joining us for this dinner this evening.
This is our second last engagement in what has been a whirlwind tour of Ulaanbaatar and the surrounding hinterland.
While New Zealand and Mongolia established diplomatic relations in 1975, this is the first State Visit by a New Zealand Governor-General to the Asian nation.
While it has been a short visit, it has been fascinating none the less. The contrast of a modern city—limousines alongside trolley buses that look remarkably similar to those in Wellington—modern buildings alongside Mongolian ger in the outer areas has made it all sparkling.
Mongolia has clearly undergone massive changes, moving from a centrally planned communist economy to democracy and a western market economy in the space of just 18 years.
In our short visit, we have been formally welcomed by the President Enkhbayar, who also hosted us to a State Dinner at his official residence, the Ikh Tenger. As well as talks with other senior ministers and officials, we have experienced traditional Mongolian dance, sports and food at Terelj, away from the capital.
We have also had the opportunity to meet Kiwis like Andrew and Liz Moselen, New Zealanders who are working on an NZAID funded literacy programme. I also understand that here tonight is Margaret Currie, who is involved in a prison fellowship programme, and also Keith Swenson of the NZ Nature Institute which is working with local environmental NGOs.
While the trade and business links between New Zealand and Mongolia are relatively limited, we share some similar perspectives on the world. We are both, population-wise, relatively small nations in isolated parts of the world—Mongolia in the vast expanse of central Asia and New Zealand in the vast expanse of the South Pacific. As such we both recognise and value the importance of multilateralism in regional and international affairs and that we can achieve far more by working together rather than working alone.
My visit aims in an official sense to demonstrate New Zealand's commitment to that relationship, but your presence and work here also plays a vital part because you carry our country's reputation and I thank you for your contribution.
As you know, our visit to Mongolia falls in the middle of our visit to Beijing to support the New Zealand team competing in the Olympic Games.
Tonight we fly back to Beijing for two more days of competition before returning home. Like you, we are particularly looking forward to Saturday's events. So many New Zealanders, particularly in the rowing, are competing, that the New Zealand media has dubbed it "Super Saturday."
Finally, I would like to publicly thank New Zealand's Ambassador to Mongolia, Tony Browne, his Deputy, Niki Reid, and his staff, for all their work in organising what has been a highly successful State Visit. And I thank you all again for your presence here tonight.
On that note, I will I close in New Zealand's first language, Maori, by offering greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.