Diplomatic Reception

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: Your Excellency Anthony Mongalo, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and High Commissioner for South Africa, and Mrs Helen Mongalo; Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Consuls and other members of the Diplomatic Corps; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It is with great pleasure that Susan and I welcome you all to Government House in Wellington for this reception in honour of the Diplomatic Corps.

Two days after we came to the Governor-General role on 23 August 2006, we hosted a reception for the Diplomatic Corps here at Government House.  This has been followed by other gatherings for diplomats or the Consular Corps either at Government Houses in Auckland or in the temporary Government House Vogel in Lower Hutt. 

With our time as tenants of this magnificent building due to end 33 days hence, it seems fitting that we should again host the Corps to a gathering at Government House in an end of term sense.

As many will know, this House reopened at the end of March after a 30 month Conservation Project. For those who have not visited since the reopening, while some aspects may seem familiar, much has changed and you should feel welcome this evening to examine the Edwardian splendour to which things have been restored. 

Furniture and finishings are obvious changes, but beneath the surface lies a heritage building that boasts completely new services as well as a structure that has been seismically strengthened and topped with a new roof. 

As the House has changed, so has the Diplomatic Corps.  Such is the inevitable turnover of Heads of Mission, almost the entire Corps has been replenished during our tenure.  Just four non-resident Ambassadors and an equally small number of resident High Commissioners or Ambassadors were accredited before our time.  This is why, Your Excellency Asi Tuiataga and Your Grace Charles Balvo there is a special character to the smile when Susan and I meet you.  That of course also applies to you Letelesa Helen Mrs Blakelock.

We have also had the opportunity of farewelling many members of the Corps as they have departed from New Zealand and to farewell New Zealand heads of mission before they have departed on their assignments overseas.

We see the relationship of Government House with the Diplomatic Corps as important for a number of reasons.

First, New Zealand is a country as far away from anywhere in the world as one can possibly be.  However, as a nation that relies on trade for its prosperity, we make our way in the world community by having strong and well-developed people-to-people contacts. 

It is not surprising then that despite being a country of little more than four million people, New Zealand maintains a network of some 50 overseas posts with formal accreditation to 120 countries and to many international organisations.

The second is that while New Zealand’s external relationships were, in earlier times carried out by others in its name, that has changed.  For many years now, foreign envoys have presented you credentials here in New Zealand rather than in London.

Likewise, the first port of call for any visiting Head of State to New Zealand is invariably to Government House in Wellington or Auckland, where they are greeted by a special ceremony that reflects our country’s diversity.

In keeping with that change, at the request of the Government of New Zealand, in recent years Governors-General have increasingly travelled abroad, representing New Zealand interests to the world.  Previously, Governors-General had limited travel to the Pacific.

In our time in the Governor-General role, in addition to visiting the wider Realm of New Zealand—the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau—we have had the pleasure of undertaking visits to nations in the Pacific, Asia, Europe and North America.  I will not list them all, but those to Mongolia, India and Canada for example, represented the first by a New Zealand Governor-General to those countries.  We have found that having developed a prior relationship with the Ambassador or High Commissioner of the country we are about to visit, has invariably added value to the success of the visit.

These visits have underscored the changing role of the Governor-General and the significance of the links built and maintained at the Head of State level.  For example, one of the first Heads of State we welcomed to New Zealand in 2006 was the President of Finland, HE Tarja Halonen. It was therefore a particular pleasure to reinforce those ties when we undertook a State Visit to that country and reconnect with Mrs Halonen again in May this year.  Other reciprocal visits have included meetings with the Heads of State of Samoa, Tonga and Singapore.

The final reason we have emphasised our links with the Diplomatic Corps is that we are very conscious that the role of the Corps extends beyond merely dealing to matters of state diplomacy.  In addition to the provision of consular and visa services, modern diplomacy involves building relationships with the leaders of nations as well as its people.

We are aware of the many links, particularly the New Zealand-based missions have established with businesses, schools and universities, fostering student exchanges, offering scholarships and supporting cultural and language programmes.  The regular fundraising events for various charities organised by the spouses of the Wellington-based diplomats is just one example of the contribution which diplomats, as a corporate group, make to New Zealand.

The presence of the Diplomatic Corps here in Wellington adds a special vitality to this city that makes it special.  On behalf of both Susan and myself, I want to thank you for service in building relationships between your countries and New Zealand.

And on that note I will close in New Zealand’s first language 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.