Excellence in Foster Care Awards

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Remarks of welcome
E nga mana, e nga reo, e kui mā, e koro mā, me nga rangatira o Whangai Whakatairangi, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou.  Kia ora tātou katoa.  Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and the leaders of Fostering Kids warm greetings to you all.

I specifically acknowledge: Hon Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development; Linda Surtees, Chief Executive of Fostering Kids; Your Honour Judge Peter Boshier, Principal Family Court Judge; Your Worship Ron Mark, Mayor of Carterton; Bernadine Mackenzie, Deputy Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development with responsibility for Child, Youth and Family; and Nigel Latta.

As Patron of Fostering Kids, I am delighted that Janine and I can welcome you all to Government House today for the 2012 Excellence in Foster Care Awards. 

I will make some remarks after the Excellence Awards have been presented.  For now, I would like to invite the Hon Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development, to address us. 

Closing remarks
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, this award ceremony is special.  It is special because it celebrates excellence and focuses attention on New Zealand’s most important taonga, and the future of our nation, our young people.

Over the last week, we have been involved in a number of events that have in their different ways focused on our children and young people – our tamariki and rangatahi.

Each event has, celebrated young people.  In most instances it’s been young people succeeding despite the obstacles our complex modern world places in their way.  In some circumstances, like this event, it’s reflected how we can improve the prospects of them succeeding.

In Auckland, the Minister and I hosted the Foundation for Youth Development Excellence Awards.  It recognised schools, mentors and leaders involved in Foundation programmes as well as young people who, through their determination, courage and endeavour, and with helpful mentoring, had set their lives on the right path to a more promising future. 

Particularly moving was the story of a young man who was heading into a life of crime.  From a future he anticipated as a patched gang member, with caring assistance he chose a new path and a new life.  That young man has turned his life around, and is now saving so that he can complete missionary work.

Also in Auckland, we hosted the Sir George Elliot Scholarships ceremony.  These awards recognised three young people who had demonstrated academic prowess, leadership, extracurricular commitments, and had met the obligation of contributing to the well-being of their community.  The signature distinction of the Sir George Elliot Scholarships is that they are intended to help young people who have faced exceptional challenges - a physical disability or major financial challenge or family circumstance - or have made an exceptional effort to undertake tertiary education. 

Two other engagements with the TG Macarthy Trust and the Methodist Church highlighted the effort centred on how we can improve the lot of our young people.  In the case of the TG Macarthy Trust over $1 million was allocated to support schools, childcare centres and organisations that care for children in some way.  And in its centenary year the Methodist Church is launching its new 10-year strategy “Let the Children Live” and working towards ending child poverty, child abuse and youth suicide in Aotearoa.

Today’s ceremony highlights that side of the needs of our children and young people – improving the prospect of them succeeding. 

While most children live within the precincts of supportive and nurturing parents, about 10,000 children and young people  are unable to live with their biological parents, and are vulnerable.  Sometimes it can be due to the tragic loss of their parents.  More often it is because they have been subjected to, or are at risk of, neglect or, and, abuse.  The 19 people we have recognised this afternoon make good that expectation we as a society have of “parents”.

They have opened the doors of their homes to young children and teenagers who had nowhere else to go.  Many of you have altered your lives, stopped working, so you can dedicate your lives to providing foster care for vulnerable children.

From the goodness of your hearts, you have given vulnerable children both the most basic of human needs - food, shelter and warmth - and the most precious of needs - love, care and understanding – in their young lives.  From your nurturing and supportive care, many of the young people can go on to lead rewarding lives and contribute to the wider community.

In reading the citations, I estimate that the combined number of years of fostering-care represented by those honoured today is about 100 years.  I am honoured to be among such an amazing group of people, who have volunteered to care and protect that which we, as New Zealanders, prize the most - our children and our future. 

As Governor-General and Patron of Foster Kids, I congratulate and thank you for your compassion, commitment and service.  Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.