Girmit Divas commemoration

I greet 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 afternoon and the sun is still in the sky (Sign).

May I specifically greet you: Your Excellency Mr Kadakath Pathrose Ernest, High Commissioner for India to New Zealand; Prabodh Mishra, President of the Fiji Indian Association of Wellington; Professor Brij Lal of The Australian National University in Canberra, Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

In the context of today, may I add the greetings Namaste, Namashkar, Kam Cho, Sat Sri Akaal, Salaam Walaikum and Ni sambula vinaka.

My wife Susan and I are delighted to join everyone today for this commemoration of Girmit Divas - which marks the arrival of indentured Indian people in Fiji.

The first Girmitya landed in Fiji in the vessel Leonidas on 14 May 1879. More than 60,000 others were to follow over the next 35 years.

Among them were my maternal great grandfather Chalakdas and my grandfather Tilakdas. I still have their girmitya shipping papers showing they came from Shahjahanput in UP near Allahabad. They left Calcutta on the Berar in 1882 and they entered Fiji at Levuka.

At this ceremony today we remember the Girmitya and acknowledge the hardships they underwent. We recognise the deprivations they suffered and celebrate their resilience, courage, and endurance.

We also honour the spirit that kept them going and that allowed them rise above their circumstances - to forge a future for their children and their grandchildren.

We dedicate ourselves to keeping their spirit alive.

It can truly be said that because of their sacrifice that we are each who we are today. In a very real sense, we stand on their shoulders. Our lives could scarcely be more different than theirs.

They went from India to Fiji. We, or our parents, have now come to New Zealand.

But our gathering to day is evidence that we do not forget our background, our heritage or as it called in this country's first language - our whakapapa.

I have always been brought up to be aware that while I was born in New Zealand, my parents were born in Fiji and my grandparents were born in India and of the importance of linkage and heritage.

One of the key themes I have offered for my term as Governor General is a greater understanding of New Zealand's cultural diversity.

In that regard, people of Indian descent play a tangible role in New Zealand.  The 2006 Census revealed that there are more than 104,000 people in this country of Indian descent—much upward on five years earlier.

Those people have contributed a great deal to the country - both economically and culturally.

You could certainly describe it as a 'win-win' relationship - for the people of Indian descent as well as for the greater New Zealand community.

In terms of 'community', I would like to pay tribute to the Fiji Indian Association of Wellington for the work that it does in fostering a sense of community among people of Indian descent.

I would also like to congratulate the Association for putting on this event for us today. It will both educate us and entertain us.  It is on one hand a day of sad remembrance but also a day when how far we have come can be celebrated.

We are able, I suggest, to commemorate this day in the same kind of spirit as all New Zealanders do Anzac Day. 

In the case of both of those commemorative days, something very tragic and dark in a nation's history has been transformed into something meaningful and inspirational - as we think of the sacrifice of our forebears.

The words of Laurence Binyon's poem, For the Fallen, are as appropriate, may I suggest, for the Girmitya as they are for the fallen military force personnel.  The well known words go:

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning

 We will remember them."

And that is what this event today is all about.

And on striking what I hope is a suitable note of optimism, I will close in New Zealand's first language Maori - issuing greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in all your endeavours.

No reina, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.