Governor-General's cocktail 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: Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Boyd Squires, President of the Auckland Officers’ Club and your wife Colleen; Simon Moore Crown Solicitor, President of the Northern Club; Auckland area commanders from the New Zealand Defence Force; Officers’ Club members; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It has been a great pleasure for my wife Susan and I to accept the invitation to attend this cocktail reception.

As Patron of the Auckland Officers’ Club, and having been part of events in 2007 and 2008, it really is good to be here again.

At the outset I would like to register appreciation for the Club’s generous gift of By Skill and Spirit: A History of the Auckland Officers’ Club whose author, the late Graeme Hunt, as is known sadly passed away in September last year.

It is obvious that Graeme Hunt, in accordance with his reputation, put a great deal of work into the writing, which included scouring club archives, using research undertaken in the 1970s as a base, meeting and interviewing club members and speaking to many others knowledgeable about parts of its history.

The result is a frank history of a club that has a history dating back more than 160 years, surviving in both war and peace times.

I would like to take a moment to talk a little more specifically about the value the book has in demonstrating the contributions the Club has made, to this city and our country.  Given that the principal focus of any officers’ club is to eat, drink and socialise in the company of others, I shall speak only so long as is consistent with preserving that notion.

You can read a book in many ways - cover to cover, by photographs and images, by selected chapters, even by footnotes. I can say with the benefit of an enjoyable pre-read of my own, that whichever way you read it, this book exhibits three things.

First, it details the Club’s connection with a great many Governors and Governors-General in their time. Since Sir Denis Blundell was elected as the first Patron in 1973, there have been four other Governors-General who have held that role.

Sir Keith Holyoake, Sir David Beattie, Sir Michael Hardie Boys and Dame Silvia Cartwright have all been connected to the Auckland Officers’ Club in that way and it has been a pleasure to carry on that tradition, particularly as the invitation to do so came from a very old personal friend, John Abbott.

The second thing displayed is that, through highs and lows over time, the Officers’ Club has now secured a stable future through its co-location with the Northern Club.  The amalgamation of two of the oldest clubs in Auckland has meant that resources and facilities cement the Officers’ Club’s continuance for many years to come.  It seems that everyone has benefited from being in what can be described as a “new, old home” for nearly four years now.

Thirdly the book relates the contributions of this Club to the community, since its establishment in 1840, although it may have been known by another name at the time.  The club has worked to foster patriotism within the community and to support the New Zealand Armed Services.

It has also created a welcoming environment where retired officers from the Armed Services of the Commonwealth and its Allies can maintain past associations and an interest in history and issues of defence.

The Officers’ Club has, I suggest, long known the truth in something said by former President of the United States and Second World War leader, Dwight Eisenhower who once offered the opinion that: “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”

This Club has maintained a commitment to the traditional values of service to family, community and country.  These are values which are as critical today as when the club was first formed all those years ago.

Thus on a note of congratulations and encouragement I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing everyone present good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.