E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e karangatanga mā, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou kātoa. Mālō e lelei.
I wish to begin by acknowledging: Their Majesties, King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u; Members of the Royal Family; Prime Minister, Lord Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, Nobles of the Realm, and Members of the Legislative Chamber; Distinguished foreign dignitaries; Your Excellency, Mr Matthew Howell, New Zealand High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga; and members of the diplomatic corps and the clergy.
And to all distinguished guests in attendance here today – tēnā koutou katoa.
As Governor-General of New Zealand, I am honoured to be in the Kingdom of Tonga for this historic occasion, marking the 150th anniversary of the Constitution – and this morning, for the groundbreaking of a new Fale Alea ‘o Tonga.
New Zealand and Tonga share deep and enduring bonds, embodied by the many family links which straddle our two countries, and dating back as far as those first Polynesian explorers who navigated their way across the great expanse of the Pacific.
New Zealand is proud to have played a supporting role in Tonga’s parliamentary history. I know that your original Parliament building, gifted by New Zealand in 1892, was made from New Zealand timber, and stood for over a century as a symbol of our friendship and shared values.
We are proud to join with the Governments of Tonga and Australia to officially break ground on this new Fale Alea. I know that this work was delayed by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami in 2022. However, I am pleased to note that this new building will be resilient to both climate change and natural disasters, while also incorporating design elements to celebrate Tonga’s rich history and identity.
At the end of construction, this beautiful building will be owned by Tonga, and stand for all Tongan people. It is heartening to imagine that this site will soon be a place where the voices of the people are heard, where decisions are made in service of the nation, and where the enduring values of Tongan culture and governance are upheld. I hope it may inspire generations to come, and always reflect the hopes and aspirations of the Tongan people.
I wish to conclude by once again congratulating King Tupou VI and the Government and people of Tonga on the 150th anniversary of the Constitution, and on the occasion of this significant groundbreaking ceremony. On behalf of all New Zealanders, I wish you all the very best for your future.
Mālō ‘aupito. Tēnā tātou kātoa