Kwibuka 20 Service of Commemoration

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.

I specifically acknowledge His Excellency Charles Murigande, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to New Zealand; His Excellency James Kember, New Zealand High Commissioner to Rwanda; Clare, Lady MacKinnon, the Honorary Consul General of Rwanda to New Zealand; Judge Jonathan Moses [formerly prosecutor in the Arusha Tribunal ]; Colin Keating [formerly New Zealand permanent representative to the UN]; and Rwandans who are new New Zealanders, tēnā koutou katoa;

It is a privilege to speak to you today as part of the 100 days of mourning for the estimated one million Rwandans who died 20 years ago.

We struggle for words to describe such tragic events and what they mean to Rwandans all around the world who are participating in Kwibuka today.

We know you bring with you memories of things we cannot begin to imagine.

And we keep in mind the wise words of New Zealand writer, Vincent O’Sullivan, who said: “There is nothing like cliché to dishonour the dead”.

For New Zealanders, our greatest loss of life has been experienced on the battlefields.

On our day of remembrance, Anzac Day, a poem “For the Fallen”, is read at ceremonies across the country.  It ends with: “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.”

Today you remember your people whose lives ended in such terrible, tragic circumstances.

We join you in honouring them and hope that you have found New Zealand to be a haven of peace from conflict and oppression – as others have before you.

A place where you can still find yourself the only person on a beach or go into remote mountains and bush to recharge your spirits.

For those of you here today who have come from Rwanda and are building new lives here: our cities, our mountains and rivers, our beaches, our native trees and birdsong are yours now too.

And I say to you, on behalf of all New Zealanders: Welcome.  We hope you will come to love our country as much as we do.

We extend our sympathy to you, for those who were lost, and those whose lives were shattered and will never be the same.

We honour you for your courage in making the huge leap of faith in coming to a new land, such a long way away – and I might say, so near to the South Pole.

From the tragic events 20 years ago a flash of hope is evident.  New Zealand is developing closer people-to-people ties with African nations and I am pleased to learn we have a Rwandan students studying in New Zealand.

We also share a bond of fraternity through our membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. 

In Glasgow next month, Rwandan athletes will be represented at the Commonwealth Games for the second time. 

I understand that sport is also part of Kwibuka in Rwanda, with two weeks of commemoration competitions.  They are part of a raft of Kwibuka activities in every sphere of life in Rwanda – activities that add up to a great national movement for reconciliation.

From the side lines in New Zealand, we can only admire the wholeheartedness with which Rwandans are going about this commemoration – and cheer you and the people of your country on to a victory for peace, hope and prosperity.
Kia ora, kia kaha, huihui tātou katoa