Kei aku rangatira e pai nei, tēnā koutou. Nau mai haere mai ki Kororāreka. Kia ora tātou katoa.
I’d like to specifically acknowledge: His Excellency Mr Alfredo Rogerio Pérez Bravo, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps; Mr Bede Corry, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Ms Rachel Hayward, Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council. And to all our diplomatic heads of mission and spouses here this afternoon – tēnā koutou katoa.
It is my pleasure as Governor-General to welcome and host you, as our distinguished diplomatic corps, for this traditional vice-regal luncheon. I wish to extend a special welcome to those of you visiting this beautiful part of New Zealand for the first time – as well as those who have travelled from overseas to be with us for this Waitangi period.
Though I have visited the Bay of Islands many times, I am always struck when I am here, not only by the breathtaking beauty of this place, but also by its profound sense of history.
In the 185 years since Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed, just across the bay behind us, it has remained at the heart of the relationship between Crown and Māori. One of my predecessors, Sir Paul Reeves, once said: ‘Te Tiriti o Waitangi is much more than the signatures of 546 Māori and one non-Māori on a document. It is a moral force.’
Te Tiriti o Waitangi relies on a mutual duty of care: for the Treaty relationship enshrined those 185 years ago, as well as between the partners in that relationship – tangata whenua and tangata tiriti. It relies on manaakitanga – on both demonstrating and reciprocating generosity, respect, and care.
I know that such manaakitanga underpins so much of the work that you do as ambassadors and high commissioners: fostering and strengthening relationships based on partnership and understanding. In a world which can feel increasingly filled with such division, instability, and fear, it is through those values, through our willingness to listen to one another, and through our capacity for compassion and empathy, that we may achieve peace and wellbeing across divides.
Tomorrow will be my fourth Waitangi Day as Governor-General, and one of the great pleasures of this role has been in gaining a deeper understanding of the diverse communities and cultures which call Aotearoa New Zealand home – the communities you support as heads of your respective diplomatic missions.
I see the beauty and richness in the vast tapestry of human experience – whether through the celebration of cultural festivals such as the Lunar New Year, Eid ul-Fitr, or Diwali; or credentials ceremonies, with each of you bringing to Government House your range of experiences, languages, and faiths, as well as a generosity of spirit in your willingness to share those gifts.
Most of all, however, I am struck by the fundamental things we share, transcending our differences: most fundamentally, perhaps, the desire for our families, our children and grandchildren, to live in freedom, peace, and happiness, in a world that can continue to sustain us all.
In his same address, Sir Paul said: ‘We don’t have to be the same, but we should be able to understand each other. We must be led by our hopes and not held back by our fears.’ His words are echoed in the whakataukī, or Māori proverb: ‘Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa. Let us keep close together, not wide apart.’
Through this challenging period in our history, I wish to thank you, as our diplomatic community, for your work in keeping us close together; for striving to strengthen international bonds of goodwill and cooperation; and for seeking the wellbeing of all nations and this precious planet which is our home.
In your increasingly important roles, on behalf of all New Zealanders, I wish you every success. Thank you once again for joining me and Dr Davies for today’s luncheon, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in the beautiful North.
Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.