New Zealand Asian Studies Society Conference

May 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 morning (sign).

May I then specifically greet you: Professor Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, President of the New Zealand Asian Studies Society and your fellow board members; Emeritus Professor Tim Beaglehole, Chancellor of Victoria University;  Professor Pat Walsh, Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) Professor Piri Sciascia Hon Pansy Wong, Minister of Ethnic Affairs; keynote speakers Professor Sugata Bose, Professor Robert Buswell and Professor Jeffrey Wasserstrom; Dr Stephen Epstein, Chair of the Conference Organising Committee; Distinguished Guests otherwise; ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to Victoria University of  Wellington to be a small part of the 18th Biennial International Conference of the New Zealand Asian Studies Society.

I have been asked to formally inaugurate the conference, and just before I do, would like to make some comments about the importance of New Zealand's relations with Asia and the significance of the New Zealand Asian Studies Society.

Being here today is a matter of particular pleasure for me. A number of things underpin this.  First, as India was the land of my four grandparents, I have of course that considerable personal connection with Asia.  It was thus a matter of huge moment, as well as coincidence, to be in the position to make the first State Visit by a New Zealand Governor-General to India in September of last year.  Secondly, during 35 months of my term thus served, Asian matters have been a continuing theme. Fromal visits to Mongolia and China have occurred in addition to the one to India.  There has been the privilege of my wife Susan and I in receiving and hosting the Presidents of Korea, Timor Leste, Singapore, Viet Nam and the Philippines and the Crown Prince of the Malaysian State of Perak.

I was also honoured to become, as Governor-General, Patron of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, of which I was the Deputy Chairman before appointment to this role in August 2006.  Likewise, I was also very pleased to actively support the opening of the New Zealand South Asian Centre at the University of Canterbury in March this year.

My experience is one that resonates elsewhere in contemporary New Zealand life.  It is correct to say that Asia is of enormous significance to New Zealand.  There is no doubt of the growing depth of New Zealand's relationship with Asian countries - socially, culturally and economically.  Putting to one side for a moment the effect of the financial recession up ahead, trade figures support what I have said, as do visitor numbers in both directions and the increasing number of students from Asian countries making a choice of our country as a study destination. 

For ourselves here, an increasing number of New Zealanders have an Asian background. In the 2006 census results, the number of people who identified themselves as being in Asian ethnic groups had grown the fastest - about 238,000 in 2001 to about 355,000 in 2006.    Almost 140,000 people identified as Chinese, about 97,000 as Indian, about 31,000 as Korean, around 7000 as Sri Lankan and a similar number as Cambodian, and 5,000 as Vietnamese.
 
Whilst many people of Asian origin, like myself, were born in New Zealand, others have migrated here.  These new New Zealanders have brought with them talents and skills that have enriched our society in many fields, in business, academia and the professionas and also another field very close to the hearts of New Zealanders-the sports field.

A stunning example, inclusive of his efforts this mornign as I speak, is Danny Lee who arrived in New Zealand from Korea at the age of nine in 1999, and this February became the youngest person ever to win the United States Open Amateur Golf Championship this February. He officially became a New Zealand citizen last year, in a special ceremony held at the golf course he plays on in Rotorua.

On the economic front, New Zealand now has a free trade agreement with China-the first Western nation  to negotiate such an agreement-and is working towards others with India and with Korea. 

In the cultural arena, New Zealanders now accoustomed to eat a wide range of Asian food, to enjoy such events as the Diwali Festival of Lights, the Eid-ul-fitr and Chinese New Year celebrations, and the country has even provided scenic backdrops for Bollywood films. 

The challenge now is to build on the start that has been made in developing a strong relationship with our Asian neighbours. 

The Asia Strategy document of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Our Future with Asia - has as one of its four main challenges that of "becoming more ‘Asia literate'."  The New Zealand Asian Studies Society is a major vehicle for this growth in ‘Asia literacy'.

A report published in 2004 stated that there were 140 Asia specialists working in nine universities and other tertiary institutions.

But the report, entitled Knowing Asia: the challenge for New Zealand's tertiary education sector also found that there were very few Asia-related courses in degree programmes offered by faculties of commerce, business management and law, or in teacher education  programmes.

It is most gratifying to see that there has been some major progress since that report came out, most particularly in the opening of the South Asia Studies Centre at the University of Canterbury and the beginning there of classes in the first South Asia Studies programme in a New Zealand University. 

I am told that there will be about 120 papers delivered at this conference in the next three days, and that about half of them will be given by delegates from overseas.

I would like to welcome those who have come to this conference from other countries - and to point out to them that they have come to New Zealand at a time which is particularly auspicious in terms of giving papers that focus on the past, the present and the future. 

I say this because New Zealand has just celebrated a Matariki, a Māori tradition which is described as the Māori ‘New Year' - and has also been dubbed New Zealand's ‘Thanksgiving'.

Thanksgiving is traditionally when the harvest was celebrated and preparations were made for new planting.  In broader terms it is a time when Māori tradition calls for honouring the past and looks forward with renewed vigour to the future.

As organisers of one of the many Matariki events that have recently taken place put it: "During Matariki we acknowledge what we have and what we have to give. It's a time of change, a time to prepare and a time of action."

Those three words-change, preparation and action-seem to strike a suitable note on which I can with pleasure officially declare the 18th New Zealand Asian Studies conference inaugurated.
 
And on that note, I will close in New Zealand's first language, Māori, by offering greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.