E ngā rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, me ngā tamariki mā, e huihui mai nei i tēnei wā, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tianara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
I wish to begin by acknowledging: Dame Silvia Cartwright; Gwen Matchitt, President of the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association; Angelique van der Velden, Vice-President; Bev Smith, National Committee Member; Zandra Vaccarino, National Executive Officer; and Bridget Snedden, President of Down Syndrome International.
And of course, to the NZDSA’s newest Life Member and National Award recipients – Linda te Kaat, Karen Tucker, Lily Mae Ivatt-Oakley, Laetitia Tan, and Xervier Doney – your whānau and supporters, and everyone gathered here this afternoon – tēnā koutou katoa.
It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to Government House for this year’s New Zealand Down Syndrome Association National Achievement Awards.
Forty-five years ago, a small group of Auckland mothers came together, because they could not find the guidance and support their families needed. They began by simply sharing their experiences and helping one another, however they could.
From those initial conversations grew not only an organisation, but an enduring commitment – that no family should have to find its way alone. Today, that commitment lives on in the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association’s advocacy, your networks of support, and, crucially, in the voices and achievements of people with Down syndrome speaking so powerfully for themselves.
Laetitia, Lily Mae, and Xervier – you have made your mark across sport, performance, writing, leadership, advocacy, and community service. The outstanding achievements we celebrate today are expressions of who you are – of curiosity, discipline, and the pleasure of doing something well; achievements that should never be measured against the limits of anyone else’s expectations.
Each of us has our own sense of what makes a life fulfilling – the things we hope to do, the choices we wish to make, the future we imagine for ourselves. Inclusion begins when those hopes are heard and taken seriously. That is why the NZDSA’s commitment to self-advocacy matters so much – recognising that with the right support, encouragement, and belief in their potential, those with Down syndrome are best placed to determine the course of their own lives.
The novelist George Eliot once asked: ‘What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for one another?’ To make life less difficult is not to live it on another’s behalf. It is to help remove what should never have stood in the way – through the patience and love of parents, the imagination of teachers, and the steady commitment of volunteers and advocates.
And this afternoon, we also recognise Linda te Kaat, who becomes a Life Member of the NZDSA for her more than 20 years of dedication to people with Down syndrome and their families, and Karen Tucker, recipient of the National Volunteer Award. My warmest congratulations to you both, and thank you for all you have given to this community.
That same spirit of generosity finds a particularly moving expression
in the Frances Clarke Award. When Frances died at just three years old, her family chose to honour her memory by recognising the achievements of others. The award was first presented here at Government House in 1990 by Sir Paul and Lady Reeves. Today, it joins the national awards for the first time.
To Pam and Forde Clarke, Kirsty Clarke, and all the Clarke family – thank you for carrying Frances’s memory forward with such love, and for ensuring that, year after year, her name is spoken not only in remembrance, but in celebration.
As my term as Governor-General nears its end, I find myself thinking about what these five years have shown me. I will remember the ceremonies and the milestones. But most of all, I will remember the goodness of people, often far from public view.
Again and again, I have been heartened – and deeply moved – by people who know hardship themselves, yet find room in their lives to help others. To witness that generosity, and to see it recognised on occasions like this, has been among the deepest privileges of my time as Governor-General.
To Laetitia, Lily Mae, and Xervier – I hope today brings you a deep sense of pride in all you have achieved, and in the talent, determination, and courage that have brought you here. These are your achievements; your stories – and it is a privilege for us to share in their celebration.
To your families, friends, teachers, coaches, and supporters – thank you for the countless acts of care, encouragement, and generosity that have helped make these achievements possible. And to the NZDSA – 45 years after those first hopeful conversations, the spirit of your founders lives on in the community you have built. My heartfelt congratulations on this very special anniversary.
May the years ahead open still wider horizons for those with Down syndrome – with your voices heard, your ambitions encouraged, and your futures your own to shape.
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā rā tātou katoa.