Speech
New Zealand Festival
E kui mā, e koro mā; tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. E nga manuhiri ki a Te Whanganui-a-Tara nau mai haere mai.
Ladies and gentlemen, warm greetings to you all. Visitors to Wellington welcome.
I would like to specifically acknowledge: Sue Paterson, Executive Director; Shelagh Magadza, Artistic Director; and Kerry Prendergast, Executive Chair and members of the Board. Tenā koutou katoa.
Ladies and gentlemen, as Patron of the New Zealand Festival
I am delighted to welcome you to this Garden Reception at Government House to celebrate the Festival season.
It is a marvellous cultural and artistic programme that has been introduced to Wellington. The vibrancy, flair and diversity of the programme and its performers bring great credit to the Festival and much pleasure to its many audiences.
The Festival always attracts outstanding New Zealand and international performers and this year is no exception. The 300 shows and more than 1,100 performers from the nineteen countries represented this year is testament to that.
And because of the Festival Wellington is transformed. The city is bustling with visitors enjoying the best that we have to offer in theatre, dance, music, literature, film and visual arts.
But it’s not just Wellington, it’s also a fantastic undertaking for New Zealand. The Festival has a significant impact on the regional economy and tourism nationally.
Personally, I would have liked to attend lots of events and shows. Unfortunately that wasn’t possible. I read in the programme that everyone has a “Dr Who” fan in the family. In our family, that’s me. I grew up watching Dr Who, and I would have loved to have seen the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performing that iconic BBC series.
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, or whether you are young or old; there is sure to be something for everyone at this Festival.
The ‘family friendly’ events, including ‘Power Plant’, ‘Dr Who’, ‘The Big Bang’ and ‘Unmythable’ together with the Spanish themed events such as the Spanish Opera, ‘Ainadamar’ and the flamenco performance of ‘La Curva’ and the world premiere of the New Zealand play, ‘Paniora’ are indicative of the many colourful and talented performances taking place over the three week Festival season.
We are indeed fortunate to have such a flourishing arts and cultural scene in New Zealand.
I congratulate the Festival organisers, staff, sponsors, and supporters for bringing this outstanding Festival programme to Wellington. You have produced a wonderful Festival that showcases the very best of New Zealand and international talent and performance.
And that is why I’m pleased both to be associated and to be hosting this reception for one of New Zealand’s premier cultural events.
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for coming. Please stay and enjoy our hospitality.