Speech
New Zealander of the Year Awards
Kia ora tātou katoa, nga mihi o te po ki a koutou. Distinguished leaders, ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I specifically acknowledge Rt Hon Jim Bolger, Patron of the Awards, and his wife Joan; and since we are his city His Worship Len Brown the Mayor of Auckland, and his wife Shirley-Anne (Shaan).
The sentiment and phraseology that lie behind this event and especially the New Zealander of the Year – “an inspirational Kiwi” who makes us proud of who we are and what we can achieve – means tonight it is a special pleasure for me to present the 2012 New Zealander of the Year Award.
Before I get to that, I offer my salutations and best wishes to Sir Paul Callaghan, and to his family, as he continues his valiant battle with cancer. Kia kaha, kia manawanui Paul.
As we’ve seen from the presentation of the other awards – Senior New Zealander, Young New Zealander, Local Hero and Community of the Year – tonight we acknowledge and celebrate the Kiwi spirit. We recognise, encourage and reward New Zealanders - our people.
All New Zealanders have had the opportunity to nominate someone who inspires them and has made us feel proud. The Awards honour and celebrate the achievements of incredible individuals and communities whose commitment, hard work and successes are an inspiration to us all.
There’s a saying that “it’s not what we say in life that matters, but it’s what we do that counts”. Those recognised so far tonight—Sam Johnson, Malcolm Cameron, Henare O’Keefe, the people of Paeroa and indeed all of the finalists—are united by a singular focus on seeking solutions to problems. No-one told them what to do; they didn’t wait to be asked; they just got stuck in.
The New Zealander of the Year Award honours the inspirational accomplishments of one remarkable New Zealander. Tonight’s recipient will follow in the footsteps of Sir Ray Avery in 2010, and Sir Paul Callaghan last year, and that is no average feat.
Like those two inspirational Kiwis, the achievements of the three finalists — Dame Suzie Moncrieff, Dr Sharad Paul, and Sir Richard Taylor — are of the highest order. Through a combination of daring to dream what could be, daring to do what should be done, and then persevering and achieving, each of them has succeeded in their chosen field.
What differentiates them, yet links them, is their commitment to New Zealand and to using their success to make our country good and better. On behalf of all New Zealanders, I congratulate and thank the three of you for embodying warmth and open-mindedness, compassion, a strong sense of community and a can-do attitude - the pure Kiwi spirit.
As with these things, however, there is only one winner. Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour to announce that the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year is …. Sir Richard Taylor.