Speech
Niuean Community Reception
Ladies and Gentlemen, I greet you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and (Sign)
Greetings specifically: High Commissioner for Niue, Your Excellency Sisilia Talagi; the Hon Sandra Lee, Former NZ High Commissioner to Niue; Hon Sani Lakatani, Former Premier of Niue; the Hon Heta Hingston, Chief Justice for Niue; Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, notably David Payton, the Maori Broadcasting Commission and the Maori Language Commission; Sons and Daughters of Niue; Friends of Niue; Ladies and Gentlemen.
My wife Susan and I warmly welcome you to Government House in Auckland this evening.
It is a pleasure for us to host members of New Zealand's Niuean community little over two months since we made our first official visit to Niue. It is for us, literally, the "second leg of the double."
I see that we have with us tonight many of the sons and daughters of Niue who accompanied us on our visit. It is a delight to reconnect with you again so soon.
I am advised we also have with us other members of New Zealand's Niuean community who were unable to join us on that visit. Thank you for coming.
Tonight's gathering is an impressive one. A perusal of the guest list reveals many successful New Zealanders - people of Niuean heritage who have made considerable contributions to this country, and to their Niuean communities, in sport and in the arts, in business and in the community sector, and within academic circles.
New Zealand's Niuean community, at the last count, numbered more than 22,000 people. Of these, a seemingly disproportionate number have achieved success in their chosen fields.
Indeed, we have with us tonight people of Niuean descent who are widely known by mainstream New Zealand for success in their field. At the risk of not recognising all who have contributed in a significant way to New Zealand, I would like to acknowledge musician Che Fu, actors Shimpal Lelisi and Stephanie Tauevihi, Dr Colin Tukuitonga who has been very prominent in Pacific health, and respected weaver, Matafetu Smith who accompanied us to the weaving symposium in Niue.
These are but some of the Niuean New Zealanders who demonstrate the breadth of accomplishment borne of this community.
I have heard New Zealand's Niuean community affectionately described as the "rock of Polynesia", because it is such a fundamental part of the wider Pasifika community in New Zealand.
I am pleased to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding contribution made by New Zealand's Niuean community.
In visiting Niue in April, I gained a deeper sense of the ethics and values that underpin the Niuean culture, including a strong sense of community and family, and a robust work ethic. It is clear that these characteristics have happily nurtured in a New Zealand setting, as they are in Niue.
During my stay, I had the opportunity to meet with many people of Niue. I visited their places of work and play, including the Niue Primary School and the Niue Foou Hospital. I also enjoyed a tour of the Reef Investments joint ventures at Vaiea and at Amanau, which allowed me to see the more commercial side of Niue in operation.
These visits, as well as our attendance at the weaving symposium, increased my appreciation of your special heritage, your rich culture and your precious language.
I saw that yours are a people committed to preserving what makes Niue unique in its Pacific setting. I also witnessed how important it is to all Niueans, both those living in New Zealand and in Niue, that Niuean taoga is nurtured in both countries.
From my own perspective, however, the most important feature of the visit was that it made me feel more able to serve Niue and its people as Governor-General, for in this Office, I serve both Niue and New Zealand as Governor-General in equal measure.
On that note, I again welcome you to Government House and invite you to enjoy our hospitality this evening.
I began speaking in all the New Zealand realm languages. May I close by speaking in Maori, issuing greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa