NZDF Farewell Dinner

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 the evening (Sign)

May I then specifically greet you: Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, Chief of Defence Force and your wife, Debbie; John McKinnon, Secretary of Defence and your wife Avenal; Rear Admiral Jack Steer, Vice-Chief of Defence Force and your wife Sally, Dr Brook Barrington, Deputy Secretary of Defence and your wife Gill; Rear Admiral Tony Parr, Chief of Navy and your wife Carole; Major General Tim Keating, Chief of Army and your wife Brenda; Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell, Chief of Air Force and your wife Alison; Major General Dave Gawn, Commander Joint Forces and your wife Anna; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

Thank you for inviting Susan and me to this farewell dinner at the Trentham Army Camp this evening.  General Jones, thank you for your kind words and for this wonderful gift.

In 15 days’ time our tenure at Government House will come to an end.  It sounds a cliché to say it, but where did the time go? It seems like only last week when, in February 2006, I was called and asked to attend a meeting with then Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark.

As everyone here knows, no-one goes to a meeting with a Minister of the Crown, particular if that person happens to be primus inter pares namely the Prime Minister, without ensuring you are fully prepared.

I thought that the meeting with the Prime Minister might be related either to my role as the first Registrar of MPs’ Pecuniary Interests or as Chair of the Confidential Forum for former Inpatients of Psychiatric Hospitals.  Naturally, I asked if I needed to bring a file to which I received a decidedly vague answer that no file was needed.  This made me decidedly nervous—no file, no agenda—what could it be about?

When I eventually met Helen Clark a few days later she said: “You’ll have a fit when I tell you why I’ve called you here.  I have with me a unanimous resolution from Cabinet endorsing my recommendation that you be New Zealand’s next Governor-General.”  Well, I didn’t have a fit, but I was, some would say, uncharacteristically speechless for a few moments before responding somewhat lamely: _{“Well I know now why I didn’t need to bring a file!”}

Being the Sovereign’s representative in New Zealand for a five year term has been a rare privilege.  And one of the abiding memories we will retain from our time in the Governor-General capacity has been our connection with the New Zealand Defence Force.  As someone without any military background, unless three years as a part-time secondary school army cadet in the early 1960s can be counted, it has been a revelation of the best kind for us both.

We have seen the New Zealand Defence Force, its leaders and its personnel in both happy times and sad.  We have been greeted with warmth and politeness wherever we have gone and have noted the professionalism that is the hallmark of service men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force.  That characteristic has also been the hallmark of the Aides-de-Camp who have ably served us since August 2006.

Many of our connections with the New Zealand Defence Force have had a ceremonial element.  They have included occasions at Waitangi, with the Navy’s Beat the Retreat ceremony, at credentials ceremonies for new ambassadors to New Zealand and formal State Welcomes for visiting Heads of State.

It was also a particular pleasure, General Jones, to have hosted the ceremony at Government House in Auckland in January when you took command of the Defence Force.  At that ceremony, of course, you took command from Sir Jerry Mateparae who, in 23 days’ time, will be sworn in as my successor and New Zealand’s 20th Governor-General.  I am confident Sir Jerry and Lady Janine will fulfil the role well, bringing their particular interests and background to the constantly evolving nature of the Office of Governor-General.

Other ceremonial connections have been at ANZAC Day commemoriations, both here and overseas, most notably at Gallipoli in 2009, and at Navy Reviews.  It has also been a pleasure to visit almost all of the service bases and meet many of service men and women who make up the rank and file of the three services.  Having the honour of being the Reviewing Officer at the Office Cadet School graduation in 2007 and 2009 allowed us to meet junior officers of the New Zealand Army at the very start of their careers.

And we have seen the best of the New Zealand Defence Force honoured at investiture ceremonies.  While many will recall the investiture of Corporal Willie Apiata with the Victoria Cross for New Zealand in July 2007, we have met many NZDF personnel recognised in the New Zealand Order of Merit or with the Distinguished Service Decoration, which the late Lieutenant Timothy O’Donnell received before his tragic death last year.

We have also witnessed the NZDF in grief with the loss of a number of service personnel in accidents, either at home, or overseas, and particularly in Afghanistan.  Either together, or separately, we have attended some of the funerals for those lost to the family of the Defence Force. 

Standing between these two extremes, we have also seen the work of the New Zealand Defence Force at one of our nation’s worst times—the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch which claimed the lives of 181 people and injured many more.

At this time, all New Zealanders looked on with pride as the men and women of its Defence Force stepped up to the mark and delivered on the promise inherent in its vision: “Three Services as one Force—being the best in everything we do.”

 We saw the work of the NZDF first-hand when we visited Christchurch on February 28 and in several visits since then. 

Staging what I understand was its largest operation at home, the New Zealand Defence Force provided logistics, equipment, transport, air bridges, evacuations, supply and equipment shipments, as well as support to other the agencies including helping the Police with security, and provided humanitarian aid, particularly to Lyttleton.  The Army Engineers, for example, established a desalination plant at New Brighton to bring much needed freshwater to some of the worst affected eastern suburbs.

The first weeks after the disaster were a time when many New Zealanders felt helpless in the face of such immense tragedy. I am certain many Wellingtonians, for example, drew comfort, and pride, from the regular sight of RNZAF Hercules and 757s flying in and out of Wellington Airport or seeing the HMNZS Canterbury in port.  These air and sea bridges were vital in getting vital equipment and supplies to those who desperately needed them.

All New Zealanders stand in the debt of the New Zealand Defence Force for its service at a time that Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key rightly described as our nation’s darkest day.  As Commander-in-Chief, I thank you and the men and women under your command for working together and for being the best in everything you do for New Zealand.

In conclusion, I want to place on the record our thanks to you, as the leaders of the New Zealand Defence Force, for your support to us during our time in the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief roles.  We also want to thank all the men and women of the NZDF for their service to New Zealand, both at home and abroad.
 
And on that note I will close in New Zealand’s first language offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.