Speech
Opening of Sprott House wing
Ladies and Gentlemen, I offer greetings in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, CookIsland, Niuean and Tokelauan.
Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni
More specifically, may I greet you: Your Lordship Bishop Tom Brown and Mrs Dwyllis Brown; Don and Moira Rennie; Denis and Jillian Wederell; Tim and Lorraine Olphert and Mrs Belinda McLeod; Trustees, Residents, Volunteers and Staff.
Thank you for the invitation to my wife Susan and I to be here today and for me shortly to officially open the Olphert Wing and the Wederell Wing of Sprott House.
Sprott House can be regarded as an icon of Wellington icon. It was very interesting to hear more about its colourful history from the President of the Board of Trustees - Don Rennie - who I have known as a friend for more than 30 years. Don, you are one person who has been a benchmark for work life balance and you have continued to make quality contributions - like here.
One of the things we all strive for in life is a happy, comfortable old age. To spend the later years in a secure, sociable and engaging environment is the right of every elderly person.
From all that I have learned, Sprott House provides just such an environment.
I recall a particularly happy moment coming here about 10 years ago to spend a few minutes with an elderly retired doyen barrister named Roy Stacey. He was very appreciative of everything here - the sole exception being the weather, which he said was not nearly as good as that lower down from here where he lived - on The Terrace.
The launch today of Olphert and Wederell Wings shows that Sprott House is continuing to expand its services to enable more elderly New Zealanders to share in such a facility.
From my researches, over the years Sprott House has faced and overcome a number of challenges and it has needed to adapt to the changing needs of the community.
Funding is often closely connected to these challenges and Sprott House, like many non-profit charitable trusts, relies heavily on its support network to provide the best possible care.
I have little doubt that the funding of this magnificent new building was among those challenges.
However, thanks to the generosity, hard work, good-will and commitment of the friends, trustees, staff and volunteers of Sprott House - many of whom are here today - the project has been an overwhelming success.
I would like to extend congratulations to all those who have been involved in building these two new wings which are clearly the result of a considerable team effort. They are undoubtedly an asset to Sprott House and to Wellington.
I now take great pleasure in announcing the Olphert Wing and Wederell Wing's officially open.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora koutou katoa