Speech
Pine tree planting
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.
Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and (Sign)
May I specifically greet you: Alick Shaw, Deputy Mayor of Wellington, Ted Woodfield, President of the Friends of the Botanic Garden, and David Hector, great-grandson of Sir James Hector.
Thank you for inviting Susan and me to the Wellington Botanic Garden today to plant a pine tree as a part of the opening of two recently installed entrances to the Pinetum.
I understand that I am the fourth Governor-General to plant a tree in the Pinetum, following a tradition of my predecessors Dame Catherine Tizard and Sir Michael Hardie Boys and Dame Silvia Cartwright.
Moreover it is a place for us to feel at home within, because of having been nearby residents of the Glen and regular enjoyers of parts of this wonderful garden for 10 years
Sir James Hector, who was manager and director of the Botanic Garden from 1869 to 1891, and the many others who worked to see this park established, were visionaries.
They recognised that with the growth of urban areas, it was essential for everyone, regardless of wealth or status, to have access to gardens and open areas free of the hustle and bustle of the city street.
The Wellington Botanic Garden is one of the gems in the Capital's crown. Rightly, like the gardens at both Government House Wellington and Government House Auckland, the Botanic Garden has been classified as a Garden of National Significance by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. It has also been designated as a heritage area by the Historic Places Trust.
In travelling through New Zealand, particularly since appointment as Governor-General last August, I have been struck by the vision of the early founders of our towns and cities in establishing such areas.
While each space has changed to meet different times and needs, they have remained true to that egalitarian spirit of access to open space for all. As well, these parks are sources of great pride to their local communities and their integrity is jealously guarded.
While the Garden is ably managed by the Wellington City Council, one of the features that makes it special is the support of voluntary organisations such as the Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden.
The dedication of volunteers, who give up time and energy to support the Council's endeavours, to fundraise for further enhancements and to act as guardians for the Garden's interests, is to be highly commended.
It is with great pleasure then, that I plant this pine tree. While I will admit that gardening is Susan's forte rather than my own, as Governor-General I am becoming quite adept at tree plantings, having done so to date in Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Queenstown and Niue in recent months.
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