Rau rangatira mā, e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Nau mai haere mai ki Te Whare Kawana o Tāmaki Makaurau. Kia ora tātou katoa. As-salamu alaykum. Shalom.
I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: The Honourable Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities; Mervin Singham, Chief Executive, Ministry for Ethnic Communities; Richard Chambers, Police Commissioner; Melissa Derby, Race Relations Commissioner; and Members of Parliament.
And to all of our distinguished guests, including all leaders and members of the Muslim and Jewish communities – tēnā koutou katoa. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Government House Auckland this afternoon for this very special event, marking the signing of the Harmony Accord.
Today represents a landmark moment in interfaith relations in New Zealand, and I wish to commend all gathered here this afternoon, and all those who have worked to make today possible.
One of my guiding principles as Governor-General has been that of kotahitanga: to acknowledge and celebrate New Zealand’s strength of unity. It has been a great pleasure and privilege of my vice-regal term, to travel across Aotearoa, meeting New Zealanders of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs, and hearing their stories.
Again and again, within our extraordinary diversity, I see so clearly those fundamental things we share: the desire to live in peace and dignity; to find happiness and satisfaction and security in our work; and to be free to love and be loved.
It remains one of the great mysteries of the human spirit that we are capable of both the most profound compassion and generosity, and the cruellest violence and indifference. History too often shows us this terrible contradiction: a contradiction also found inside us all.
It was the former UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld who said: ‘Our work for peace must begin within the private world of each one of us. To build a world without fear, we must be without fear. To build a world of justice, we must be just. And how can we fight for liberty if we are not free in our own minds? How can we ask others to sacrifice if we are not ready to do so ourselves?’
This is not to say that if we falter in our striving for peace and understanding, we fail – for faltering is also a part of our common humanity. We each at times feel afraid, and behave selfishly and unjustly towards others. However, we do well to remember those moments we must ask for forgiveness, for when the time comes we must ourselves forgive.
I believe this to be one of the most elusive and profound forms of understanding: that others cause harm, just as we ourselves do. Our society, and our global community, will survive only through a commitment to such understanding: to fellowship and reconciliation, over intolerance and hate.
I understand that contained within this Harmony Accord is that fundamental principle of kotahitanga: that our differences can serve as opportunities for deeper understanding and mutual growth. And I am heartened that this Accord goes further than being symbol of cooperation and friendship between New Zealand’s Jewish and Muslim communities – but a commitment to ongoing action to address discrimination and isolation, and promote social cohesion.
The whakataukī says: ‘He aroha whakatō, he aroha puta mai. If kindness is sown, then kindness you shall receive.’ I extend my most heartfelt thanks once again to our signatories, for the kindness you sow here today. As Governor-General, I am honoured to receive this Harmony Accord – pledged and signed this day in the name of friendship and understanding and peace.
Kia ora, kia kaha, huihui tātou katoa.