Queen Margaret College Garden Party

May 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 afternoon (Sign)

May I specifically greet you: Trevor Douthett,  Chair of the Board of Governors of Queen Margaret College and your fellow board members; Carol Craymer, Principal, Queen Margaret College and your fellow staff; Your Honour Judge Carolyn Henwood, Chair of the Queen Margaret College Foundation Trust; Your Worship Kerry Prendergast, Mayor of Wellington; Nicolle McCallum, Head Girl and fellow students; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting me to attend and speak at this garden party to launch  Queen Margaret College's 90th Jubilee Celebrations. On such a visit as this, my wife Susan would usually be with me, but she is currently in London with our daughter Tara who gave birth to our first grandson, Joshua, in January.

I would like to speak briefly about the School and its strong links to Wellington's history.

While Queen Margaret College, along with Scots College, were founded on this site 90 years ago, the heritage features of the School go back much further.

The School's iconic tower block was built in 1873 by New Zealand's first, and only Colonial Architect, William Clayton, as his home.  It is believed to be first concrete house in New Zealand and the first in Wellington to have hot and cold running water. 

William Clayton designed some 300 buildings, including Old Government Buildings, which still stands in Lambton Quay, the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere and now the home of Victoria University's School of Law.

1919, the year this College was founded 90 years ago, was a difficult year for New Zealand and the wider world.   The end of the First World War in the year before had left Europe in turmoil as new nation states were born from the remnants of the German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Ottoman Empires.

While the conflict never reached New Zealand's shores, some 120,000 New Zealanders-from a population of just 1 million-served in the military.  About 18,000 New Zealanders lost their lives and some 50,000 were wounded.

Such a massive loss of life from such a relatively small population, had a devastating effect on the nation's psyche.  Adding to this misery was the outbreak of a worldwide influenza epidemic, which claimed a further 8600 New Zealanders' lives.

And there were also divisions between those who served and those who remained at home.  In April 1919, a referendum on banning the sale and production of alcohol was initially passed at home, only to be overturned by the votes of the returning soldiers.

It was into this maelstrom that the founders of this College launched this venture, with the school opening on 19 February 1919 with 53 pupils.

Given those troubled times, establishing a school was a reflection of its founders hopes for the future and of their Christian and particularly Presbyterian values.  As the school's prospectus stated, Queen Margaret College would aim "to develop the best type of girlhood and womanhood."

One of those founders, James Gibb, Minister of St John's in the City, was instrumental in creating the united Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and was its first Moderator. 

While the world of 2009 is massively different from that of 1919, Queen Margaret College has held fast to its founding principles.  Underpinned by strong Christian values, it continues to deliver a rich education where girls are extended, not only academically, but also through participation in sport, community service and cultural activities.

That success is amply displayed in the College's 2008 assessment by the Education Review Office, which speaks highly of all aspects of its operation and the quality of the education it provides.  It now has more than 600 students from years 1 to 13.

Indeed, last year I was given a glimpse of that quality, at least from a musical perspective.  In September, to much applause, students from the School's barbershop quartet, piano trio and chorale performed at the last investiture ceremonies to be held at Government House prior to its closure for a three year conservation project.

More than anything, Queen Margaret College, its Board, its staff and its students, have held true to the School's motto: Luce Veritatis, By the Light of Truth.   Education is the light that unlocks the truth of the world in which we live. As Canadian educationalist Bill Allin once said: "Education is not the answer to the question. Education is the means to the answer to all questions."

And on that note, I will close in New Zealand's first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours in this, your 90th Jubilee Year. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.