Rotary Club of Newmarket

May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, 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: John Douglas, President of the Rotary Club of Newmarket; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting Susan and myself to attend your weekly luncheon.

As Patron of Rotary in New Zealand, it is a particular pleasure to be here at such a gathering.  I was until my appointment as Governor-General in August 2006, a regular member of the Rotary Club of Wellington and remain an honorary member. 

As Governor-General, I have spoken to several Rotary groups, including hosting the Rotary Youth Leadership Award Programme recipients to Government House in February and presenting the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson Goal Setter Awards in April.  I was also meant to speak to the Rotary Club of Petone and the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars orientation in Wellington in March but an incident with a kerbstone in Christchurch, that saw me fall and fracture my ankle, put paid to that!

I have been asked to give an overview of my role in New Zealand's system of government and to do so, I think it always important to note that New Zealand is a constitutional and democratic monarchy.

It is a monarchy because the role of our Head of State is inherited rather than elected like a republic.  It is the Governor-General's role to act as the personal representative of the Queen of New Zealand.

It is a constitutional monarchy because, unlike mediaeval rulers of old, neither Queen Elizabeth II nor her Governor-General is above the law.  The Governor-General carries out responsibilities according to the law and long-standing traditions known as "conventions" and I have to pay my parking tickets like everyone else!

And it is a democracy because we elect those who represent us in the House of Representatives, our legislature.  From the legislature, the members of the executive—the Prime Minister and Cabinet—are chosen.

As people here will know, until 1996, New Zealand used the first-past-the-post electoral system that almost always ensured that one party had a majority of the seats in Parliament.  With New Zealand changing to proportional representation—where the number of votes each party receives more closely matches the number of seats in Parliament—no single party has won more than half the seats.

As this is an election year, I am often asked about my role in government formation, especially in light of proportional representation. I have consistently replied that whatever the electoral system that is used, the Governor-General will always appoint as Prime Minister the person who has been identified through the government formation process as the person who will lead the party or group of parties that appears able to command the confidence of the House of Representatives. 

I expect that there will be clear and public statements that a political agreement has been reached and that a government can be formed that will have the support of the new Parliament.  In appointing the Prime Minister, I will abide by the outcome of this political process.

The Prime Minister—as the political leader of the country—heads the group of people that the Governor-General appoints to be Ministers and who form the Cabinet. 

The Prime Minister and the Government make all the policy decisions about what happens in New Zealand.  It is their job to ensure our roads are in good condition, that there are sufficient doctors in our public hospitals and that there are sufficient teachers in our public schools.  Politically, the Governor-General does not take an active role in the executive functions of the Government. 

It is often said that while the Monarch reigns, the Government rules.  To explain this, I'll outline the three main parts to my role as Governor-General. The first is the constitutional.  It is the Governor-General's role to ensure there is always a government in office with a democratic mandate to govern.  When Parliament passes laws and when the Government appoints a judge or a diplomat, the Governor-General signs it into effect. Another constitutional role performed is presiding over meetings of the Executive Council, where Ministers present regulations that require my signature before they can come into effect.  The Governor-General is also Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand's defence force, although again, no active role is played.  The commissions of every officer in the Navy, Army or Air Force are signed by the Governor-General.

In undertaking these constitutional duties, the Governor-General must act on the advice of the Ministers who have the support of the House of Representatives, because it they, rather than the Governor-General, who have been democratically elected.  Even so, I have the right to be consulted, to encourage and to warn.  I regularly speak to the Prime Minister about a wide range of issues and information is provided to me from Ministers when I request it.

In exceptional cases, the Governor-General can exercise what are known as the "reserve powers."  These powers allow me to act without or even against Ministerial advice.  Those powers—to refuse to call an election or to force an election or to refuse to sign a law if it was unlawful or would irreparably damage our democracy—are used in the most extreme situations.  Apart from the appointment of a Prime Minister—which inherently involves the use of the reserve powers—no New Zealand Governor-General has thankfully ever needed to use them.

When New Zealand adopted proportional representation, with the much higher likelihood of coalition governments, there was some suggestion that the Governor-General would be called upon to become more involved in the formation of governments.  This hasn't proven to be the case.  The formation of governments is a political decision and while there have been political crises, there have been no constitutional crises.  In essence, the politicians have sorted out the issues that have divided them.

The second role is ceremonial.  In many ways this links to the first role.  This means I represent all New Zealanders at public ceremonies such as opening new sessions of Parliament, welcoming visiting Heads of State and attending and addressing major commemorative days.  These include Waitangi Day—which marks the day in 1840 when my predecessor Lt Governor William Hobson and many Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi—and Anzac Day, which commemorates the sacrifice of New Zealanders who have fought and died in the service of their country.

I also hold investiture ceremonies where New Zealand honours are conferred.  These ceremonies are an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of New Zealanders in fields as diverse as sport, science, business, education, the law, and public and community service. 

The third part of my role is providing community leadership and it is the part of my job that takes most of my time.  This role sees me travelling throughout New Zealand visiting schools, opening functions, launching appeals and attending special events such as the opening of new facilities. 

This is a part of my role that I particularly enjoy as it provides me with the opportunity to meet New Zealanders, undertaking work in a variety of endeavours, which make this country so special.  In my previous careers, as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman, I was often involved in resolving inherently negative matters.  As Governor-General, I am privileged to see New Zealand and New Zealanders at their best.

By visiting all parts of New Zealand, attending and speaking at community events, and also by providing patronage to various community organisations, I am able to highlight key issues.  I have urged New Zealanders to embrace the increasing diversity of their society as well as the challenge of us all to move beyond our households and engage with wider communities, organisations and institutions.  I have also tried to emphasise the importance to understand civics—the rights and responsibilities that come with being a New Zealand citizen.

Governors-General have increasingly represented New Zealand and New Zealanders overseas at major international events such as the European commemorations for the 90^th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium in July last year and the funerals of the Samoan Head of State, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II in May last year and that of the King of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV in September 2006.  Recently I represented New Zealand at the United Nations when New Zealand received the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award for the way in which our country deals with people with disabilities.

The role of Governor-General has evolved as New Zealand has evolved into an independent nation.  There was a time when ambassadors to New Zealand from other countries would travel to London to present their credentials to the Queen.  Now they present their credentials to me.  Likewise, there was a time the British Prime Minister effectively decided who the next Governor-General of New Zealand would be—now it is New Zealand's Prime Minister who makes the recommendation to the Queen after consulting the Leader of the Opposition.

New Zealand's Governors-General were once British Lords or retired military officers.  Since 1967, all Governors-General have been born in New Zealand and they have come from a variety of backgrounds.  Including myself, four have been former judges, one was a mayor, one was a Prime Minister and farmer, one was an Archbishop, one was a diplomat and one was a surgeon.  One of those Governors-General was Maori and two have been women.

I trust then that I have given you a sense of the role of the Governor-General and its place in New Zealand's system of government.  Australian expatriate academic, Germaine Greer, recently wrote in The Age that the role of Governor-General was so constrained and protocols so tedious that they could be done by a robot. 

I cordially disagree and will close with a quote from Sir Geoffrey and Dr Matthew Palmer's seminal text, Bridled Power.  They provide a stronger clue to what the role of the Governor-General is by saying what it is not, and I quote: 

"People tend to think the office of the Governor-General is of little significance, which is wrong, or that it represents a substantial check on the excesses of executive government, which is also wrong."

And on that intriguing note, I will close in New Zealand's first language, Maori, by offering greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.