Rotary Club of Wellington South

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).

I specifically greet you: David Watt, District Governor; Peter Denee, President of the Rotary Club of Wellington South; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It is with pleasure that my wife Susan and I join you for this luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Wellington South.

As always, it is always a pleasure to be in the company of Rotarians and spouses, having been for a number of years a foot soldier member and, now, honorary member of the Rotary Club of Wellington.  In particular, it is a pleasure to see a number of friends in the audience.

As one who has been a lawyer, judge, ombudsman and now Governor-General I continue to value the knowledge and skills able to be gained and enjoyed as a Rotarian.  It is in giving back to the community that one learns in Rotary that one receives so much in return. 

Even with that background and with a view to what is immediately ahead of me, I can well understand the wit of Pulitzer Prize winning columnist from the Miami Herald, Dave Barry, who once wrote: “All of us are born with a set of instinctive fears—of falling, of the dark, of lobsters, of falling on lobsters in the dark, or speaking before a Rotary Club, and of the words [on the box saying] ‘Some Assembly Required.’”

More seriously, the success of service clubs like Rotary lies in their positive support for the community, focusing on those matters with which members are in agreement.  As Rotary Founder Paul Harris said: “Friendship was the foundation rock on which Rotary was built and tolerance is the element which holds it together.”

As would be well known in this gathering, the first Rotary Club was founded more than a century ago when Harris, and friends Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele and Hiram Shorey met in Madame Gallis’ Italian restaurant in Dearborn St, Chicago on 23 February 1905.  Today, there are 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries, all ostensibly committed to the notion of “service above self”.

For Susan and I, we are now approaching the fourth anniversary of when I was sworn in on the steps of Parliament as the personal representative of the Queen of New Zealand in August 2006.   Barring a constitutional crisis, which no New Zealand Governor-General has thankfully ever had to deal with, we have together been exposed to at least one instance of every usual aspect of the role, whether that be opening Parliament, swearing in a new government or ANZAC Day commemorations and Waitangi Day celebrations.

We are thus just three-and-a-half years into what is normally a five year journey and I would like to make some brief comment on that journey to date and some view of the days ahead.

An abiding feature is the closure of Government House Wellington.  In packing up the House more than 46,000 individual items were identified, catalogued and either placed into storage, or were sent to Government House Auckland, to Government House Vogel or off for restoration or display.  

Susan and I have had inspection visits of the project and it is fascinating to see the work underway, including re-roofing, strengthening and installation of a massive service trench under the House that stretches from one end to the other.  To those who refer to it as a refurbishment, the architectural equivalent of cosmetic surgery, I have often replied that it is more like a triple by-pass and a double hip replacement!

It is also slightly unnerving being in a place we had become very close to in two years, being much more than laid bare.  I am advised that the project is continuing apace and is on track to be completed in mid-2011.  I would recommend you look at some of the recent photographs that have been added to the Governor-General website.  The new colour scheme—which replicates that when the House was opened a century ago—is starting to become apparent and is quite distinctive.  

The closure of the House has, however, given us the opportunity to look afresh at the way the Governor-General role is undertaken.  Ceremonies that would have normally been held in Government House Wellington have been held elsewhere.  We have, for example, held investitures in Christchurch and Dunedin last year and are planning on further South Island ceremonies this year.   Investitures in Wellington have been held at the Wellington Town Hall and, with the Prime Minister’s support, at Premier House.

Smaller receptions, dinners and other events, such as credentials ceremonies where new ambassadors and high commissioners present their credentials, have been held at Government House Vogel in Lower Hutt. 

That House has a long and fascinating association with New Zealand’s government. James Vogel was the grandson of Premier Sir Julis Vogel whilst his wife Jocelyn (nee Riddiford) was a great grandniece of my predecessor Governor Sir George Grey.  Ironically after Jocelyn Vogel graciously donated the House to the Government it was initially rented to the Australian Government as a home for the High Commissioner.  Later it served as a home for Prime Ministers and Ministers. 

As an aside, the reference to Vogel House reminds me of a story that appeared in The  Dominion a few years ago.  In it, the late David Lange recounts an incident when he lived there for a short time when he was Prime Minister.  It goes:

“Lange was giving a dinner at Vogel House for Chinese politician Hu Yao Bang when the lights went out.  He asked the assembled guests to raise their hands with the observation that ‘many hands make light work.’ They complied. ‘The lights went on. I was invited to China.’” 

I can assure you that no such event happened prior to my visit to China for the Beijing Olympics! 

Seriously, however, while Susan and I are now well past the mid-point of the term, the role continues to challenge us both, in the best of ways.  It is a privilege to serve in it and while we have learnt much, each day continues to be different from the day before.  

As you might imagine my career as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman had provided me with some knowledge of the workings of our government processes, but it is only when one is in the job that the extent of what is involved is distilled.   I have now lost count of the numbers of laws and regulations I have signed since assenting to the Coroners Act 2006.

As Governor-General, there are three roles—constitutional, ceremonial and community leadership.  Each is of constant interest and I am fortunate and indebted to the support that I receive from Susan, particularly with regard to the ceremonial and community activities.

Being Governor-General is a singular role—there is nothing that compares with it.  One is not a celebrity or out to gather votes or to seek popularity.  Even so, we continue to be greeted with genuine warmth having visited all four corners of New Zealand from Cape Reinga in the north, to Stewart Island in the South, the Chatham Islands in the east and the West Coast in the west.   There remain only small pockets like the King Country that we have yet to visit.

In my previous careers, I was often involved in focusing on or resolving inherently negative matters.  As a lawyer it was prosecuting or defending someone accused of a criminal offence.  As a judge, presiding over trials and sentencing those convicted.  As an ombudsman, it was attempting to resolve grievances between members of the public and governmental agencies.

As Governor-General, Susan and I have been privileged to see and New Zealand and New Zealanders at their best.  Investiture and award ceremonies are a case in point.  The deeds of the people who receive the highest honours are well known to us all.  You would have seen, for example, the recent ceremony where I invested former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark, with New Zealand’s highest honour, the Order of New Zealand. 

But equally as interesting, and rarely as well known, are the stories of those who receive the Queen’s Service Medal or are awarded the life membership of a particular charity.  Invariably they have worked tirelessly, often for years on end, providing vital community services or support or working on key community projects.  

Some have been involved with schools, others with environmental causes, some as fire fighters or volunteer paramedics, and some with sports or Māori or ethnic groups.  But they have all shown leadership, engagement with their communities and an underlying recognition that enjoying the rights and benefits of a democracy also involves obligations and responsibilities.

That sense of community responsibility was clearly evident in our recent regional visit to Christchurch which followed giving my Waitangi Day address at Ōnuku Marae at Akaroa. 

Over five busy days we undertook 17 events, either together or separately.  We visited two schools, opening a technology block at one of them, presented bravery awards for the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand, presented awards at South Brighton Surf Life Saving Club and hosted a reception for organisations with vice-regal patronage.  We also visited a Nurse Maude Hospice, a community gardens project, Lincoln University, Antarctica New Zealand and Burnham Military Camp, where we met young people participating in a successful Limited Service Company programme. 

The Governor-General’s role is one I have found to be continually absorbing.  Every day is different and it is not a 9-5 job.  There are several hundred engagements every year and my contribution today is one more than 30 speeches I have delivered since mid-January and Susan has also given a number of speeches in the same period.

We will sometimes attend three functions a day.  Attending and speaking at a dinner will be followed by meeting a community group the following morning and speaking to a reception in the late afternoon.  Supported by experienced staff of Government House, we are briefed and advised on all these engagements. 

So what do I see as the challenges of the next 18 months?  In my speeches I have developed and stressed these key themes—the richness and challenges of New Zealand’s increasingly diverse cultural mix, the need for greater community engagement and benefits of civic education.  

On New Year’s Day, I issued my 2010 New Year message in which I stressed the importance of identifying and supporting our community’s young and emerging leaders. 

In that message, I contrasted 2010 being the 170th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of the Waitangi and the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with the recent global financial crisis.  They are contrasting anniversaries—one speaks of partnership and the other of a conflict that claimed millions of lives.

The response of people after the War was not despair but a resounding vote of faith in the future.  People established families and built stronger communities.  Likewise, while one might have expected New Zealanders to be downcast and despondent, in our travels we have sensed a firm feeling of nationhood and of optimism that extends beyond individual hopes, for our communities and our country.
In my message I noted that it was clear that individuals, families and communities have been hurt by the crisis, but New Zealanders' best qualities—ingenuity, tenacity and humour—have enabled them to rebound.  Community groups and volunteers have responded to those in need, while businesses continue to create and market innovative products and services.  New Zealanders have called on their tight connections to friends and family and proved that these are vitally important in times of adversity.

I concluded with the following challenge: “It seems fitting to suggest, 170 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and 65 years after the end of the Second World War, that a challenge should go out to renew the spirit of partnership and hope that came out of both events.  Tomorrow's leaders need the skills, confidence and support to take on the mantle of community leadership.  We should all focus on identifying and encouraging these leaders whether they emerge in public positions, through voluntary service to others, in sport, education or business.  I believe this is a New Year resolution proposal that we can all build on.”

The theme of this message should naturally resonate with members of a Rotary Club.  The community projects that Rotary Clubs undertake, and the fundraising support you give to other essential services, is invaluable in providing a focus for emerging leaders and for everyone to display leadership qualities.  I understand that this Club, like all Rotary Clubs, has continued to participate in community fundraising initiatives, for projects both near and far.   In addition to participating in the worldwide fight against polio, I understand you recently held your inaugural big dig at Lyall Bay to support upgrades to the Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Plunket Rooms.

In conclusion, my challenge to this audience is to continue to build on Rotary’s fine history of nurturing leadership potential to assist our nation’s emerging leaders.   The Rotarians don’t stand on the sidelines when an issue appears and mutter: “Someone should do something about that” and then turn away. Instead, they roll up their sleeves and get stuck in.  That defining quality of what makes Rotary special, is also what makes New Zealand and New Zealanders special.   The point was well made by New Zealand journalist and author, Helen Brown, who wrote:

“From an outsider’s perspective, New Zealand seems to be poised on a creative vortex, where ordinary people are quietly inspired to produce things of unique style and beauty.  I’m not sure why it happens. Maybe it’s to do with the clarity of vision that springs from isolation; a small population and plenty of space enabling people to have a crack at anything; the proximity of the sea and exquisite landscapes; the influence of Polynesian culture.  And I guess a teaspoon of self-criticism comes in handy.”

And on that note of optimism, I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours. 

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.