Save the Children NZ Annual Council Meeting

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. Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign)

May I specifically greet you: Mr Martin Hawes, National President of the Save the Children New Zealand; John Bowis, Executive Director; Members of the National Executive; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and me to attend the 2007 Annual Council Meeting of Save the Children New Zealand.

I speak to you today not only in my capacity as Governor-General but also, for the first time, as joint patron, with Susan, of your organisation.

It was with great pleasure that we accepted the invitation to be Patrons of Save the Children New Zealand, following my appointment as Governor-General in 2006.  This is because of the organisation's work in championing the rights of the globe's most vulnerable citizens—its children.

In the 21st Century—almost two decades after the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child—there are now more children living in poverty than ever before.

The statistics are frightening. More than 10 million children die every year, often from easily preventable causes.  It is estimated that 150 million children are malnourished, 100 million are not in school and 250 million must work to survive.  Fourteen million children are estimated to have lost one or both of their parents to HIV/Aids and millions have died or been disabled or traumatised by warfare.

Another key factor in any child's wellbeing is education.  There is an old and very well known Chinese proverb that says: "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." 

What the proverb underscores is the value of education in providing everyone with the knowledge to thrive in society.  Given that it is estimated that 79 million children still do not have access to a school education, Save the Children New Zealand have made ensuring that all children have access to a quality education a priority in its projects, both here and overseas.

But Save the Children does not treat the issues that blight the lives of many children in isolation.  Instead takes a multidisciplinary approach to tackling these issues.  Its promotion of education is based on sound evidence that improving childhood literacy reduces levels of poverty.  Save the Children New Zealand, for example, has supported the wider organisation's worldwide campaign, Rewrite the Future, which aims to get eight million children from conflict-affected countries into quality education by 2010.

I am also advised that the organisation has successfully completed its consolidation into one legal entity.  Each branch now has a charter and the organisation as a whole now has a single finance system, which enhances accountability as well as reducing compliance costs.  Congratulations on completing what I am sure would have been a complex task.

In conclusion then, I wish to thank you again for inviting us to attend your Annual Council meeting today.  As Governor-General, and as your joint patron with my wife Susan, I wish you all the best in your valuable work.

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