Waheguru Ji Ka Khulsa, Waheguru Ki Fateh
[Hail the Guru's Khalsa, Hail the victory of God]
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.
Thank you for inviting Richard and me to join you today for this very special celebration of Vaisakhi at Gurudwara Sahib. It’s an honour to be the first Governor-General to visit your temple.
I wish to begin by acknowledgingyour holy book the Guru Granth Sahib. I also join you in celebrating the bounty of harvest-time, and in your expressions of gratitude for the food that will nourish our communities.
As Governor-General, one of my over-riding goals is to encourage a sense of inclusion and unity in New Zealand. I enjoy meeting New Zealanders of all faiths and backgrounds, and appreciate the contributions, expertise and aspirations we all bring – in our different ways – to Aotearoa.
This afternoon’s celebration is one of those occasions – in this instance, I welcome this opportunity to meet members of the Sikh community – and learn more about Sikhism, the sacred space of Gurudwara, and the traditions associated with visiting this temple and the celebration of Vaisakhi.
I was interested to learn that Sikhism is the fastest-growing religion in New Zealand, and about the role Gurudwara play in bringing your communities together and enabling you to hold fast to your cultural and spiritual heritage.
The last few years have tested our resilience in ways we could never have imagined. Last year, when we visited Hawkes Bay communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, it was a great privilege to meet Sikh people there who had showed such extraordinary compassion and generosity to people who had, in many instances, lost everything in the floods.
I want to acknowledge your efforts to not only promote egalitarian and humanitarian values, but also for doing your best to live them on a daily basis. Your generosity and compassion to those in need are deeply appreciated, and a reminder that true spirituality is expressed in our actions towards others.
My thanks once again for welcoming us into your temple and sharing this special occasion with us.
Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khulsa, Waheguru Ki Fateh