Speech
Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards
May I begin by greeting everyone 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 evening (Sign).
May I specifically greet you, Hon Trevor Mallard; Pippa, Lady Blake; Chris Mace, Acting Chair of the Trust and your fellow trustees; supporters; past recipients; distinguished guests otherwise; ladies and gentlemen.
As Patron of the Sir Peter Blake Trust, I am delighted to take part in the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards; and I thank you for the invitation to me and my wife, Susan, to be here with you tonight.
It is one of the great pleasures of my role as Governor-General that I engage so closely with New Zealanders who are making a real and positive difference to our communities, our society and, indeed, the world beyond.
Sir Peter himself, of course, exemplified the extraordinary ability of some to chart a course, seize the moment, and motivate people to achieve in ways they might not have thought possible. The very high regard in which he is held, and the very good work the Trust does in his name, are testament and tribute to his contribution.
This work includes not only the New Zealand Leadership Week and the Awards we are celebrating tonight, but other initiatives such as the Antarctic Youth Ambassador scheme. The inaugural Ambassador - Jay Piggot, aged 24 - visited the snow with Antarctic New Zealand in early January, worked in partnership on an environmental project in the DryValleys, and continued related activities after coming back.
The Trust also operates the successful Care for our Coast environmental programme.
Under the programme, primary and intermediate age children are taught about the importance of the marine environment, and the need to protect it. They then help clean up a beach or waterway, learning firsthand about the way people can impact on the environment, and the difference that individuals can make.
Anyone who has ever been taken to task by a nine year old with a personal cause will know just how much enthusiasm and commitment is there for the harnessing in this age group!
A future Governor-General may well one day have the pleasure of bestowing formal recognition 'for services to the environment' on an individual whose interest in this issue was first stimulated as part of the Care for our Coast programme.
Which takes us back to the enduring influence of Sir Peter, and the fact that his example will have inspired many of those who attend investitures of New Zealand Honours at which I officiate - as well as those who are here to be honoured tonight.
American writer Edwin Friedman said that 'leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future'.
In their many different ways, the people who received awards at the most recent investitures at Government House Wellington or Auckland expand the vision of the future for other New Zealanders. Their service in fields as diverse as - for example - nursing, the Tongan community, architecture, soccer and business helps create for all of us a sense of community, possibility, aspiration and success.
By virtue of their work, some have been in the public limelight and are well known. Others have quietly worked away in the background, their dedication and support allowing others to succeed. But they are all leaders and role models.
The same is true for those whose names are about to be called tonight. They are the leaders among us, those who - like Sir Peter - find new ways of responding to the tests and difficulties we face; approaches that signal the potential of being human in the world.
There is an apposite Maori proverb that puts this well. It says: Ma mua ka kite a muri, ma muri ka Ora a mua, which translates as: Those who lead, give sight to those who follow; those behind, give life to those ahead
The public acknowledgement provided by events such as these fortifies our leaders for the challenges they will yet face. It is with pleasure that I offer my congratulations to everyone receiving an award later this evening and also my thanks to everyone who helps make the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards possible.
On that 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.