South Pacific Sera

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E kui mā, e koro mā, kia ora tātou katoa.  Ladies and gentlemen my greetings to you all.  Staff of South Pacific Sera and secondary and tertiary education representatives it is a great pleasure for Janine and me to be in South Canterbury for a regional visit and today, specifically in Timaru.

In relation to our being here, can I specifically acknowledge: Dr William Rolleston, Marion Rolleston, John Rolleston, Karen Rolleston and Heaton Woodhouse, Directors of SPS; and Your Worships Janie Annear, John Coles and Claire Barlow, Mayors of Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie Districts respectively—tēnā koutou katoa.

Earlier today we were welcomed on to Arowhenua Marae and also visited the Te Ana Māori Rock Art Visitor Centre.  Our programme during the next few days is full and varied, with each part reflecting those things that are of specific focus to me during my time as Governor-General; that is service, excellence, rangatahi, volunteering and enterprise.

In promoting and celebrating those things that are important to New Zealand, our people, our culture, and our prosperity, Janine and I want to give some priority to engaging with those communities, organisations, businesses and individuals that reflect those themes. 

According to a Statistics New Zealand biennial survey undertaken in 2011, there were 474 organisations across the country involved in bioscience, and the predominant areas of work were human wellness and animal-based biosciences. And for the 2011 financial year, the total income for organisations in which bioscience is the primary focus was $677 million – with $376 million equating to 56 per-cent of that total coming from exports .

South Pacific Sera is an integral part of our national network of bioscience enterprises.  And SPS is also a great example where a commitment to excellence, enterprise and investing in our young people, our rangatahi, is evident.

I have just had a tour of this facility, and it seems to me that SPS and the bioscience being done here is adding value for New Zealand.  The raw materials for pharmaceuticals used in children’s vaccines and enzyme replacement therapy and your products that are used in diabetes and cancer research are splendid examples of that.

In this your 25th year, SPS is proving that as an organisation it is committed to excellence in the products and services provided, is enterprising in the culture held, and is enthusiastic in supporting the region’s young people.

Turning now to the Woodhouse Scholars Programme, established to support secondary school students from South Canterbury studying biosciences at one of the South Island’s three universities.  The programme presents some wonderful opportunities. 

Foremost it is an opportunity for aspiring young scientists to be supported by one of the country’s leading enterprising bioscience facilities, both in financial support, and crucial work experience.

Secondly it is an opportunity for the region to nurture, strengthen and retain its smart rangitahi, by the Scholarship Programme’s dedication to building capability in South Canterbury.

Thirdly it is an opportunity for South Pacific Sera to build links with the leaders of tomorrow, the bright young people who may end up working here, or even leading this facility!

The late Sir Paul Callaghan, one of New Zealand’s preeminent scientists, captured the essence of what SPS, the three “mainland” universities and the scholars are seeking.  Sir Paul said: 
“Professionally what I’m most proud of is the young people that have come out of my lab. I’ve had 24 PhD students, numerous masters students and all the people I’ve taught at undergraduate. The graduate students have all done incredibly well. Everyone who comes out of my lab gets two or three job offers, all over the world.”

The Woodhouse Scholars Programme represents the satisfaction and impact that supporting young people can bring about.  The scholars programme, in honour of the memory of Lieutenant Colonel Dr Philip Randal Woodhouse, it is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the service of others as a local farmer, and before that as a distinguished military officer and doctor, and former Medical Superintendent of Wellington Hospital.  Perhaps most importantly, is that Woodhouse was a keen student of agricultural science and innovation.

I congratulate Dr William and John Rolleston, grandsons of Dr Woodhouse, who had the foresight to bring this Scholarship Programme together. It represents your commitment to inspiring excellence and enterprise in the young people of South Canterbury.

And with that said, as Governor-General and representative of all New Zealanders I thank South Pacific Sera for investing in our future.  Accordingly, it gives me great pleasure to officially launch the Woodhouse Scholarship Programme.
Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.