Sports Education Centre stage one opening, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School
May 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).
May I specifically greet you Rt Rev Dr Tom Brown, Bishop of Wellington and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Samuel Marsden Collegiate School; Mr John Shewan, Chairman of the Management Board; Ms Jenny Williams, Principal; Olivia Blundell, Head Girl Deputy Head Girl Claire Munro; Distinguished Guests otherwise; staff and students; Ladies and Gentlemen.
Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to be here for the official opening of the first stage of the Sports Education Centre - an event that is occurring in the year that Samuel Marsden Collegiate School celebrates its 130th anniversary.
One hundred and thirty years ago—that is 1878, fewer than 40 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and well before there had occurred many of the other events that, today, we think have defined New Zealand as a nation.
It may be interesting to some to know that 1878 was also a year in which an early, unsuccessful attempt was made to give New Zealand women the vote. Fifteen years later, in 1893 New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote.
As we all know both before and since that time, New Zealand women have proved themselves in every field of endeavour. Among them are the well educated former students of this famous school, who have lived up to the school motto: 'Ad Summa—to the highest.'
Today a Marsden student—distinctive in green uniform—continues to be widely recognised as someone who is receiving a first-class education.
In terms of expertise, and genuine commitment to students and their care, the leaders and staff of Marsden today can bring to mind readily, Mary Anne Swainson. She was the woman who in 1878 established the school that would come to be known as Marsden, and who was its first headmistress.
According to an essay by Beryl Hughes in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Mrs Swainson (I quote) :
'[D]ressed in black, with jet buttons reaching to the neck and her hair pulled severely back [] presented a stern appearance. In fact she was a kind, motherly presence at the centre of the school. Although she firmly insisted on a high standard of conduct, the girls did not doubt her affection for them nor her concern for their well-being
'Emphasis was placed on good behaviour, strict attention to duty and concern for others, but in addition the pupils enjoyed parties, picnics and concerts'.
In every well-lived life, I think, there should be room for both duty and picnics - just as in every good education there should be scope for both mental and physical exercise.
The new gymnasium, Stage One of the Sports Education Centre, will be a wonderful facility for the students here. I congratulate everyone who has been involved in its development - Board members and staff, builders, architects, donors and other supporters.
I encourage all of the students of the school to be enthusiastic in their use of the new gymnasium - those who are naturally skilled in physical activities, and those who perhaps have more to learn.
It is when you are at school that you are best supported to reach beyond the familiar and try something different Something said in 1964 by New Zealand sporting legend Bruce McLaren comes to mind. "It would be a waste of life to do nothing with ones ability for I feel that life is to be measured in achievement not in years alone".
Facilities of the calibre of this gymnasium provide everybody with the opportunity to challenge themselves in new ways; to develop new kinds of skills and find new forms of aspiration. I urge all students to take advantage of what the Sports Education Centre will make possible.
And indeed, may I urge you to take advantage of all the opportunities provided by this very fine school. In another 130 years, another group of girls may be gathering to celebrate SamuelMarsdenCollegiateSchool's 260th anniversary, and bestudying its history.
It seems to me that there is a good challenge that I can offer you which is to make sure that they say of you - the students of the early 21st century - their great, great, great grandmothers, perhaps - really committed themselves to excellence - Ad summa 'to the highest'indeed.
And on that note I will close in New Zealand's first language, Maori, by offering greetings and wishing everyone here good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.