State Luncheon for the Head of State of Samoa

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

May I specifically greet you: Your Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, O le Ao o le Mal, and your wife, Your Highness, Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese and fellow members of your delegation; Your Excellency, Asi Tuiataga James Faafili Blakelock, High Commissioner for Samoa, and your wife Helen Blakelock; Hon Rick Barker, Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister for the Courts, Howard Broad, Commissioner of Police; Air Commodore Terry Gardiner, Chief of Staff Organisational Support, NZ Defence Force; Warren Searell, of New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. To you all may I also say: Talofa lava.

Your Highness—I want first to register thanks for your first official visit to us in New Zealand.  My wife Susan and I have the privilege to declare that to you, on behalf of all New Zealanders.

It is fitting in a Pacific setting to note, with respect, those who have passed on in the last several months.  His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, who died in May.  Sir Tom Davis from the Cook Islands in July and lastly Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 15 months ago.  The region has lost three great sources of wise counsel and respect.

Your Highness, I then turn to the relationship between New Zealand and Samoa, which is unique for both and both friendly and marked by a spirit of warmth and co-operation. That is symbolised in the Treaty of Friendship between our two countries.  This year marks 45 years since the independence of Samoa, and also 45 years since the Treaty was signed. 

Both our countries have worked to ensure that the Treaty remains a meaningful document.  The joint ministerial council meetings and the many initiatives in areas as diverse as the arts, education, health, justice, defence and police reflect the commitment of both parties to ensuring it is a living document.

From the New Zealand side there is also operational in its fourth year, the Pacific Co-operation Foundation that has gathered people from government and business and the community in its efforts to encourage development of relationships.

It was therefore with particular pleasure that I was able to directly express the commitment of the New Zealand Government to the relationship when I visited you in Samoa in August.  I also met Prime Minister, the Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, and other Samoan leaders.  We enjoyed touring some of the facilities for the South Pacific Games—which I am pleased to learn were a major success—the Lands and Titles Court at Mulinu'u, the refurbished Robert Louis Stevenson Museum and projects being supported by NZAID.

In addition to the Treaty, are the close ties between the peoples of our two nations. More than 130,000 people of Samoan descent now live in New Zealand, accounting for about half of the Pacific peoples living in Aotearoa New Zealand.  Many people living in Samoa have also completed either secondary or tertiary education here in New Zealand.

The Samoan family in New Zealand has enriched our country's diverse cultural mix and added its own vitality to our economy and society.  On the economic front, another trend is the confidence with which more and more money is becoming invested in things that will benefit both Samoans and New Zealanders - tourism and related opportunities being the most obvious.

On the cultural front, talented Samoan artists such as Fatu Feu'u, Michel Tuffery, Andy Leleisi'uao, John Ioane and Lily Laita have played an important role in New Zealand art.

In literature, the writers Albert Wendt and Sia Fegiel have made a significant contribution. Samoans have made a major contribution to music—from early pop and jazz exponents such as Mavis Rivers, the Yandall Sisters and Freddy Keil, to the opera singers Daphne Collins and Iosefa Enari, to a younger generation, such as King Kapisi and Scribe, who are redefining what it means to be Samoan in New Zealand. 

Samoan playwrights, producers and actors include Lani Tupu senior, Maiava Eteuati Ete, Nathaniel Lees, Jay Laga'aia, David Fane, Erolia Ifopo, Makerita Urale, Oscar Kightley, John Kneubuhl, The Naked Samoans, Toa Fraser, Victor Rodger and Pacific Underground. Fane and Kightley, along with Mario Gaoa, and Shimpal Lelisi, have produced the successful animated comedy, Bro'Town that is much enjoyed in New Zealand.  Seeing myself as a cartoon caricature, brought a new perspective to being a Governor-General!

Samoan New Zealanders have also contributed much to New Zealand's political and community life as members of Parliament (like Luamanuvao Hon Winnie Laban) and on local councils and schools boards of trustees.  In earlier occupations, I have seen the contribution that Samoan lawyers to New Zealand's legal system, for example, Their Honours, Judges A'e'au Semikueiva Epati and Ida Malosi and Law Society councillor Frank Godinet.

Of course, Samoans have given much to New Zealand sport, and in particular to New Zealand Rugby.  All Blacks such Bryan Williams, Joe Stanley, Va'aiga Tuigamala, Michael Jones, Olo Brown and Tana Umaga have transformed the New Zealand game.  In Rugby League, Samoan players of the modern era include Dwayne Mann, Hitro Okesene and Joe and Nigel Vagana, all of whom have been equally influential.

Netballers in the Silver Ferns team include Rita Fatialofa, Bernice Mene and Leilani Read while among the Tall Blacks basketball players were Byron Vaetoe and Pero Cameron.  The discus thrower Beatrice Faumauina was world champion in 1997 and twice won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

I have spent this time itemising Samoan contributions to everyday New Zealand life because one can look back to times when such congruence was not present and it was necessary for an apology to be made for shortcomings in the past.

All these connections now mean New Zealand and Samoa have been able to work co-operatively and collaboratively with other Pacific nations in gatherings such as the Pacific Forum. As I mentioned when I saw you in Samoa in August, I wish to reiterate that New Zealand values the contribution that Samoa has made to supporting a regional solution to the issues that are currently challenging the Pacific region. 

Your Highnesses, and your delegation, it is with equal measures of warmth and enthusiasm that we receive you in Aotearoa New Zealand and I register the hope that you have a happy and profitable visit. Fa'afetai tele lava.

On that note I will close in 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.