Speech
Suter Art Gallery Fundraising Dinner
Ladies and Gentlemen May I greet you all 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.+ Sign.
May I then specifically acknowledge you: Your Excellency Penny Reedie, High Commissioner of Canada and your husband Don Quiring; Sari Hodgson, Chair of the Bishop Suter Art Gallery Trust Board; Your Worships Paul Matheson and Kerry Prendergast, Mayors of Nelson and Wellington respectively; Ros Burdon, Chair of the NZ Arts Foundation Trustees; the Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer; the Hon Philip Burdon; Hugo Judd, (and after all those honorifics the system should surely provide one for the esteemed long term doyen Official Secretary here at Government House) also the MC for the evening Distinguished guests otherwise; ladies and gentlemen.
It is with pleasure that Susan and I host this fundraising dinner for The Suter (Te Aratoi o Whakatu) at Government House this evening.
In the more than one hundred years since the then named Bishop Suter Art Gallery was opened in 1899, the Gallery has established itself as provincial gallery that maintains the highest of professional standards. It plays a key role in the artistic and cultural vitality of the Upper South Island
Named after Anglican Bishop Andrew Burn Suter, who had died in 1895, his widow Amelia Suter gifted land, and his art collection, to commence the gallery.
As the third oldest art gallery in New Zealand, it houses an excellent collection of 19th Century New Zealand paintings, such as those by John Gully and C.F. Goldie. It also has many works by modern artists, particularly those from the Nelson area, such as Sir Tosswill Woollaston, who bequeathed many paintings to the gallery.
Nelson is also synonymous with clay deposits and the development of studio pottery was particularly significant in the region. Since the late 1950s the Nelson area has attracted leading ceramic artists and the Suter has a significant collection of works by ceramic artists of national and local renown.
The 108-year-old gallery—which still includes part of the original building—is now, I am told, visited by 60,000 people year and it has expanded to include a theatre, store and caf.
While I am advised the Gallery is soon to enter a new phase in its history as a council controlled organisation under the wing of the Nelson City Council, it has always relied heavily on donations and volunteers.
That aspect, I am sure, will not change. Volunteers, such as those who support the Suter, provide a valuable community service that dovetails with the support and services provided by public organisations. That is symptomatic of the glue that holds our society together and I wish to join in the thanks to all those who have volunteered their time and skills to maintaining what has become a piece of true heritage.
I trust that everyone will be both nourished and warmed by the hospitality of this house this evening.
On that note I will close my curtain raising function in Maori by issuing greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.