Zonta Science Award Presentation
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 evening and the sun has set (Sign).
May I specifically greet you: Therese, President of the Zonta Club of Wellington; Sue Hope, Vice-President; Lynette Grave, Zonta Governor for District 16; Lynn McKenzie, Chair of Zonta's International Status of Women and Service Committee; Luamanuvao Hon Winnie Laban, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs; Hon Margaret Shields, former Minister of Women's Affairs; Dr Diedre Hart and Wendy Saunders, Award recipients; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
My wife Susan and I warmly welcome you to Government House in Wellington for the presentation of the 2008 Zonta Science Awards.
This is the 10th time the biennial award has been made and there is a strong connection between this House and the Award, with my predecessors in office, Dame Catherine Tizard, Sir Michael Hardie Boys and Dame Silvia Cartwright each having hosted ceremonies here in the past. Beverley, Lady Reeves, wife of my predecessor Sir Paul Reeves, presented the first award at a ceremony hosted by the Hon Margaret Shields at Vogel House in 1990.
I have been asked to present the 2008 Zonta Science Award and the 2008
Zonta Building Research Award and PhD Scholarship, but before I do, I would like to speak briefly on the role of women in science and the significance of these awards.
Women have contributed to our understanding of our world and to scientific endeavour since the beginning of time, but their contribution has often not been correctly acknowledged.
I could easily recite a lengthy list of women who have contributed much to science, particularly in the last 200 years, but I suspect we would be here far into the evening.
But suffice to say that running parallel with the long struggle for women to gain equality in civil, political and economic rights, there has been a growing recognition and fostering of the role of women in science. In addition to more well known names such as Marie and Irene Curie, my reading discloses that women such as Rosalind Franklin in genetics, or Emily Roebling in engineering, are now gaining what many would call long overdue recognition.
For the last 90 years, a key organisation that has worked to improve the status of women worldwide has been Zonta International. With more than 33,000 members in some 69 countries, it has done much through service and advocacy to improve women's health, education, self-esteem, legal rights, and economic status and prevent violence against women.
One such successful initiative has been the Zonta Science Award and the Zonta Building Research Award and PhD Scholarship administered by the Zonta Club of Wellington.
The awards recognise that while female enrolment at all levels of education is increasing, women and girls continue to face barriers to education in science, mathematics and technology, and are under-represented in these areas of study and employment. The Awards not only provide much needed financial assistance to new and emerging researchers, but also recognise role models and achievements that other young women can aspire to emulate.
The success of the Zonta Science Awards can be seen in the subsequent careers of those women who have received them. For just one example, the inaugural recipient, Dr Jean Fleming, who is here this evening, served with distinction on the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002.
Reading through Margaret Sparrow's commemorative booklet on these awards, Making a Difference, one sees the thread of women who have not only succeeded in their scientific careers, but have also been leaders in community service and strong communicators.
It is with pleasure then that I congratulate Dr Diedre Hart on winning the 2008 Zonta Science Award and Wendy Saunders for winning the 2008 Zonta Building Research Award and PhD Scholarship. I wish you both all the best in your current and future careers. In receiving these highly competitive awards you are "the crme de la crme" of New Zealand's new and emerging female scientists.
I also congratulate the Zonta Club of Wellington in its good work in not only administering this award but in also the considerable fundraising that has been undertaken. In this regard, I wish to add thanks and acknowledgement to all the many sponsors who have supported these awards.
In conclusion, it seems appropriate to close with a comment from a woman that many regard as the most famous female scientist of the 20th Century, Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win a second prize. She remains the only person to ever win two prizes in two different sciences.
She was fiercely independent, raising a family and rejecting offers of a Government pension when her husband and co-researcher Pierre was killed. Her words could serve as an inspiration and challenge to us all, for, as she said: "Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."
And on that note, I will I close in Maori offering greetings and wishing everyone good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.
After the formalities are completed, the house will be opened up I would like to invite you to enjoy the the ambience of Government House before you leave. This building opened 98 years ago has housed 19 Governors or Governors-General and is the site of investitures, State occasions as well as community functions and it houses, as you will see, many artefacts and art works that reflect New Zealand's history and culture. Thank you.