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As the items on the human agenda become increasingly challenging - pollution, economic disarray, social dislocation - so the role of the artist becomes increasingly important. The arts bring perspective to events. They light up the moment rather than just…

It is a profound experience for a Māori to move around the Pacific and visit other parts of Polynesia. Common names like Taranaki, Aoraki, Patea, Whanamumu, Hawaiki pop up all over the place. The myths, traditions and even the social structures are…

Tauparapara I stand upon this symbolic earth In the shelter of Aoraki Mountain Stand tall sacred mountain! Upon which were placed the history Of those who have passed on E tu ana i tenei taumata korero I te maru o Maunga Aoraki E tu koe te tipua maunga I…

Nobody taught me how to be Governor-General and that may be fairly obvious. Before I took up this office I received advice, mostly through the media, I boned up on my constitutional responsibilities, I went to England to meet various people, on my return…

When you think about it Britain made lots of treaties in the 19th Century. Some were with the superpowers of the day like France and Germany, others were with indigenous peoples as in Canada and New Zealand. But for the Treaty of Waitangi the Colonial…

C. P. Scott the famous editor of The Manchester Guardian said: The newspaper is of necessity something of a monopoly and its first duty is to shun the temptations of a monopoly. Its primary office is the gathering of news. At the peril of its soul it must…

I note in the trial of the Cohens in Malaysia only the Judge keeps a record of the evidence and without the benefit of a jury he delivers the verdict. No wonder the report of the trial reads like L. A. Law, Penang style. People shout and laugh, the judge…

I picked up a copy of City Magazine, and there was a double-page advertisement for George Nathan, Real Estate Agents. Spread across the top were the words, NATHAN, MARKETING THE CAPITAL'S BEST. And spread across the middle of the double page, a picture of…

When we think of life we think of our mother. A Māori viewpoint is that the land is Papatuanuku our earth mother. We love here as a Mother is loved. It is through her that we entered this world and eventually we will return to her bosom. When someone says…

It was in this Cathedral that in September 1985 I said farewell to the Diocese of Auckland. I had been a Bishop for 14 years, 8 as Bishop of Waiapu, 6 as Bishop of Auckland. I had also been a priest since my ordination in 1960. I am still a priest and a…

People have tried to distinguish between the violence of an individual and the constraints and force of the state. Ultimately, that is a very difficult distinction to sustain. So my immediate reaction to your Conference theme Controlling the Violent…

Kei ā tātou mamae me o tātou pouritanga. Engari, e hihiri ana te wawata me te pono o te ngākau kia waihangatia he āhutanga kia tootika ta tātou noho ia ra, ia ra, hei whakahirahira i te iwi whānui. No reira kia kotahi tātou i roto i o tātou whakāro me ā…

Prime Minister and Mrs Lange: Mr Speaker and Mrs Wall: Your Excellency the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps: the Leader of the Opposition and Mrs McLay: Members of Parliament and Chief Justice: Thank you, Prime Minister and Mr McLay, for what you have just…

The first biological lesson of history is that life is competition. Competition is not only the life of trade, it is the trade of life - peaceful when food and shelter abounds, violent when the mouths outrun the food. Animals eat one another without qualm…

E nga hau E wha me O tatou aitua maha Tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Waitangi Day is here again and there are many things one can say, but I believe the occasion demands that we ponder a little on why it is we are here, and reflect on the Treaty in such…

The Treaty of Waitangi, which was signed on the 6th February 1840, has been said to represent "the establishment of a unique and permanent partnership between the races with agreement on equality and justice for all; the development of the twin concepts…

The Honourable Duncan MacIntyre; The Right Honourable Mr Rowling; The Right Honourable Michael Somare; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; Sir James Henare; Sir Hepi te Heu Heu; the Reverend Browning; Ministers of the Crown and Members of…

Mrs Westrate, Ladies and Gentlemen: My wife and I are honoured to be with you at this reception. Tonight we have here representatives of the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Royal Overseas League, The Navy League, The Victoria League and the English-…

Mr Martin, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am honoured to be with you tonight at this dinner which, marks the opening of your biennial conference. And this is your Diamond Jubilee year, which makes it an even more auspicious occasion. I am honoured to be your…

I have been privileged to take part at these celebrations on other occasions over the years - as Prime Minister and as Leader of the Opposition - and now I speak to you today as your Governor-General and as Chairman of the Waitangi National Trust Board.…

Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I think it very good of you to come along on a night like this to listen to whatever I have to say. I must say I am a little shattered to find so many of my distinguished former colleagues in the law here, each of whom…

The One Priceless Asset Not long ago I found myself engaged in mild controversy with some junior members of my family over the relative merits of the Viennese Waltz and Rock-'n'-Roll. You will probably guess that, in favouring the former, I found myself…

The Love of Good Letters English literature is a subject so vast in scope that in attempting to talk upon it one feels like a man putting to sea in a rowing boat to cross the Atlantic. There is, moreover, no subject upon which it is more dangerous to be…

Commonwealth Example There are few subjects in the world upon which it is easier to become platitudinous than that of the British Commonwealth. The phrases trip so easily off the tongue - "freedom-loving people," "traditions of justice and fair play," "a…

To be asked to give the Thomas Cawthron Memorial Lecture is a great honour, but it is an honour fraught with almost paralysing responsibility for its recipient. Before he has been in the country of his adoption for many months, a Governor-General becomes…

You may well feel justifiably aggrieved at having to listen to a speech from your guest, but for this you will have to lay the blame at the door of your principal. I myself think that it borders on a confidence trick that, under the pretext of accepting…

Happiness Lies in Work Most citizens of most countries of the world grumble today about the mass of regulations and laws which annually multiply themselves to their discomfort; but I myself would welcome just one more - just one. And that would be one…

We Set our Course by the Stars It is always a pleasure to attend a meeting of school boards so long as one isn't the chairman. As was once said of Arthur Balfour, one can view events with the detachment of a choirboy at a funeral service. The trouble is,…

The Juncture of the Streams We have gathered this afternoon for a good purpose, which is to ensure the preservation of Te Kooti's last stronghold. When one reads the story of the Mori Wars of last century, one cannot but be struck by the close resemblance…

This is, for my wife and me, a most momentous occasion, for it is the first time that we have been privileged to attend these celebrations - celebrations which mark one of the most significant stages in the long and coloured pageant of English colonial…

Commonwealth Example There are few subjects in the world upon which it is easier to become platitudinous than that of the British Commonwealth. The phrases trip so easily off the tongue - "freedom-loving people," "traditions of justice and fair play," "a…