Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Governor-General's swearing-in speech

Governor-General's swearing-in speech
28 Sept 2016

Ko tēnei korowai,

a Tuakana,

he tohu Arohanui mai.

Māku tēnei hōnore,

e whakautu atu,

ki tōku aroha

ki te motu.

E te Iwi Whānui

o Aotearoa,

tēnā koutou,

tēnā koutou,

tēnā tātau katoa.

[This cloak Tuakana is a kind gesture of Love and Goodwill/Aroha.

I shall endeavour te repay this kindness with my Love and Goodwill/Aroha to the nation.

To you the People of Aotearoa, greetings, indeed greetings to us all.]

Prime Minister, Mr Speaker, Chief Justice

members of the Executive Council and members of the New Zealand Parliament,

Dean and members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the Realm of New Zealand,

distinguished guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen:

kia ora koutou katoa.

Prime Minister, thank you for your words of welcome and the confidence you have expressed in me.

When the Prime Minister first asked me if I would consider being New Zealand’s 21st Governor-General, he pointed out that the role would provide me with a unique opportunity to make a worthwhile and lasting contribution to New Zealand and the lives of New Zealanders. That was a challenge that I could not easily ignore. So I reflected on how I could best serve my country in this role.

Sometimes opportunities in life present themselves easily.

Sometimes they must be actively pursued, to be hard-fought and won.

And sometimes opportunities are hidden inside challenges. Rising to such challenges can make us proud to be New Zealanders.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

I considered the qualities and contributions of my predecessors – in particular, Dame Cath Tizard and Dame Silvia Cartwright – two inspirational women I would wish to emulate, in my own way.

Dame Cath and Dame Silvia challenged norms and expectations by stepping into public leadership roles at a time when women were not easily accepted as leaders. Their success helped shape a world where young women and men can forge a path in whatever career they choose.

Like every Governor-General before me, I bring a unique set of skills, experience and knowledge from my own upbringing and career, which has spanned both the private and public sectors, and this has helped me determine a pathway by which I hope to make a lasting contribution.

Four themes will underpin my activities as Governor-General over the next five years: creativity, innovation, leadership and diversity. I believe that they will be key drivers of a strong, successful and vibrant country in the years ahead.

Creativity in all forms inspires and nourishes the wairua within us. It is what identifies us as New Zealanders. It connects us with our tipuna and our cultural traditions. And it feeds into the innovation that we need to succeed as a forward-looking, 21st century nation that can contribute and prosper in ways that are environmentally sustainable.

I want to showcase and celebrate the energy, talent and commitment of New Zealanders who are exploring new ways of doing things – whether it be in the arts – or in areas as diverse as medicine, education, science, sport, tourism, conservation, agriculture and the digital realm.

Leadership, to me, is about unleashing the potential that exists within us – individually and collectively.

As Governor-General, I can play my part by acknowledging success and achievements, and by championing those who are prepared to assume leadership roles – whether at school, community, local or central government, in the public or private sector.

I want to encourage greater diversity within our leadership, drawing on the experience of all those who have chosen to make New Zealand their home, from tangata whenua through to our most recent arrivals from all parts of the world.

We have an extraordinary opportunity to maximise that human potential.

Above all, I want to fulfil the expectations New Zealanders have of their Governors-General as I undertake this unique and complex role.

It will be my privilege, as representative of our Head of State, Her Majesty the Queen of New Zealand, to perform formal constitutional functions, thereby ensuring stability for our democratic institutions.

I will respect and honour the unique partnership between the Crown and Māori, as enshrined in our founding document, Tē Tiriti o Waitangi.

I will embrace the opportunities to meet New Zealanders from all walks of life, whether they be in isolated rural communities or multicultural urban centres.

I will welcome opportunities to encourage, acknowledge and inspire success, leadership, achievement and service to others.

I will represent my fellow citizens when we celebrate good times, and will be there when we gather to mourn – and to commemorate important moments in our history.

I will travel to the wider Realm of New Zealand, including the Cook Islands, Niuē and Tokelau, in support of our longstanding ties and responsibilities.

And I will be proud to be an international representative for New Zealand, contributing in any way I can to our reputation as a respected member of the global community.

I take on this opportunity with some trepidation – but also with enthusiasm and commitment.

In the lead up to today – as in all things – I have been supported by my husband David. I am fortunate to have him by my side, as my support, confidant and adviser as I enter my five-year term.

I am also grateful to my family, friends and colleagues who have encouraged and guided me as I have prepared for this role in the last six months.

As I take up this role, I have valued the wise counsel of previous Governors-General and their spouses, including especially Sir Jerry and Lady Janine Mateparae, who served New Zealand with such mana and grace. I thank Sir Jerry and Lady Janine for their kindness and encouragementto David and me.

And so, I look forward to the new opportunities ahead, to uphold our constitutional framework, and to serve the Queen of New Zealand, our nation, and my fellow New Zealanders in the best way I can.

Thank you

No reira tēnā tātau katoa


ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.