Source: New Zealand Governor General
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.
I specifically acknowledge:
- The Honorable Damien O’Connor
- Peter Nation, (Chief Executive Officer, Fieldays)
- Jenni Vernon, Chair, New Zealand National Fieldays Society
- Lain Jager, Chair of Te Puna Whakaaronui Thought Leaders Group
Tēnā korua.
Thank you for inviting Richard and me to attend Fieldays this year. We are very pleased to be here.
The Waikato is acknowledged as one of the powerhouses of Aotearoa’s economy – and we’ve come to see for ourselves where science, technology and know-how are brought together to generate energy and fresh thinking in the sector.
As Governor-General, representing all New Zealanders, I welcome this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the huge contribution the rural sector makes to the economic, social and cultural fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand.
As former Chief Executive of the Royal Society – which oversees research funding in New Zealand – I also want to acknowledge our biotech and research scientists who help our nation retain our global reputation as a supplier of quality food products, and as a generator of effective new approaches to food and fibre production.
Last month, when Richard and I were in the UK to attend the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles, we caught up with Richard’s cousin, who is a farmer in Wales.
I was proud to hear him speak admiringly about trends in New Zealand farming, particularly regarding diversification and regenerative farming, which he is now applying to his own farm.
Our rural sector connects Aotearoa to the world through our trading relations. In turn, we are connected to other nations by the pressing and inescapable global issues we share with them.
We see food security around the world threatened by the war in Ukraine and the interruption of supply chains.
We grapple with the impact of biodiversity loss, the spread of new pest species, shifting weather patterns, extreme temperatures, wildfires, droughts and floods.
The recent extreme weather events here were a deeply shocking indicator of the intensity of such changes.
While great challenges lie ahead, our scientists and research institutions are also identifying opportunities to adapt land use to better suit local climates, water availability and soils.
The new Sustainability Hub at Fieldays is timely, and recognises adaptation and resilience are a day-to-day reality for a sector that understands – better than most – that economic activity is sustained by the natural world.
I see the theme of the Hub is “The time to act is now”, which brings to mind a whakatauki: He manako te koura i kore ai, which translates as “Wishing for a crayfish won’t get you a crayfish”.
The Hub and the Sustainability app present a golden opportunity to reach New Zealanders from the length and breadth of the country – and to give them the tools and knowledge they need to act and make a positive difference for the generations to come.
Our descendants will look back at this time of upheaval and change, and they will be deeply grateful for the efforts of those who heeded the call, who opted to be part of the solution, and acted with courage and vision to ensure a prosperous and viable future for agriculture in New Zealand.
Today, Richard and I will look, listen and learn. We will report back to Richard’s cousin in Wales – and I will be sure to mention this visit to the Princess Royal, who has a keen interest in the rural sector.
Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this mammoth event to fruition for another year.
It is my great pleasure and privilege now to declare the 55th Fieldays open, and I wish you good weather and good cheer, impressive numbers of visitors, and the briskest of sales.
