Source: New Zealand Governor General
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa.
I specifically acknowledge: The Honourable Andrew Bayly, Minister of the Crown; His Excellency Mr Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Rwandan High Commissioner to New Zealand – and it was lovely to see you at Waitangi earlier this year; Ms Clare de Lore, Honorary Consul-General for Rwanda; and Mr Colin Keating, Former Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations.
My predecessor Sir Jerry Mateparae spoke at this service ten years ago – and as Governor-General, I am honoured to join you once again this morning, commemorating 30 years since the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
This morning, we honour the memory of the more than 800,000 people whose lives were taken during those 100 days of such unimaginable violence and suffering in Rwanda. We turn our minds to all those Rwandans here in New Zealand and around the world whose lives are still so profoundly touched by the loss of family and loved ones – and who carry with them the memories of that time. And we remind ourselves of our deep and abiding obligations to one another, that we do not repeat the terrible mistakes of our past.
The events that took place across the cities and villages and streets of Rwanda, in the church halls and school halls, from April to July of 1994, represent one of the darkest moments in human history.
In the face of such profound inhumanity, we struggle for the words to express our sorrow and our comprehension of what took place. Indeed, events such as this point to the stark failures of language to articulate the extent of the cruelty and hate, and the depth of our sorrow and loss.
It was the great New Zealand poet and writer Sir Vincent O’Sullivan who said: ‘There is nothing like a cliché to dishonour the dead.’ And while we may struggle to find the appropriate words, it is our duty on this day to be clear-sighted as we face the events of our past, and to be honest in our remembrance of all that took place 30 years ago in Rwanda.
In that spirit, as we join in commemoration today, we recall that the Genocide Against the Tutsi was not an accident – it was a deliberate, methodical effort to erase a group of people, and to bring suffering – not just in those moments of cruel and violent action, but for generations into the future.
The Genocide turned neighbour against neighbour, families against themselves, and stoked those impulses of hatred and intolerance which represent the very worst of our nature.
We also recognise today that the Genocide was a moment in our shared history where the world looked on at the events unfolding in Rwanda and did not act. It showed us the terrible dangers, not only of intolerance, but of ambivalence and inaction. As Elie Wiesel said, in words that ring today with such piercing clarity and truth: ‘The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.’
At this moment in our history, where we see so much of the suffering and despair of innocent people in the world around us, we do well to remember this lesson. We must compel ourselves not to turn away from the suffering of others, but to do all we can to encourage understanding, reconciliation, and peace – and to deal with one another with generosity and compassion.
I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the Rwandan New Zealanders in attendance today – for your courage and commitment to building your new lives and homes here. Please know that you are welcome – and that we are lucky that you have chosen Aotearoa New Zealand as your home.
I am proud that the bond of friendship between New Zealand and Rwanda continues to be strengthened – particularly through our membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. And I am filled with such admiration for the people of Rwanda for your staunch pursuit of peace, hope, and prosperity.
As Governor-General, on behalf of all New Zealanders, I extend my very deepest sympathies to Rwandans here, across the country, and around the world – and know that we join with you today in deepest sorrow, remembrance, and resolve.
Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou. We will remember them.
