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 Honourable Nicola Willis
- The Most Reverend Justin Duckworth
- Laurie Foon (Deputy Mayor)
- John Maurice and Darryl Gardiner (the WCM Board)
- Nick Clayton (from Naylor Love)
- Kura Moeahu
- Murray Edridge, and his team at the Wellington City Mission
Thank you, Murray for inviting Richard and me to be part of this wonderful occasion.
I wish to begin by referring to a speech by former Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, in which he quotes the great New Zealand writer Maurice Shadbolt: ‘If we accept what we are, we make no arrangement for what we might be.’
It seems to me that this ethos has long driven the work of Wellington City Mission.
For 120 years, generations of City Missioners, staff and volunteers have not accepted the presence of homelessness, poverty, and social isolation in our city – and have worked tirelessly to help individuals become what they might be.
Whakamaru takes this mahi to a completely new level. This beautiful building has been conceived and built with such profound care and thought for the needs of the people who will use it: whānau, manuhiri, staff and members of the community.
Sir Paul’s reflections on the nature of compassion could easily be applied to the work of the City Mission. He said: ‘Compassion is about relieving the pain of others. Compassion leads to feeding, clothing, sheltering, educating, comforting and so on. There is nothing sentimental about compassion.’
Here, at Whakamaru, we see compassion, or manaakitanga, expressed in deeply practical ways: by providing somewhere to shower, to launder clothes, to sleep, and get food and medical treatment. And we also see manaakitanga in its sense of upholding mana and human dignity through the expression of respect, solace and wise counsel.
I am sure Whakamaru will become a model for the delivery of social services, and will inspire similar projects elsewhere – in Aotearoa and beyond our shores.
One thing I know they will not share with Whakamaru is views of Government House’s gardens. My daily walks with my little dogs take me down to a grove just over your back fence, and I have been able to keep an eagle eye on the progress of this build. I have been very keen to see what it looks like from the inside, and having now seen this beautiful space, I am looking forward to seeing more of this very special building.
Congratulations, Murray, for getting this ambitious, one might even say ‘revolutionary’ project off the ground. It’s a tribute to your belief, confidence, and drive – as well as some highly innovative fund-raising approaches.
Speaking of which, I am deeply grateful that you did not approach me or Richard to follow the example of Sir Ashley Bloomfield and abseil up the side of a building to sign your trust deed.
What I can do is acknowledge and thank everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition – funders, supporters, architects, all those involved in its construction, Te Atiawa, Ngati Toa, staff and volunteers.
I know I speak for Richard and me, and for the staff at Government House, when I say how proud we are to be your close neighbours. We won’t be strangers, and will take up your invitation to be part of this intentional community – and to contribute where we can – including turning up for the occasional karaoke evening.
Kia ora huihui tātou katoa
