Source: New Zealand Governor General
Fakaalofa lahi atu kia mutolu oti – and my very warmest Pacific greetings to you all.
I’d like to specifically knowledge: Prime Minister Tagelagi and Tanya Tagelagi; Members of the Niue Assembly; Your Excellency Mr Mark Gibb, New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue; Your Excellency Ms Katy Stuart, Australian High Commissioner to Niue; and Members of the Diplomatic Corps.
Tēnā koutou katoa.
As Governor-General of the Realm of New Zealand, representing His Majesty King Charles III, as well as the Government and people of New Zealand, it has been an honour to be here in Niue for this historic occasion – marking fifty years of Niue’s self-government and free association with New Zealand.
Dr Davies and I have welcomed this opportunity be a part of this proud moment in Niuean history, and to reaffirm the depth and special meaning of the relationship between our two countries.
On a fundamental level, of course, ours is a relationship underpinned by those constitutional arrangements decided upon and inaugurated 50 years ago, on the 19th of October 1974.
Of course, in fact, the relationship between our two nations extends back much further than that. We are bound by our whakapapa – our common ancestors – who, hundreds of years ago, guided by the stars, the winds and the currents, navigated their way across Te Moana-nui-a-kiwa with immense courage and skill.
New Zealand and Niue share Polynesian histories and stories with their origins in those great voyages, as well as the many precious ties of whānau – of family – strengthened over successive generations.
As I come to the end of my time here, in this beautiful place – the ‘Rock of the Pacific’ – and reflect upon how it has touched my understanding of the bond between our countries, I find myself returning to ‘whanaungatanga’ – a term in te reo Māori which refers to a sense of sacred ties; of kinship; and of deep and abiding family connections.
As the passing of time naturally alters the relationships within a family, so too the relationship between New Zealand and Niue has naturally evolved over these past fifty years. As one part of that evolution, Niue has developed and nurtured its own diplomatic relationships with countries across the Pacific and around the world.
I’m delighted to see many of those relationships present here this evening, in friendship and support – bringing to mind, as it does, the whakataukī, or proverb: ‘Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari takimano, nō āku tīpuna. My strength is not individual it is collective.’
Such kotahitanga, such unity of action, is more important than ever in facing some of the most pressing global issues of our time: climate change, economic security, achieving equitable health and education outcomes. I am confident we will find solutions, but it requires that we do the work, and that we continue to share our knowledge, resources, and wisdom.
I wish to take this opportunity to commend Niue for the work that you’ve done to encourage such collaboration, and the innovation that you’ve shown across areas as broad as food production, renewable energy, and sustainable tourism.
The Niue and Ocean-Wide Trust is a perfect example of your commitment to initiatives whose ethos extends far beyond self-interest, which encourages collective action, and which seeks the greatest possible benefit to our planet and to broader humanity.
As Governor-General, I once again reinforce New Zealand’s commitment to be a friend and partner to Niue in facing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of these coming years.
I finish today by returning to the extraordinary image of those great Polynesian explorers charting their course across the Pacific Ocean. As we leave here, I hope we may all be inspired by the example of those early pathfinders – to be courageous in our actions as in our words, to live with deep care and respect for the natural world, and to work together, in the abiding spirit of whanaungatanga and kotahitanga, to seek a positive future for all.
Fakaaue lahi. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
