Pōwhiri at Whakatū Marae

Ka tū au i raro i te mana o āku tipuna, mai Nga Puhi, Ngati Kahu, me Ngati Hine, ki te mihi atu ki nga Iwi o Te Tauihu mai Mōhua ki Kapara te Hau.

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Rangitāne o Wairau, Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui, tēnā koutou.

Nōku te maringa, tē tae mai i runga i te reo pōwhiri ki roto i a koutou, ki te marae o Whakatū koutou i whakatinana i nga wawata, ō mātua tipuna, mo nga tamariki, mokopuna.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa.

Distinguished guests; kaumātua, kuia, and rangatahi of iwi from across the region; and all gathered here this morning - my warmest greetings.

Thank you for the warmth and generosity of the welcome you have extended to me, my husband Dr Davies, and my delegation here today. I am very moved, and very pleased to be here, in the beautiful Nelson region - and it is only right that I start my regional visit at Whakatū Marae, this place that carries the histories and aspirations of the iwi of Tauihu, and continues to be such a cornerstone of this community.

Across all my travels and engagements, and in all my words as Governor-General, I am conscious that I act and speak for all New Zealanders. I see that it is my role to listen, to acknowledge, and to represent the many diverse communities that constitute the rich fabric of our nation. This responsibility makes the time that I spend across the regions of New Zealand all the more important.

Indeed, one of the greatest privileges of my role is meeting those many New Zealanders around the country giving their time, energy, and talents in the service of others. Across these encounters, I am continually reminded of the strength and care that underpins our communities - values I so clearly feel here, at Whakatū Marae.

Your thriving kōhanga reo, as well as the many powerful initiatives that you operate across health, housing, and cultural development, reflect a deep commitment to the growing good of this community. That commitment became all the more evident during the severe weather events that have so profoundly impacted this region - most recently in June and July of last year.

Through that period of emergency, which I understand has since been described as the worst flooding in Nelson and Tasman in 150 years, Whakatū Marae demonstrated extraordinary leadership and compassion - serving as a place of shelter, support, and comfort for so many.

It was George Eliot who said: 'What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?' Or, in the words of the whakataukī: 'He aroha whakatō, he aroha ka puta mai. If kindness is sown, then kindness you shall receive.' As Governor-General, I wish to take this opportunity to commend all those of this marae for upholding and living out these sentiments - and in particular, for the communities of Nelson and Tasman during their time of greatest need.

Over the course of the coming days, I am looking forward to meeting many of the people who contribute to the vibrancy and strength of this region - from innovative, collaborative business enterprises such as Pic's Peanut Butter and the newly completed Blue House, to community organisations such as the Nelson Women's Centre and Multicultural Nelson Tasman, to thriving cultural institutions in the Nelson Centre for Musical Arts and the Suter Gallery.

I will also host a reception to acknowledge and thank those many volunteers, and health and emergency workers involved in responding to extreme weather events - some of whom I know are here today.

As I enter the final year of my term as Governor-General, I will take these experiences and encounters with me, and I will continue to reinforce and celebrate the values that I find, and that contribute so profoundly to the wellbeing of New Zealanders and our natural environment.

My sincerest thanks once again for my welcome here today, and my very best wishes for your future.

No reira, ki aku rangatira katoa, ngā iwi hoki o te motu nei, āku anō i runga i te aroha.