Waitangi Day - 2013

The Governor-General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, and Lady Janine Mateparae, attended and hosted functions in the Bay of Islands and Auckland to mark Waitangi Day 2013.

On Sunday 3 February, Sir Jerry and Lady Janine attended luncheon in at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel in Russell for New Zealand Royal Honours recipients from the Far North. [Images]

On Monday 4 February, Sir Jerry and Lady Janine were welcomed on to Te Tii Marae. [Images]

On Tuesday 5 February they hosted the annual Bledisloe Reception at Waitangi.  The reception recognises the gift of the Waitangi Estate to the nation by Governor-General, Lord Charles and Lady Elaine Bledisloe in 1932 and the first Waitangi Day in 1934. [Speech] [Images]

Later that evening the Governor-General served as Reviewing Officer of the Royal New Zealand Navy Beat Retreat and Sunset ceremony. [Images]

On Waitangi Day the Governor-General and Lady Janine hosted a citizenship ceremony at Government House in Auckland where 25 new citizens made their oaths or affirmations of allegiance in the presence of Auckland Mayor, Len Brown, and Internal Affairs Minister, Hon Chris Tremain. [Images] [Speech]

After the citizenship ceremony, the Governor-General and Lady Janine hosted a garden reception at Government House Auckland attended by more than 1000 invited community and government guests, including members of the Diplomatic Corps.   The Bledisloe Prayer was read by the Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Rt Rev Jo Kelly-Moore.
During the reception, the Governor-General gave his second Waitangi Day address, which recognised the contribution of women to New Zealand.  [Images] [Speech]

Sir Jerry noted that at least 13 women signed the Treaty of Waitangi, that began the process of establishing New Zealand as a modern nation.

“Men and women—both Māori and Pākehā—have shared experiences bringing life to our beautiful country.  Those pioneers shared the perilous journey here and shared the experience of living in a sometimes harsh environment. That partnership has produced a culture which values diversity, egalitarianism, and the well-being of all members of our society.”

Sir Jerry also noted that 2013 marked 120 years since New Zealand became the first nation in the world to grant women the right to vote.

“Together men and women have continued to build Aotearoa-New Zealand, as the cultural and legal restrictions on women taking a full role in our society and economy have fallen by the wayside.  And as New Zealanders have served overseas, protecting our nation against tyranny, men and women, Māori and Pākehā, have done this together.  More than 600 New Zealand women served as nurses in both the First and Second World wars and several lost their lives.

“Today men and women in the New Zealand Defence Force serve alongside each in all roles, including in peacekeeping missions.  And, as service in Afghanistan has shown, New Zealand men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice in attempting to bring peace to troubled lands.”

The Governor-General also received numerous letters and messages of congratulations from world leaders.  [Messages - selection1 - selection2 - selection3]