Intercultural Assembly

Monday 24 March 2003

(Mihi)
Tena hoki kia te huka ora,
(greetings to all who are here in mind and spirit,)

Kai te tuku atu te Reo pohiri I tenei wa,
(I extend outward the voice of welcome to one and all),

I roto I Te Reo ataahua O Aotearoa
(in the beautiful language of this land called New Zealand),

Nau mai, Haere mai, Tauti mai hoki koutou ma,
(welcome, welcome, welcome to you all who come in peace),

Ki te Kete Kai o Otautahi,
(to the food basket of Christchurch),

Piki mai kake mai, kai te heke te hihi te ra,
(Climb up, climb aboard, the warm rays of the sun beat down),

No reira, Mauri ora kia tatau katoa,
(Let the Spirit of Life descend upon us all).

Here today in Otautahi/Christchurch where we enjoy the luxury of peace we are making a major step today toward deepening this peace.

While others we would like to think are wiser and more informed than us turn their backs on the United Nations we are making our own.

This Assembly will be our United Nations.

It will give us the forum to do two simple things with each other. To both talk and to listen.

To break through the problems that can come when people fail to talk and to listen.

To join us together in the only race that matters, the human race.

It would be pointless not to make the point we start this Assembly against a terrible backdrop of war and suffering in Iraq.

There has been some public debate lately about whether Christchurch should be making such a strong stand as Peace City. I believe we should.

We have the moral authority as a city who has done more than our fair share in times of war and also to promote the cause of peace.

We are not anti-anything , or anybody except war.

We are also a trading city that is outward facing and engaged with the rest of the world to a degree matched by few other New Zealand cities.

This outward approach is also showing up on our streets which now reflect the many peoples, cultures and faiths who have chosen to live here.

We are blessed with peace, a superb natural setting and a robust open modern economy.

We need to make our attitudes match up with our technology. Christchurch historically has led both socially and economically. This Assembly is evidence that we will continue to take the lead in meeting change in a positive and inclusive way.

That we will fight only against prejudice, bigotry and the forces that would divide us to their own advantage. Today we are starting an active way forward where we will be effectively holding hands as we move toward our common future.

This assembly deserves the strongest support from all people of good will in Christchurch.

I am delighted to see it begin.