Wuhan Graduation Banquet

Monday 2 February 2004

Good evening. It has been a long time since I have been a student of anything other than what they call the school of life.

However if I cast my mind back into early memories I can remember what it feels like to get to the end of a long, sometimes hard year of study. In my own case I did not have to also cross the bridges of time, distance and culture.

Although I came from the North Island to finish my education it was still into a very familiar way of life, language and culture here in the South. In my own case I was so impressed with the place I stayed, married, worked, had a family and eventually became Mayor.

Because I was an internal migrant long ago the experience has left me with a lasting respect for people who immigrate, or in cases such as your own, who travel huge distances away from home to advance your learning. Experience has taught me that there is much more to be gained from these types of journeys than just qualifications and increased skills.

Many years ago we had quite a few students from other parts of Asia study here under what was then called the Colombo plan. One of my friends who is originally a Malaysian Chinese first came here under this scheme.

Like me, he too was so impressed with Christchurch he came back, married a local, had a family and happily for me did not want to become Mayor as he was too busy getting rich.

Many other former Colombo Plan students who did go home still have a warm regard for Christchurch and New Zealand. They are now in many cases highly placed in their Government and business and educational communities.

The ties between the two countries have been deepened and enriched by the fact that they were educated here, both formally and also into the broader school of life I spoke of earlier.

The former students have made developing better ties between our nations that much easier, based on a foundation of strong mutual understanding.

At the times in the past I have been speaking of, China and the Western world were not on the best of terms. One of the few exceptions to this has always been the ties between the Chinese people and those of New Zealand.

We have had exceptional people like Rewi Alley, and others who were always willing to look beyond ideology toward more lasting qualities such as our mutual humanity. New Zealand and China have been quick to build on our historic and human connections.

One of the first overseas trips I took when I became Mayor was to visit China. I was as stunned by the density, energy and huge numbers of people in China as I suspect many of you have been amazed by our space, relaxed pace of life and apparent lack of people.

I was also highly impressed by the respect and high status China gives to its Mayors. Despite my best efforts I have failed to get the idea copied back here in New Zealand.

As a trading city, Christchurch is of course interested in building up business ties with China. We are well aware that not only has the once sleeping giant woken up, but that it will later this century become the new economic centre of gravity for the global economy.

At the same time we are also very aware that the sheer size and scale of Chinese markets means that in many cases we here need to proceed carefully and cautiously.

One of the most reliable products we can offer to places like Wuhan is the expertise in areas such as public administration. I am told that you have enjoyed the new knowledge that our teachers here have been able to offer you. In fact I am told that the course has gone extremely well.

I understand we are already starting to see some of the benefits for the future for both groups starting to take shape. I believe that tonight we may be seeing the end of one chapter in the unfolding story between the people of Wuhan and Christchurch.

At the same time we are definitely seeing the start of the next chapter. I believe one of the best parts of this yet to be written story is that here in the early years of what they are already calling the Pacific Century our people are forging valuable ties of mutual understanding and shared experience.

This will prove to be a great foundation for what I am sure is going to be a time of vastly increased contact between Wuhan and Christchurch, and China and New Zealand.

Congratulations to you all.