International Student Welcome

Thursday 9 March 2006

Welcome to our Christchurch family. I would like you to know that the Maori welcome is also a reminder that the first people here, the Ngai Tahu, chose to welcome the changes that new faces meant for their way of life. It is a tradition that we try and maintain.

You may have come here to be taught, but I would like you to also think of yourself as our teachers. Just as you are learning about our way of life, so too are we learning about yours. You may in fact be the only book on your culture many of our people read.

This adventure you are on has destinations that none of us can predict. What I can tell you is that it is a journey that may well change your life forever. We have many people around the world now who have lived here for some time. Some marry here, some stay here, others go home and build on the ties they have made here.

One of my biggest hopes is that what you learn here about us will help build stronger bonds of peace in the world.

As one of the vice presidents of the Oceania Mayors for Peace, I have dedicated my life to the pursuit of peace. In a land such as ours which has been spared the horrors of war and conflict for a long time, we know how valuable such a history is.

While you are here, make friends with us. Our people too are often too shy and afraid to make the first move. Be kind to them. Try and make friends with them and with your fellow students from around the world.

Try also to join in our world of sport, recreation and city events that make this such a great city to live.

Talk lots. Talk about your feelings, let us know what's really going on. I ask people here how they would want their children treated if they were living somewhere else. It is how I want them to treat you.

It's hard to be away from home. I still don't like it. Don't be scared to say if you are homesick, want help, or do not understand something about our way of life. When you share your fears they lose their power.

Enjoy what we have to offer. We have lots of natural wealth to enjoy and lots of adventures on offer. Try them. Think of some new ideas of what we could do. It is from ideas that actions flow.

(Tell them the WhaleWatch start-up story…)

Become part of us while you are here. New Zealand/Aotearoa is a land of immigrants. All of us ultimately had ancestors who came here from somewhere else. Maybe today is the start of a similar story for you.