“Just as a papa noho - the decking linking two hulls of a waka hourua - provides strength and stability in the face of ocean swells and storms - Te Tiriti connects the dual signatories, giving us our place to stand together, survey the horizon and plot our course in our search for safe harbour.
“In this way, Te Tiriti acknowledges and respects difference, while encouraging the spirit of kotahitanga advocated by Dame Whina Cooper when she said: “The seed I would like to plant in your heart is a vision of Aotearoa where all our people can live together and share the wisdom from each culture”.
“The possibilities are here to broaden and strengthen kotahitanga across Aotearoa. The ability to realise those possibilities rests within us all - in our hearts, heads and hands.
“One of my predecessors, Sir Paul Reeves, recalled feeling obliged to ‘shape up and perform for the Treaty’ when he came to Waitangi, and he didn’t shy away from that challenge.
“As he said, we don’t have to be the same, but we should be able to understand each other.
“Here at Waitangi, we come to tautoko, connect, listen and learn, so that we too can shape up, perform and deliver - for our fellow citizens and for the mahi that lies ahead of us.
“Ko te kōrero a Tā Himi: “Kua nui rawa te haere whakamua e kore e taea te hoki whakamuri”.
“No reira, e āku rangatira, nga mihi nui ki a koutou.”
