Commonwealth Day Observance: Government Reception

Your Excellencies, my Parliamentary colleagues, distinguished guests and ladies and gentleman. In particular, I wish to welcome the Honourable Phil Goff, Leader of the Opposition, the Right Honourable Don McKinnon, 4th Commonwealth Secretary General, and Clare de Lore, and Mr John Wilkins, from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Tonight we celebrate a very special occasion of a very special family. As you will have gathered from the Observance, 60 years ago today the London Declaration was issued which laid the foundations of the modern Commonwealth.

Since that time the Commonwealth has expanded greatly. Today it has 53 members encompassing an astonishing array of nations and cultures.
Today we mark not only the founding of the modern Commonwealth, but also 60 years of the Commonwealth's existence as a family of different peoples, cultures and religions living together.

It is from this rich variety of cultures, traditions and identities that the Commonwealth derives two of its fundamental principles: unity in diversity and solidarity through shared values.

The values and ideals of the Commonwealth - democracy, good governance, human rights, peace, justice and sustainable development - are ones that all New Zealanders share. New Zealand is proud to be a member of this family.

Tonight is a chance to celebrate the rich legacy of the Commonwealth.

It is also an occasion to re-dedicate ourselves to the task of imagining new ways to take forward the Commonwealth's good work... to serve, in other words, a new generation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome once again and enjoy the evening.