Re-opening of the Wellington City Cadet Unit

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou, katoa.

Wellington Central MP - Grant Robertson
Wellington City Council Representative - Rob Goulden
Deputy Chief of Army - Brigadier Tim Keating
Commandant, New Zealand Cadet Forces - Wing Commander Guy Bendall
President of the Wellington Cadet Centre Trust - Anne McLellan
Unit Commander, Wellington City Cadet Unit - Lieutenant Paul Greenaway
Visiting dignitaries
NZDF and NZCF representatives, and especially parents, whanau and cadets of the Wellington City Cadet Unit.

Thank you for the invitation to this re-opening ceremony. It's always a great pleasure to attend NZCF events and tonight is particularly special because the re-opening of a unit represents growth in one of the best investments that the Government can make in our young people.

Developing good citizens hasn't changed in thousands of years - it requires leadership by example from parents, whanau and the wider community. That begins with our responsibility to arm our children with the courage and confidence to resist the less desirable pressures they face and to march to the beat of their own drum.

Here, tonight, is a group of Kiwi families who, with support from both the Defence Force and the wider Wellington community, are doing just that. One of my sons was a cadet and I know just how hard it is for all of you to meet your unit training commitments. I know that, for many parents, the logistics of getting family members to their chosen extra-curricular activities, week after week, is easier said than done.

Long before I became involved in politics, I noted with dismay the considerable resources directed in an ad hoc manner at programmes that are loosely referred to as being for ‘youth at risk'. I believe that one of the greatest risks to youth is actually the pervasive use of that term.

I suspect that mums and dads here tonight, like me, may recall aspects of their own high school years as being ‘at-risk activities'. However, while hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into providing ‘ambulances at the bottom of the cliff', very little has been put into resourcing the vast majority of teenagers, like those on parade tonight, who are doing OK on their own. This sends teenagers and parents alike all the wrong signals.

The New Zealand Cadet Force is an organisation that I am proud to be the Minister for. We have a long history of developing young men and women as leaders. As life has become more challenging for teenagers, the NZCF has adapted in order to maintain its goal of providing youth development and leadership training with a service flavour. I congratulate the Defence Force staff, Cadet Force officers, instructors and unit support committees both past and present for their role in achieving this continued relevance.

The New Zealand Cadet Corps has a long history in the city. The original Wellington City Cadet Unit was formed from the renaming in 1994 of the longstanding Rongotai College Cadet Unit. I have no doubt that the decision to place this unit in recess in 2004 was a tough one. However, like our local football team and my own Army unit, you have risen, like a phoenix, from the ashes of the old unit to march on bolder and stronger. All the cadets here tonight, whatever unit you come from, can take this on board as an important life lesson.

There is an old Africa proverb : "It takes a village to raise a child". That is still true today and cadet units could not thrive without the ongoing contribution of the Unit Support Committee made up of parents, families and supporters. The help of many other organisations, ranging from the city council, community groups like the RSA, local businesses, charitable trusts and more is essential in providing the resources needed to keep a unit operating. To you all, I offer my thanks on behalf of a grateful nation.

The fact that we now have the Sea Cadet Corps, New Zealand Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps all parading in this fantastic new facility is a great achievement and is a model for how the NZCF can develop around the country.

To the cadets here tonight - the calibre of young Kiwis, like you, that I meet on parades, camps and courses never fails to impress me. It fills me with confidence that we have a generation of teenagers, led by great families, preparing themselves to meet the challenges of succeeding in the world that they will inherit. I hope that, in time, more commentators will choose to focus on the achievements of your generation rather than the actions of the few who cast a shadow on what I believe is a talented, inspiring group of young New Zealanders.

You are all part of something special. You have chosen the path less travelled. It is one of choice and personal responsibility. It is a path that will enable you to serve your community and to put the needs of others above your own. No matter how long you remain part of the Cadet Force family, you will be challenged. You will grow as individuals, you will hone your skills as a team player, you will learn to pass on your knowledge to others. You have chosen the path of leadership. Well done to each one of you.

Hold your heads high, be proud and stand up for what you believe in.

Kia Kaha