Hon Heather Roy speech to ABCA Army Reserves Conference Cocktail Party; Defence House, Wellington; Monday, August 31 2009.

Minister of Defence Hon Dr Wayne Mapp - thank you for changing your schedule to be here tonight.

The custom in welcome speeches is to acknowledge senior guests by name. Having done so at this morning's conference opening I hope you won't mind if tonight I don't repeat that but, instead, specifically acknowledge the wives of delegates who are here tonight and all of you as friends - personally, as fellow servicemen and women, as allies and also as representatives of countries that, like New Zealand, are willing to stand up for freedom.

Tonight is a social occasion and, as such, offers us the opportunity to reflect on the social nature of Reserve Force service.  We ask much of all servicemen and women and this is especially true of reservists who have to constantly balance the competing demands of military service, civilian work, family, community and leisure.

Society at large is finding it harder and harder to attract volunteers to good causes like Rotary, charities and coaching kids sport. In the era of the market that never closes the line between night and day, weekday and weekend and on or off duty has blurred to the point it may as well be completely gone.

In the context of increasing tempo in society, the task of attracting and retaining reservists is even more challenging. I alluded, this morning, to some ways that I intend to address this.  However, there are lessons in history.  The vast majority of volunteers for two world wars admit that their prime driver was adventure and mateship.  When I saw that the New Zealand Volunteer Fire Service is able to sustain a force of 10,000 with no pay, I decided to see what lessons could be learned from them for our Reserves.

What I deduced is this - they are far more than a fire station, vehicles and crew.  They are friends; a band of brothers, and the fire service is also their primary social network in every town up and down this country.  They recruit their own and their families are actively involved in social activities.  They have a real operational role.  They see themselves as essential to the safety of their community.  Short of the 'zero-pay model', that is part of my intent for the New Zealand Reserve Forces.

The three-part team that I mentioned this morning - reservists, families and employers - is critical to the development and success of the NZDF.  I intend to provide the governance necessary to make this happen and I make no apologies to those who would like things to move a little slower.  To them I say - buckle up or get off the ride.

The best way to replicate success is to reinforce the behaviours that lead to it.  While it is tempting to focus on fault-checking and criticising mistakes, more time spent reinforcing success will take us toward our endstate much faster.  That's why, tonight, it gives me great pleasure to announce that, following discussions with the Minister and the Chief of Defence Force, a new award for the New Zealand Defence Force Reservist of the Year is to be implemented. The CDF and Reserve Force Directors will be announcing the criteria shortly, in time for a first award in late 2009.

When US Lieutenant General Chip Utterbuck spoke at the Air Power conference here last November, he quoted from some graffiti painted on the Auckland wharf by US Marines who were leaving New Zealand during World War II.  It said: "Thanks Kiwis - if you ever need a friend, you've got one."  In that same spirit of longstanding ties between all our countries I would offer to you the same sentiment - if you ever need a friend - you've got one.

Thank you for coming to share your ideas and experience with us.

Please enjoy your short stay in our country and return home safely.