Delivered to the US Embassy's

4 July celebrations

Ambassador's Residence, Camperdown, Lower Hutt

 

Your Excellency Ambassador McCormick and Mrs McCormick, staff members and families of the United States Embassy; Your Excellencies and members of the Diplomatic Corps; Ministers and Members of Parliament past and present; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

 

 

It is an honour to be here tonight to celebrate the 232nd anniversary of United States independence. 

 

And whilst we are primarily here to join with our American friends and colleagues to acknowledge and celebrate their national day, there is another purpose.

 

This occasion also provides an opportunity for us as New Zealanders to reflect on our own relationship with the United States, and to reaffirm a very strong bond.

 

It is important that we do so, because New Zealand and the United States have a long history of working together for a secure and prosperous world.

 

This reflects a shared commitment to freedom and democracy; values that are enshrined in the United States Declaration of Independence, and are equally strong, bedrock values for New Zealanders.

 

The bilateral relationship between New Zealand and the United States is in excellent shape. 

 

Building on a long history of friendship and common interests, our two countries have looked at ways to strengthen the relationship.

 

There has been increased dialogue between the New Zealand and US governments across a wide range of issues. 

 

We have deepened our co-operation in fields ranging from counter terrorism to the environment and Antarctica. 

 

We are working more closely together on a range of regional and multilateral issues. 

 

These include the ongoing efforts to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan; the Six-Party-Talks process on North Korea and the nuclear issue, and the goal of a peaceful Korean Peninsula.

 

We also share in mutual efforts to address environmental and related challenges such as whaling and illegal fishing. 

 

The heightened US attention to the Pacific is warmly welcomed, and New Zealand was pleased the US State Department designated 2007 as the Year of the Pacific.   

 

The Pacific is a region where both our countries have long standing interests, responsibilities and involvement. 

 

During the Second World War thousands of young American servicemen were stationed in New Zealand before serving in the Pacific campaign. 

 

We will never forget that many servicemen who made such an indelible impression on New Zealanders made the ultimate sacrifice in places such as Solomon Islands and Tarawa.   

 

Since then, the United States has been an important contributor to prosperity and security in the Pacific. 

 

United States Peace Corps volunteers have made valuable contributions in different parts of the Pacific, often in small and isolated communities. 

 

Such assistance continues to be welcome and necessary, especially in terms of improving the well being of Pacific peoples. 

 

The United States Coast Guard provides support to the region’s efforts to counter illegal fishing. 

 

Given our shared interests, New Zealand looks forward to continuing to explore opportunities with the United States to increase co-operation and assistance to our Pacific neighbours.

    

Tonight we pay a special tribute to you, Mr Ambassador, for the tremendous job you have done as United States' representative in New Zealand.   

 

We thank you and Gail for your very significant contribution and commitment to the relationship between our two countries. 

 

It is obvious from your comments this afternoon that you have both developed a real affection for New Zealand, her people and culture.  

 

Thanks to efforts on both sides, we have a foundation from which to further deepen our friendship and respect – between our countries and between ourselves.

 

Would you please now join in a toast:

 

"To the friendship between the United States and New Zealand, and to the President of the United States of America".