Toast to Emperor of Japan at Auckland consulate birthday function

Mr Hachiro Ishida, Consul-General of Japan in Auckland; Consuls-General; Mayor John Banks, Mayor Andrew Williams, Mayor Bob Harvey, Mayor Penny Webster, Chairman Mike Lee; my Parliamentary colleagues Hon Chris Carter, Kanwal Bakshi, Ashraf Choudhary, Raymond Huo, David Shearer; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a pleasure to be here celebrating the birthday of His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan, and to be asked to propose the toast to him.

In doing so, I note that this celebration has special significance this year: during an official visit to Japan in October, Prime Minister John Key and Mrs Key were able to call upon the Emperor and Empress, a call they were privileged to make, and very much enjoyed.

They especially enjoyed visiting the giant New Zealand rugby ball set up at the Tokyo Tower and being able to attend the first Bledisloe Cup game held in Tokyo with more than 40,000 fans.

Japan is an important bilateral partner for New Zealand. Our two countries have a long-standing and warm relationship. We have many shared values - in democracy, law, and human rights; and a shared interest in the stability and security of the Asia-Pacific region.

We are joined by strong cultural bonds. Exchanges and visits are constantly taking place. Nearly 13,000 Japanese people live in New Zealand, and some 4000 New Zealanders live in Japan. There are also strong tourism links between us.

There has been a notable level of engagement between Japan and New Zealand this year.  The two Prime Ministers met for the first time in Tokyo. This provided an opportunity to look at our relationship anew and seek ways to strengthen it in the future.

The relationship has grown significantly over the past two decades.  We now share an interest and complementary capabilities in a very wide range of areas - biotechnology, foods, agriculture, information and communications technology, environment, health and natural hazards research and more.

In my own portfolio of Research, Science and Technology, Japan ranks among the leading nations in New Zealand's science collaboration with other countries.  There is potential for a much higher level of collaboration, given Japan's stature in international science and our own innovative strengths in areas like biotechnology, nanotechnology and environmental science, including vulcanology and earthquake research.

The landmark Science and Technology Co-operation Agreement signed in Tokyo last October is a platform to develop that potential. It sets a new benchmark for our science relationship.  It builds on the many years of co-operation between New Zealand and Japanese scientists.

Programmes jointly funded by the New Zealand Government, together with the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science and the Japan Science and Technology Agency, have helped develop our scientific collaboration.  This agreement raises our co-operation to the next level.

The burgeoning scientific relationship is just one example of the friendship and co-operation that exists between the two countries at all levels.

This bilateral relationship is the most mature we have in Asia. It is the foundation stone for our wider involvement in the Asia-Pacific region. We are natural partners with shared values and shared interests.

The year 2009 has been an excellent year for the Japan-New Zealand relationship. We are committed to building on it in the years to come, and we look forward to a productive 2010.

Consul-General Ishida, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast to His Majesty, Emperor Akihito of Japan.