“Donation of Gift of 'Waka' from New Zealand”

Excellency, Minister Collins
Ambassador Ellis
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is my honour to accept the gift of a traditional Waka for the United Nations Office at Geneva. I would like to express my warmest appreciation to Minister of Justice Collins, as well as the Permanent Mission of New Zealand for this most generous donation. The Waka, a rich symbol of New Zealand’s indigenous Maori culture, is truly a wonderful addition to the Palais des Nations.

It is fitting that this gift will be displayed in the Palais, the home of the Human Rights Council. Here in Geneva, the UN - together with many partners - works to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including those of indigenous peoples.
As is so evident from this artwork, indigenous cultures bring invaluable contributions to their countries - and to the world. The UN General Assembly reaffirmed this fact by adopting the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in September 2007, outlining the rights of the world’s estimated 370 million indigenous people and outlawing discrimination against them. We were pleased that New Zealand endorsed the Declaration in 2010.

It is also fitting that this donation ceremony is taking place today in front of this excellent exhibition celebrating women’s involvement in New Zealand’s public life. New Zealand set an important benchmark 120 years ago when they were the first country to give women the right to vote. This exhibition also highlights that over time, the women of New Zealand continued to make a difference.

To conclude, I would like to again express my appreciation to New Zealand for this gift. The Waka will serve as a reminder of the importance of indigenous culture, as well as the contributions of New Zealand to advancing rights for all.

Thank you very much.