Opening of Marlborough House; Blenheim

Thursday 27 August 2009; 7pm

Hon Tariana Turia;

Associate Minister of Social Development

I am proud to be here today, for the official opening of Marlborough House.

 If you were to approach any tourist operator in town, they’d tell me that ‘Destination Marlborough’ is code for an amazing package of events and experiences. 

The branding campaign tells us “you’re going to love Marlborough” – it’s an outdoor paradise, the rivers are flowing with trout, the Sounds are a haven of oysters, mussels and scallops, the vines are groaning under the weight of succulent grapes for the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc – and so it goes on.

Today we add another dimension to Destination Marlborough – the dimension we might call manaakitanga.

Manaakitanga is one of the kaupapa we follow as tangata whenua, in which as hosts we are honour bound to take due and proper care of our visitors.

At its most literal level, kia kitea te mana o te tangata, it is about protecting the mana of the people whom you are looking after – by providing for their needs. 

Whether it be on the marae or in our own homes, it is more than extending hospitality.  It is about relating to one another, the way we behave, the efforts we extend towards understanding our differences and appreciating what we have in common.

I believe it is the expression of manaakitanga that binds the four community based organisations together in this one centre.

What you are doing is extending the effort to ensure that newcomers to Marlborough, particularly the migrant community, are supported in such as way as to strengthen their wellbeing and lead to healthy integration into your community.

And so I am proud to be here – to witness the collaboration and co-operation that underpins what we mean by community – a common unity.

The common unity you demonstrate is in helping each other to read the world around you.

The Marlborough Migrant Centre, chaired by Margaret Western, opens the door to welcome members of migrant communities and the agencies, employers and private organisations that can be so useful in providing the support to migrants to establish themselves in a new home.

Literacy Marlborough, co-ordinated by Robin Robb; and English Language Partners New Zealand, co-ordinated by Tracey Ellis; then provide the road map – the way of reading the landscape around us.  

Their skills in providing literacy services to adult learning; language tuition and settlement support are essential in helping to keep the doors wide open to the possibilities of employment; of relationships; of community development.

And then Volunteer Marlborough, co-ordinated by Judy Doyle, is pretty much like a recruitment agency – matching volunteers with local not-for-profit organisations that need a helping hand.

I often think our volunteers are the unsung heroes that keep our communities together – they provide the glue to make sure nobody slips through the cracks.

It’s a wonderful concept to bring everyone together in one place, and I’m really pleased that the Family and Community Services arm of the Ministry of Social Development has had the insight to provide the type of support needed to keep the community warm.
Now one of the things that people might not know about Aotearoa, is that we are one of the highest migrant receiving countries in the world.

At the 2006 Census; overseas-born people comprised 23% of the population – of which 32% had arrived within the previous four years.

I have to admit that I have always been concerned that we shouldn’t just fling the doors wide open and then run away from our responsibilities.

It comes back to manaakitanga.

The needs of refugees and migrants must be recognised if we are to assist them into communities where they will be happy, healthy and gainfully employed.

That is why I am genuinely delighted with the initiative you are taking here in Marlborough. 
You are clearly taking your responsibilities seriously as the host community.

Some of those needs will be universal – the challenge of isolation and separation from their home country; the difficulties of language barriers; the desire for good communication and participation in your communities.
But there may be other more complex needs. 
Some of the refugee and migrants who come through these doors will have experienced high levels of trauma and distress before they resettled in New Zealand, and we must make every effort to support them in dealing with the consequences of those experiences.

There must be strong social work and counselling support to respond to issues such as family violence.

It will be essential too, that these communities have the support to retain the distinctive cultural practices and philosophies of their homeland while on these shores.

I know that the Marlborough Migrant Centre has already stood up to the task of ensuring the settling in process is a positive one. 

I am told that you have established a newcomer’s network; there are seminars to help provide the support that’s needed whether it be legal issues, career planning, health, nutrition or parenting skills.

And one of the greatest things you are doing – and must keep on doing – is to enable everyone who enters Marlborough to celebrate the essence of who they are.

I’m not just talking about the multicultural festivals – as spectacular as they may be!

This is about creating the space where people can be proud of their history; their genealogy; their treasures.

It is about giving respect to those who grace your rooms with their presence – be allow them to be confident in their own identity; to sing their songs; to share their words; to honour their Gods.
I hope that Marlborough House will be a home for many families to feel welcome.
 
I hope it will create the environment for cultural respect and understanding that may indeed influence our wider community.

And I hope that for all those who visit, and those who stay, they really will love Marlborough, and Marlborough will love them in return.

ends
 

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