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Tena koutou katoa (Greetings to you all)
Tena koutou i tenei wa hira mo tatou katoa (Greetings to you all at the important time for all of us)
Mo koutou o Chile me matou o Nueva Zelandia (For you from Chile and we from New Zealand)
He ra nui tenei mo to tatou whanaungatanga (A very important day for our relationship)
No reira tena koutou katoa (Therefore greetings to you all)
Señor Alcalde de Providencia, Don Cristián Labbé Galilea, Señoras y Señores Concejales, Autoridades Municipales, Autoridades Comunales, Secretario Ejecutivo de la Comisión Bicentenario, Señores, Señoras
I would like to warmly welcome you all to the official opening of the Plaza Nueva Zelandia. Thank you all for being here to celebrate the partnership and friendship between Chile and New Zealand. We are very appreciative of the contribution that all of you make to strengthening this relationship.
This evening, I would like to say a few words about the Plaza and what it represents: the excellent bilateral relationship between New Zealand and Chile. But most importantly, I would like to thank all the organisations and individuals whose contributions have made the Plaza Nueva Zelandia possible.
The Plaza is a gift from the New Zealand Government to the people of Chile in the year of Chile's Bicentennial.
Why did New Zealand decide to install a Plaza in Santiago? To provide a permanent reminder of the friendship and partnership between New Zealand and Chile, as neighbours in the South-Pacific region.
The Plaza Nueva Zelandia aims to represent contemporary New Zealand culture and landscape in an urban environment. The rock sculpture and fountain represent New Zealand landscape, mountains and water. The trees, cordyline Australis, are native to New Zealand. We hope that the Plaza will provide a special space in the city, for all residents and visitors to Santiago alike to enjoy.
We are very grateful to the Municipality of Providencia for sharing this vision making this prominent public space in Providencia available for the Plaza.
The Maori proverb, scripted on the Plaza Nueva Zelandia sign, Ko koutou, ko matou, ko tatou katoa you, we, all of us represents New Zealand’s special relationship with Chile. Chile is New Zealand’s longest standing friend in Latin America and we see our countries as natural partners.
Our countries are founding members of the Trans Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement. This has provided a framework for expanding business links and mutually beneficial partnerships, including in agriculture, energy and tourism. It provides a model for economic cooperation in the 21st century.
New Zealanders and Chileans are forging strong links through education, at all levels.
A working holiday scheme enables 1000 young Chileans to travel to New Zealand each year for tourism, with the possibility to study and work.
New Zealand and Chile also collaborate in the environmental area, to protect our natural resources, on which both economies depend.
There are special cultural links too between New Zealand’s Maori population and Chile’s indigenous populations.
In New Zealand’s capital city Wellington, there is a statue of a moai from Rapa Nui, on the coast looking East towards Chile. This was inaugurated by President Lagos during his 2004 visit to New Zealand. We hope that the Plaza will now be a reciprocal symbol in Chile of the links between Chile and New Zealand, as South Pacific countries with shared Polynesian ties.
I would like to express the warm thanks of the New Zealand Government to all those who have contributed over the years to make the Plaza Nueva Zelandia possible.
The Providencia Municipality
Don Cristian Labbe, Alcalde de Providencia, for all his support for the project
The teams (names to be provided by the Municipality) who have contributed to this project, providing the project management, landscaping, infrastructure and construction.
Arbol de Color
Our Chilean architects, and especially Andre Illanes, for his vision and commitment to this project over the years, including the design, supervision and administration of project
The Bicentenary Commission
We are delighted to inaugurate the Plaza as part of Chile’s Bicentenary celebrations and would especially like to thank Javier Luis Egaña B., Secretario Ejecutivo de la Comisión Bicentenario and Embajador Celso Moreno, Director Internacional.
From New Zealand:
The Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s Cultural Diplomacy International Programme
Toi Maori Aotearoa, the Maori Arts Council of New Zealand
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Public Diplomacy and Outreach Division, Americas Division and Latin America Strategy Fund
Humphrey Ikin, NZ Arts laureate and architect, who designed the Plaza
Former NZ Ambassadors to Chile, Richard Mann, who initiated this project, and Nigel Fyfe, who carried it forward.
All the NZ Embassy staff over the years who have worked to bring this project to fruition.
Tena koutou, Tena koutou, Tena koutou katoa
