Motions — Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II—Platinum Jubilee

I seek leave to move a motion without notice on the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

💬 SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.

I move, That this House congratulate Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of the celebrations of her platinum jubilee.

On 26 June 1952, Prime Minister Sidney Holland informed the House of his attendance at events in London following the death of King George VI. On 6 February 1952, he said the following, “The Leader of the Opposition and I were privileged to attend the funeral of King George VI. Before that we had been present at the Accession Council in the Throne Room at St James’s Palace where the Rt Hon Mr Nash and I were placed at the end of the front row of Ministers and other Privy Councillors privileged to be present. I am sure that the Leader of the Opposition shared the deep feelings in my heart as our new and beloved Queen took her Oath of Accession, and as she signed her name for the first time: Elizabeth. And then she hesitated and she added for the first time, the letter ‘R’. It crossed my mind that I was witnessing, in this company, history being written at that time, and I wondered how often that young hand will sign the same name in the days that lie ahead. I wondered at this historic occasion ushering in the new Elizabethan era. Let us all hope and pray that will come about.”

On Friday, 3 June, we gathered in Wellington at the Cathedral of St Paul in a service of celebration to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee. I reflected at that time on the words of Prime Minister Sidney Holland and the fact that they proved to be prophetic. But even he may not have dared assume that he would experience the same sense of comfort and stability through challenge, through tragedy, and through change that has been provided by Her Majesty. This is the first time a British monarch has reached the milestone of 70 years, a platinum jubilee, and we acknowledge and celebrate her service with a sense of awe, reverence, and gratitude.

The Queen has encouraged anyone who wants to mark the jubilee to do so by planting trees. On 6 February this year, the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the Throne, I announced that the Government on behalf of New Zealanders would make a donation of $1 million to Trees That Count, to assist with tree-planting programmes across the country to mark the jubilee. A popular short walk on Rakiura / Stewart Island will also be formally renamed in honour of Her Majesty’s long reign. The track to Observation Rock from the settlement of Oban will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Path—also known as the Platinum Path for short.

On Sunday, 5 June in London, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and its taua, or warrior party, provided a uniquely New Zealand contribution to the British jubilee pageant when they took part in a parade of 2,000 military personnel near Buckingham Palace. The 40-strong NZDF group, led by six Māori warriors bearing traditional weapons and playing the role of runner scouts, raised, I’m told, a roar from the watching crowd.

Finally, yesterday, 187 New Zealanders were recognised for their service to the country in the Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee honours list 2022. In honour of the jubilee, that list included two additional appointments to the Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest honour: Sir Tipene O’Regan and Dame Silvia Cartwright, who were recognised for their extraordinary service to New Zealand.

These are but some of the small acknowledgments New Zealand has made of Her Majesty’s incredible reign. Hers has been 70 years of service, for which we say ngā mihi nui ki a koe. Thank you, Your Majesty, Elizabeth R.

💬 SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.

On behalf of Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition, it’s a pleasure to join with the Prime Minister in celebrating the remarkable reign of the Queen of New Zealand, Elizabeth II, and join all the Commonwealth nations that celebrated her platinum jubilee this past weekend.

For seven decades, the Queen’s unflinching dignity, compassion, and selflessness has given the Commonwealth a sense of security. The strength and stability of Her Majesty’s reign has been a reassuring anchor in uncertain and changing times. Through both the tumultuous and the good, the Queen’s leadership has embodied the values of duty, commitment, and strength over a lifetime of public service.

This weekend’s celebrations have shown the extraordinary affection for Her Majesty held by millions of people across the globe. A personal highlight for me from the weekend was that at 96 years old, the Queen took part in a light-hearted moment that brought laughter to the world, banging a teaspoon and cup to the beat of “We Will Rock You”.

On behalf of the New Zealand National Party, I congratulate Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, and I echo the words of Paddington Bear: happy jubilee, ma’am, and thank you for everything.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. On behalf of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, I would like to again acknowledge Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her 70 years of public service. I note that this House has already marked the occasion of Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee on 9 February this year, so I won’t indulge the House’s time and patience by repeating what I said then, other than to wish her all the very best of British.

On behalf of ACT, I rise to also congratulate the Queen on reaching her platinum 70-year jubilee. She is the world’s longest reigning monarch and she has brought, with her identity, the expectation that New Zealand will also live in a regime of democracy and freedoms that she has reigned over, over the last 70 years. She is a stalwart who has always given to the people, and at her accession in 1952 she said there is one thing I can give you all and that is my heart, and for that we are very, very grateful. We also note that nearly 86 percent of the people polled in England still support the Queen, and that’s because she has given 70 years of her life in industry to help us all achieve betterment for our countries in a free and democratic society. So on behalf of the ACT Party, we too congratulate the Queen on reaching her 70th jubilee and we hope that she reigns for many years more.

Motion agreed to.