Honoured and proud
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of New Zealanders, acknowledging the monarch’s remarkable and unprecedented reign.
“Since the Queen took the throne as a young woman of 25, she has dedicated her life to service. We thank her for her dedication and inspiration,” said Jacinda. “As Queen of New Zealand, she has always shown a deep personal interest in the life and wellbeing of our nation. On behalf of all New Zealanders, I would like to wish her well for this historic year.”
Photographs of Her Majesty greeting a pregnant Jacinda at a Commonwealth Heads of State Dinner in the UK in 2018 made global headlines – a symbol of two strong female leaders who have managed to negotiate duty and family. At the time, Jacinda praised the Queen, saying, “Here is a remarkable leader who has conducted her life in the full view of the public and that has included raising her children, and there’s something to be admired about that.”
The Queen has asked that people celebrate her milestone by planting trees, so to mark the historic royal occasion, New Zealand has committed to donating $1 million to Trees That Count to assist with planting programmes across the country. Wellington will also be a part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons, a global initiative where beacons will be lit across the Commonwealth in early June.
In addition, a Platinum Jubilee emblem (below) has been created for New Zealand, to be used until the end of the jubilee year. The symbol was prepared by Phillip O’Shea, New Zealand Herald of Arms, and takes inspiration from not only traditional British Hallmarks but also Ma¯ori culture and influence. The top portion of the frame references the shape of the board on a whare ru¯nanga (meeting house) and the poutama design represents “steps of service” to acknowledge the Queen’s 70 years of dedication. It carries the inscription Te Hokotoru ma¯ ngahuru – the Ma¯ori word for 20 is hoko, so this is three 20s plus 10 to acknowledge the timeframe.