Celebrating our Star Ambassadors and Life Members
In a powerful address at Ōrākei Marae, Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad celebrates the incredible people behind Child Cancer Foundation’s mission - from whānau support champions to the courageous tamariki who inspire us all.
Tuia te Rangi,
Tuia te Papa,
Mō te oranga o ngā mokopuna,
Haumi e, hui e, taiki e!
Ki te marae Ōrakei e takoto nei, tēnā koe
Ki te whare e tū nei, Tumutumuwhenua, tēnā koe
Kō tēnei taku mihi ki
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, ngā hau kainga, mō te korowai manaaki, aroha, mō ā mātou i tēnei ahiahi. Ki ngā mokopuna o te Kura Kaupapa o Ōrakei, nunui te mihi ki a koutou katoa mō tō haka, waiata, me tō kōrero tino kaha ki te whakatau a mātou i tēnei ahiahi.
Ngā kawe mate o te motu kua whārikihia ki Tūrangawaewae. Whetūrangitia.
Nei rā te mihi ki te Arikinui, Te Kūini, Ngawai hono i te po, Pootatau Te Wherowhero te Tuawaru, me te kaupapa o te Koroneihana i tēnei wiki.
Ki ngā tamariki, mokopuna i huihui mai nei, kia ora koutou katoa!
Ki a koe e Rangatira Dan me ngā mema o te poari, me ki a koe te Tumu Whakarae Monica me tō tima, me te whānau katoa o te Child Cancer Foundation, nunui te aroha ki a koutou katoa.
Nō Aerani, Kōtirana me Indonesia ōku tīpuna
I te taha o toku matua, nō Jawah Tengah, Indonesia ahau
I te taha o toku whaea, nō Aerani me Kōtirana
I whānau ahau i maru i te maunga o Waitākere
I tipu ake ahau i te kāinga o Titirangi
I te taha o te awa o Te Whau
Kō Te Whanganui-a-Tara e noho ana
He Tangata Tiriti ahau
Kō ahau te Kaikōmihana mō Ngā Tamariki, Mokopuna o Aotearoa
Kō Claire Indrawati Achmad toku ingoa.
Kua tae mai ahau ki te whakaha me whakanuia te kaupapa o te rā.
He tino harikoa ahau ki te tautoko tēnei kaupapa nui me whakahirahira.
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa, i tēnei rangi mokopuna!
I am feeling very privileged and happy to be among you all today, surrounded by the cloak of care and aroha of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, to support and celebrate this momentous occasion – honouring people who have contributed so much to the kaupapa of the Child Cancer Foundation.
I am so happy to see tamariki amongst us today – kia ora koutou! As your Children’s Commissioner, I can’t wait to meet you!
As a person who myself had cancer during my childhood, and as the big sister of a little brother who also had cancer as a child, it’s even more special being here with you all today.
I deeply understand how important today’s celebration, and the work of the Foundation is.
Honorary Life Membership is the highest recognition that the Child Cancer Foundation can bestow. It recognises those who have made a substantial contribution to this essential kaupapa over a considerable period of time. People who have demonstrated a sustained level of dedication and commitment to the development and enhancement of the Child Cancer Foundation’s objectives.
Life Members are people who have shaped the very foundation of this organisation. They have given their time, skills, care, knowledge and passion – often quietly – and always with an unwavering commitment to the vision and mission of the Child Cancer Foundation, to “walk alongside and support all children with cancer and their families, while advancing improvements to child cancer care.”
Today, we celebrate and honour people who have gone way above and beyond in these endeavours, whose legacy is woven into the very fabric of the Child Cancer Foundation.
To those being recognised today with Honorary of Life Membership, congratulations. I believe you exemplify in action the essence of what the whakatauki of the Child Cancer Foundation speaks of:
Tō tuāoma timatatanga
Ō kawenga pikau mahi
Ka hāere tonu ia ra, ia ra
Mō ō ratou oranga
Your journey began
With challenges day after day
With integrity and commitment
We support you and your whānau with empathy.
I’m also extra happy too, to celebrate the service and incredible contributions of the tamariki who we are recognising today.
Alongside you, I celebrate your families and whānau, your special people, your number one supporters those who are here today, and those who couldn’t make it.
This afternoon we will be celebrating two tamariki who have bravely shared their journey on a national scale a huge thing to do! and celebrating three of the Star Children the powerful tamariki ambassadors of the Child Cancer Foundation.
Ki ahau nei, he mīharo me māia a koutou. He whetū a koutou!
To the tamariki being honoured today, I recognise your mana, your amazingness and courage . To me, you are all stars. Thank you for the ways you’re making a difference for other tamariki, based on your own stories and experiences.
Later this afternoon as part of today’s ceremony, I look forward to celebrating the strength of a growing partnership that is having a crucial impact on the work of the Child Cancer Foundation through the presentation of the Community Service Valued Organisation Award.
Thank you again for the opportunity to be here today, as we collectively recognise and celebrate some remarkable people.
Today is all about thanking them, and celebrating their many contributions that make a difference for the children of Aotearoa New Zealand and their families, who experience the impacts of cancer.
Hurinoa i te whare, arohanui ki a koutou katoa.
Dr Claire Achmad (she/her)
Te Kaikōmihana mō ngā Tamariki – Children’s Commissioner