KEY POINTS:
The Governor-General delivered a message of partnership and tolerance in his Waitangi Day Address at Government House in Auckland yesterday.
About 800 people - including community leaders, politicians and neighbours of the impressive Epsom property - listened as Anand Satyanand read Papa-tu-a-nuku by the late poet Hone Tuwhare.
He said although New Zealand was still a young country, New Zealanders had plenty to rejoice about in both its history and prospects.
He said the "spirit of the Treaty" was the subject of much debate but that was a cause for optimism not concern.
"The importance of this ongoing discussion was well put by a French essayist, Joseph Joubert, when he said: 'It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it."'
Guests, which included Prime Minister Helen Clark, sheltered from the sun during the formalities, hosted by singer Tina Cross.
Triple world champion rower Mahe Drysdale arrived wearing his Athens 2004 Olympics blazer with partner Juliette Haigh.
The public holiday was no excuse to miss training.
"I've done two sessions on the water already - that's about three hours," he said.
Robyn Shearer, a neighbour, brought her mother Hilda Shearer, of Te Puke.
"I wouldn't miss it - it's our family outing," she said.
While for Dr Margaret Honeyman, a psychiatrist who was recently given a Queen's Service Order for public service, the function brought back memories of the last garden party at Government House she attended 25 years ago with then Governor-General Sir David Beattie.
