Don McKinnon Member of the Order of NZ
KEY POINTS:
Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon says he is greatly honoured to be ranked alongside so many extraordinary fellow New Zealanders by being made a member of the Order of New Zealand, the country's highest honour.
But he feels he should share the honour with those who have worked with him for the past 30 years to help others.
The award to Mr McKinnon, also the country's longest-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs, heads today's New Year honours list.
He says he has had a fantastically interesting and inspiring time during three decades of public service, culminating in his role as Secretary-General.
"The work is always demanding, occasionally it is frustrating but more often it is possible to make a real and positive difference to people's lives."
In his eight years in the Commonwealth's top job he had seen the very best and the very worst of what people could do to and for each other.
"I think the expression 'humbled' is usually employed when accepting an honour," Mr McKinnon said.
"For me the word was redefined on a visit to war-torn Sierra Leone in 2001.
"I visited a rehabilitation camp and was greeted by smiling children, from babies, toddlers, bright-eyed 6- and 7-year-olds, to those a bit older.
"After my warm welcome they then offered a prayer for me - this from children, all of whom were missing hands, arms, or their legs - victims of frenzied violence in which their parents were also murdered.
"That is a truly humbling experience," Mr McKinnon said.
Mr McKinnon was a member of Parliament from 1978 to 2000 and served as Foreign Minister from 1990 to 1999, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House.
As Foreign Minister he developed close Commonwealth links, served as deputy chairman of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration, and chaired the Small States Meeting of the Auckland Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 1995.
His initiatives included the campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, the deployment of New Zealand peacekeepers to several countries, and the development of the Asia 2000 programme.
Mr McKinnon was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in initiating and overseeing the ceasefire between the people of Bougainville and the Papua New Guinea Government in 1997.
He is now serving his second term as Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Mr McKinnon said he had encountered many acts of cruelty but even greater examples of courage among people from many parts of the Commonwealth.
"Sometimes it takes courage and nerve simply to continue working steadily in seemingly hopeless situations," he said.
"So I want to share this honour with those who have worked with me in our steady efforts to help others.
"They include presidents and prime ministers, my staff over the past 30 years, through to NGO [non-government organisation] workers.
"It can seem thankless but if someone, somewhere is living a better life, that is thanks in itself and I have had the great pleasure of seeing the difference we can make."
Mr McKinnon thanked his family for their great support, especially his wife, Clare Delore, "who makes me laugh, and also keeps my feet on the ground".
- NZPA
