E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e rau rangatira mā.
To all peoples of the world, all speakers and all chiefly peoples, and all groups.

Tēnā koutou katoa. Greetings to you all.

Welcome to the XXI International Plant Protection Congress (IPPC), held jointly with the 26th Australasian Plant Pathology Conference (APPC), in Christchurch 2027!

Tēnā ano koutou (Formal greeting to everyone). In partnership with Tahuri Whenua, The National Māori Horticultural Collective here in New Zealand, I would like to extend a warm welcome to you to attend the XXI International Plant Protection Congress (IPPC) in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), Aotearoa (New Zealand) in November 2027!

He huihuinga ahurei tēnei. This will be a unique gathering.

The congress will be hosted by our indigenous community, representing interests across the South Pacific and within the science community also. The co-hosts include the NZ Plant Protection Society, the Australasian Plant Pathology Society, the Bioeconomy Science Institute, and other key societies and partners in the Plant Protection community. My role will be to chair this activity alongside drawing our indigenous opportunities together through our existing network of tribal, sub-tribal, Pasifika (South Pacific) and international indigenous plant protection expertise.

Te whakatika i ngā taketake o Te Ao Hurihuri. Addressing Emerging Global Issues.

E ngā iwi o te ao (to the peoples of the world), we live in a changing world with unprecedented emerging issues. Mātauranga Māori (Traditional Māori knowledge) and indigenous systems are increasingly valued for the insight they provide to all researchers and practitioners. The nations and communities of the South Pacific rely on science from both indigenous and non-indigenous knowledge to support their island systems.

In Te ao Māori we have a proverb: Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou, which translates to ‘seek after learning for your own well-being’, and hints that knowledge empowers us all, and that we never stop learning.

The XXI IPPC forum will be a significant learning and networking opportunity to highlight the importance of indigenous plant protection from both the Pacific continent and globally.

We warmly invite researchers, practitioners, and students from all backgrounds, indigenous and non-indigenous, to contribute to and benefit from this collaborative environment.

Nau mai, hāere mai, piki mai ki Ōtautahi, haere mai ki Aotearoa. Welcome to Christchurch and to New Zealand.

New Zealand is internationally renowned for the valuable relationship that exists between our science and indigenous Māori communities , which further extends to the relationships we have across the South Pacific. We invite you to explore the cultural and science landscapes of the South Pacific. Several field trips which align to different regions of New Zealand and inclusive of cultural experiences are planned.

We welcome you to Aotearoa and look forward to being able to host the international community in Christchurch and across our diverse country.

Kei te mihi nui e tātou (Greetings to you all), Paimārire (be at peace).

Professor Nick Rahiri Roskruge, PhD Tiamana (Chairman), Tahuri Whenua