When exclusive isn't really

Waitangi Day - the day we remember that in 1840 Maori people and the representatives of Queen Victoria committed to be "He tangata tahi" (one people). As part of the celebrations I had been invited to Government House for a garden party. Now I've been to Government House for functions with the Governor General probably 5 times in the last 4 years so I thought I knew what to expect. Today was quite different. First inkling that it was different was the traffic jam from about 4km away from the residence. Took me 25 mins to get from the Terrace tunnel to the Basin Reserve. I well and truly gave up on getting a park in the residence and parked in side street and walked for 10 mins to get there (it's quite a hill the residence is on esp in heels) I joined a river of well dressed people all walking the same way - apparently there were 1600 people at this exclusive event. Every one of us were vetted at the bottom of the drive - there were 4 vetters - a young person from each of police, army, navy and air force. So not anyone could wander in.

So are you exclusive if you are one of a large crowd? As a proportion of 4 million I was part of the 0.04% of people invited today. If exclusive means the Governor General would have noticed if I wasn't there then not even close:-)

It is a beautiful area and in amongst the 1600 people - which included MPs, the ambassadors and high commissioners, anyone who had won an honor (like QSM), CEs from various civil service agencies, the 20 people who were made NZ citizens today in Wellington and the people like me - from the charities for which either the GG or his wife are patrons - were a number of people I knew.

Was stil a lovely event and the GG spoke very well.