Parliamentarians join the Rt Hon Helen Clark in lending their support to the opening. Hon Jonathan Hunt, Speaker of the House of representatives, the Hon George Hawkins, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Minster responsible for the Year, the Hon Mark Burton, formerly Minister of Internal Affairs, and Minister of State Owned enterprises and Defence, the Hon Steve Maharey, Minister for Community and the Voluntary Sector, Georgina Beyer, Member of Parliament for Wairarapa, and Master of Ceremonies for the occasion. The performance of Maori songs or waiata. Everyone joins in, including members of the IYV Ministerial Reference Group, the steering group for the Year. The close of the launch.
Participants stand to sing.
On the programme besides Parliamentarians and local Maori, were The Improvisers, a stage duo, who launched the key messages for the Year, Paloma Bruce, a soprano singer, and the keynote speaker, Tim Prendergast, a silver medallist at the Paralympics and a strong volunteer himself. It was a successful and happy occasion which reflected the value of volunteering back to the many volunteers present.