New Zealand Governor-General Jerry Mateparae on Sunday gave his first New Year message in a tradition started by his predecessor Anand Satyanand.

He said the last year has been difficult. "The loss of life from the earthquake on February 22, like the Pike River Mine disaster in November 2010, reminded us that life is precious. When the container vessel Rena went aground near Tauranga, we were reminded that protecting our pristine environment is also important to us." he said.

"While we remember these terrible events, we should not forget all that we have achieved. It was superb that the All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup, giving us something to celebrate. Even more fantastic was the way we made the tournament our own, embracing the notion of a stadium of four million people," he added.

He said building a better future requires New Zealanders to draw on the storehouse of New Zealand's strengths. "Our values and our people have served us well in the past and will do so in the future," he added.