It's a pleasure to be here today to speak at this event.  I would like to say a warm thank you to Principal Grahame Duffy for his invaluable support of this event and to the board, staff, and students of Hutt International Boys School for making this a special occasion.     

I would also like to acknowledge the presence of:

• His Worship the Mayor of Upper Hutt, Wayne Guppy.


• Temuera Morrision, who is known for his roles in Shortland Street and many movies, including Star Wars and Once Were Warriors.


• Anthony Healey, the Director of the Australasian Performing Right Association.


• Tony Eaton, Executive Director of the New Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft.

And finally the three young designers who won last year's Intellectual Property Competition: Stephen Hedges formerly of this school, Meg Howie who attended Nelson College for Girls, and Jason Felderhof who was also a student of HIBS last year.

These three young people follow in the great Kiwi tradition of thinking outside the square. And that is really what we are celebrating today: the creative potential of each of us – our intellectual property – and how we can best protect these brilliant ideas.  

The ‘Intellectual Property: Respecting Creativity Design Competition’ aims to raise awareness of intellectual property matters and to promote World Intellectual Property Day, which was celebrated globally last Sunday, April 26.

The intellectual property system aims to protect people’s creations – whether they be inventions, trade marks, novels, poems, plays, films, musical works, drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures, or architectural designs.

It's my hope that many of you will become creators of innovative ideas and inventions, whether in the field of science, arts, or new technologies.

You all have the potential to create music, artwork, literature, films, or inventions, and the intellectual property created by such endeavours is the key to future prosperity and economic growth, not only for New Zealand but for the rest of the world as well.

We are all familiar with Kiwi ingenuity and inventiveness.

Whether it’s the remarkable achievement of our Nobel Prize-winning scientists Ernest Rutherford and Alan MacDiarmid, or the work of creative artists such as Temuera Morrision, Peter Jackson, Flight of the Conchords, or of musicians such as Evermore – who are from my own electorate of Rangitikei – Elemeno P, or Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

Artists, creators and inventors often take very big risks and invest considerable time, effort, and money to realise their dreams. 

The risks of disappointment and failure are high when other people choose to copy or download their work without permission and without compensating the artist or creator.

The intellectual property system sets the standards for how people should regard and treat other peoples’ intellectual property. It also acts as an incentive for artists and creators to keep the flow of new and creative ideas coming. 

I hope the intellectual property system may one day support many of you in realising your success. 

Also be aware that illegal use and copying of another person’s intellectual property can cause significant harm to them.  This Government is committed to ensuring robust protection of intellectual property. 

Rip-offs, fakes, and illegal downloading, online file-sharing and so on, can cause real and significant financial damage.

As an example, when the movie ‘Sione’s Wedding’ was pirated, it is estimated to have cost $500,000 in lost box office revenue.  That is a lot of money not going to the people it should be going to.

All those involved in the movie – director, actors, producers and others – were financially and personally affected by this act of piracy. 

Think before you act.

I also urge you to be prepared to protect your intellectual property when the time comes.

Use the system to protect your ideas and innovations while respecting other peoples’ intellectual property.

As we can see by the talents of the prize winners today, there are capable young people out there who will be our next chart-topping musicians, world-famous creators, and prize-winning inventors.

Their work is truly inspirational and provides a great showcase for the next generation of creative New Zealanders.

Talent, creativity, and youthfulness are happy companions. Let's all play our part in ensuring success from such a mix is fairly and properly rewarded.

I wish you all the success for the future.