Thank you for the opportunity to launch the ‘LoveNZ’ recycling bins in Kaikoura.

The Recycling in Public Places initiative encourages everyone to recycle not only at home, but when out in public as well. To help achieve this, we are putting 600 recycling bins in public spaces by 2010, with Kaikoura being the first region to benefit from this initiative.

For this project to succeed, central government very much relies on Kaikoura District Council and the other pilot councils as our partner on the ground. Recycling is taking place in communities - and councils are at the forefront of improving waste management and resource recovery in New Zealand.

I understand Kaikoura is a leader in this field and so you are an obvious choice to work with us. Thank you for your commitment to working together.

I am pleased to see that Kaikoura’s efforts to minimise its impact on the environment go well beyond recycling.

I'm informed that the Kaikoura District Council was the first local authority in the world, and Kaikoura the second community in the world, to achieve Green Globe certification in recognition of its commitment to protecting the environment and working towards sustainability for residents and visitors.

I am keen to hear more about the ‘Plastic bag free Kaikoura’ campaign that was launched late last year and the uptake of this by the Kaikoura community and see whether it can set an example for other communities in New Zealand.

Your commitment to becoming ‘plastic bag free’ is very much in line with the challenge that the government recently has laid down to all New Zealanders to contribute to sustainability: ‘What’s your next step?’

Everyone can play a part by taking a step towards sustainability which works for their lifestyle. The aim of this challenge is to have as many steps as possible registered on the new online Sustainability Portal in the run-up to New Zealand hosting World Environment Day next June 5. If you haven’t visited the website www.sustainability.govt.nz yet, please do it soon and sign up for your next step.

This brings me to the wider sustainability agenda of the government. As you know, we want to improve New Zealand's environmental credentials and move our country towards a becoming the first truly sustainable country in the world.

The Prime Minister recently launched the New Zealand Tourism Strategy and emphasised how New Zealand as a country must go the extra mile to prove sustainability credentials in order to attract international visitors.

Tourism New Zealand's latest International Visitor Satisfaction Research (December 2007) shows that international visitors applaud New Zealand's environmental management, but are becoming increasingly demanding in what's green and what's not.

According to this research, visitors felt that recycling facilities were essential, with almost 80 per cent of respondents saying they expected such facilities at tourism activities.

I am sure all of you here in Kaikoura also see the need for living up to our ‘clean and green’ and ‘100 per cent pure’ reputation. The recycling bins you see here today are part of our efforts to achieve that goal.

I hope to hear from you how the bins are received by your visitors and residents alike.

Over to Mayor Kevin Heays now, the floor is yours. Thank you.

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