World Hepatitis Day

I want to thank John Hornell, the Chief Executive of the Hepatitis Foundation, for the invitation to join with you all today, on a most auspicious occasion.    I am pleased to welcome to you all to your place.

This Parliamentary Breakfast has been called to mark the first ever World Hepatitis Day.  The World Health Organisation has officially recognised 28 July 2011 as World Hepatitis Day to draw global attention to the need to be aware of hepatitis.

Rangitane o Manawatu, tena koutou.
E nga mana o tenei whenua, mihi mai, mihi mai.
Ko te awa o Whanganui tenei e mihi atu
No reira, e nga iwi, e nga reo, tena koutou katoa

I want to acknowledge and pay tribute to
• Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor;
• Manawatu District Mayor Ian McKelvie,
• present and past city councillors and former Mayor Jill White

All of you have played a significant role in supporting this very distinctive development - this wonderful building in front of us.

Delivered by Michelle McNabb on behalf of Minister Turia  Speech

I am so pleased to be able to pay tribute to Parent to Parent as a national organisation – and in doing so, to honour the amazing role that parents play in supporting children and families with disabilities.

I firmly believe that there is no greater responsibility, no greater privilege and no greater joy, than the raising of the next generation.

I was delighted to be invited to the Big Latch on 2011.

It is a wonderful thought that today we are part of a global campaign to celebrate breastfeeding.  

I will be carefully watching the clock to ensure that all of us that can are all set to go to contribute to the world record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously at 10.30am today!

I thank you for your interest and your initiative in being open to the connection between Whanau Ora and the Family Court.

It is also a great pleasure for me to be here today in the company of so many great minds from home and abroad.  

Thank you Chief Commissioner Carl Davidson, for your words of welcome and indeed for the opportunity to be here today.

I am truly happy to be here today, to celebrate whanau yesterday, today, tomorrow.

It’s no secret that I’m what you might call a whanau fundamentalist.   I believe our whanau are fundamental to our future; they are the source of our greatest strength; their experience and their history the ultimate guidance for our actions tomorrow.

I am so thrilled to be here, in heartland Nelson, within the warmth of Te Tau Ihu.

And I want to thank the Forum Steering Group – Victory Village, Inspiring Communities and the Families Commission – for making this day possible.

It is wonderful to see you all, and I want to particularly acknowledge the mana whenua; Carl Davidson, the Chief Families Commissioner; my fellow member of parliament, Hon Maryan Street; my former Parliamentary colleague Judy Turner, and all of those here today from my home town of Whanganui!

Tena koutou katoa

I move, that the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

This Parliament can be proud of the culture of change we are advancing through this Smokefree Environments (Controls and Enforcements) Amendment Bill.

New Zealand has made rapid progress in reducing smoking rates, and this Bill is another step in that journey.

During the course of debate around this bill we have heard mention of the brave cause champions and advocates who have led the charge in tobacco control.

When I received the invitation from Associate Professor Papaarangi Reid to join with you in the events of this week I was delighted to do so on three counts.

The first, was that it was an ideal opportunity to share the stage with speakers the calibre of Professor Des Gorman – of Ngapuhi and the Executive Chair of Health Workforce New Zealand; and Mr Pat Sneddon – renown Treaty advocate; former chair of the Counties Manukau DHB and current chair of Housing New Zealand. 

The other day I received a letter which reduced me to tears.

As a Minister that’s not unusual in itself.  

Every day I read the letters of worried wives, of anxious providers, of frustrated neighbours, of families under stress.   They send me copies of their bills; their medical records; photos of their children; incident reports; poetry.  

And each and every one of them, shares with me a glimpse in time; the issues that impact on their health and wellbeing.

I want to thank Chris Worsley, your School Principal, and members of the Board of Trustees whom we have been told have been supportive of the programme.

It is, most appropriate, that we are here today, in Maori Language Week, considering the theme of manaakitanga.

Manaakitanga – literally the mana of the people – is a concept which is just as applicable to Computers in Homes as any event in our life, in that it relates to the concept of working together, sharing and learning from one another.

Delivered by Nicky Wagner, List MP

I want to thank Graham Martin, The Trust Board Chair; and Karin Hofmans, your Manager, for the invitation to be with you all today.

Forty years ago this week, a Carole King classic peaked at number one on the Billboard Top 100 hits.   It’s a song that I dare say has been symbolic of the lives you, the people of Canterbury, have lived over these last nine months.  

It states, quite simply ‘I feel the earth move under my feet; I feel the sky tumbling down, tumbling down’.

I was delighted to accept the invitation of Di Das from Computers in Homes and your school principal, Philip Benson, and to join with the community of Tui Glen in celebrating this very important event.

It is particularly pleasing to have the support of Te Turuma Koraunui marae, and the representation of Hutt City councilors, Gwen McDonald and Angus Finlayson.

I have to admit to an ulterior motive for coming here today.

It is my first trip to a Dream Centre.

Lately I’ve been having a lot of dreams about flying.

Apparently, according to one interpretation that means I have gained a new and different perspective on life – I have risen above a challenge - bringing with it a sense of exhilaration, a new energy.