Kia orana, Fakaalofa lahi atui, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, Na maste, Talofa lava, Taloha ni, Talofa, Noa'ia Kia ora koutou, and welcome to you all this evening.

May I take this opportunity to thank the Reverend Ah Siu for leading us in worship, Christianity is very much a way of life of Pacific people and its important we acknowledge the source of all good things of God and Creator. Thank you to Pastor Ailaulau Faletutulu and his parish for allowing the opening ceremony to be hosted here in 'King's House.' Thank you to our local youth group for their item. I acknowledge my colleagues Hon Rick Barker, Minister for Courts, Customs, Community and Voluntary Sector, Small Business, Associate Minister of Justice and Associate Minister for Social and Development and Russell Fairbrother MP for Napier, Councilor Lutter from Napier, Senior Constable Nick Tuitasi, local Pacific church leaders, school Principals, local managers and representatives from government agencies, mothers, fathers, and young people. Welcome to you all.

I am very happy to be here tonight – it was only last year my wife and I visited Spacifically Pacific in Hawkes Bay and I thank Rose Fatialofa from the Ministry of Education for the invitation.

Spacifically Pacific is about supporting our Pacific families and sharing the strengths of each Pacific nation with one another. I am told you have a full week ahead of you, filled with Pacific languages speech competitions, writing competitions, seminars on health and justice issues. With Friday being the highlight with Careers Expo and a cultural evening.

Can I say to our young people, you are the future of this country and I encourage you to take hold of the opportunities before you this week and be inspired to make a difference in not only your life but the lives of your family.

I understand the theme for this year is Healthy Pacific families and communities. Something that is very important to this government. As some of you may be aware – health statistics for our Pacific people are not great and it is only by working together – that we can improve them.

In September last year, Tupu Ola Moui or the Pacific Health Chart Book was released in Wellington. The report shows that compared to the total New Zealand population, Pacific peoples:

oHave poorer health status
oAre more exposed to risk factors for poor health
oAnd experience barriers to accessing health services.

ROLE of EDUCATION
An important link to improving the current health outcomes is the need to improve the educational achievements of our young Pacific people. In Wellington conference last year - Dr Teuila Percival noted that education is an important aspect in improving Pacific health outcomes. One of my goals as a Minister and Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs is to promote better educational outcomes for our Pacific people.

Yes, we have made progress in some areas of education - in early childhood education Pacific participation has improved from 65 percent to almost 85 percent, with the national percent current at over 90 percent. Some of our young people are doing well in schools however according to international studies Pacific children alongside Maori children still make up the tail-end of achievement in literacy and numeracy skills. As a people we need to ensure that we keep abreast of other sectors that impact on health and education issues. And, I believe education is an important part in raising positive outcomes in health also.

ROLE of GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER
The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs over the past year has worked closely with the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Education to develop an Auckland Pacific Youth Strategy to address some of the poor educational statistics. The Right Honourable Prime Minister Helen Clark recently launched this strategy earlier this month. This strategy takes a holistic approach to finding solutions to the educational failure of Pacific children. In developing the strategy government agencies, church community and youth leaders worked together to promote the strengths of our Pacific Youth but also highlight key areas where support is needed to raise educational outcomes.

ROLE OF PARENTS
I have said on many occasions the government cannot tackle social issues on its own. The positive role models in our parents, community leaders and church leaders is vital in ensuring negative statistics labelling our Pacific people are transformed into positive results. We all know that great results are achieved when good parenting skills are practiced in our homes. Our children benefit from a warm, caring, and supportive environment. The government is aware of the real issues confronting some of our families – issues such as unemployment, health, and housing, and the government in their recent budget are putting in place more support for families.

The Working for Families package
The Working for Families package is a good example of this. It has been given a $1.2 billion dollar boost for programmes aimed at the children and families who need it most. This includes Pacific families many of whom do not know that this assistance is available for them to apply for. The Working for Families package is designed to help make it easier for people to work and raise a family.

The Accommodation Supplement

The Accommodation Supplement has also been increased which means Housing will be more affordable. This may be of some assistance to low income families in the Hawkes Bay area.

The Supplement is now available to more working families and many people without children. There is also more help with childcare costs. Subsidies for pre-school and out-of-school care have increased significantly and are available to more parents earning higher incomes.

ROLE of MPIA
Since I last visited Hawkes Bay the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs has continued to work with your community. I am told there has been an 80% success-rate in achieving milestones and that you are finalising your programmes of actions for the next financial year.

I am pleased with the inter-agency work that is happening here in the Hawkes Bay, and more importantly, impressed with how our communities have taken the opportunity to work closer with regional officials to ensure the needs of the Pacific community are heard. I recently visited Blenheim, Nelson and Christchurch Pacific communities and can I just say I promoted the work that is happening in the Hawkes Bay as a possible model that they might like to consider in the future.

Conclusion
Before I close may I just highlight a couple of important initiatives that this government announced in the Budget that will help improve social and economic results for our Pacific families.
KiwiSaver
The Kiwisaver is a voluntary, work-based savings scheme which is designed to help New Zealanders save. This is good news for first home buyers including Pacific peoples who have a comparatively low level of home ownership of 38 percent compared with 68% for the general population. After three years of saving, KiwiSaver offers a first home deposit subsidy of $1000 per year of membership in the scheme, up to a maximum of $5000 for five years. KiwiSaver is due to start in April 2007 subject to the legislative process.

Pacific radio network, Niu FM

The Budget also assured the future of the pilot national Pacific radio network, Niu FM will receive $12 million over the next four years. This radio network, our radio network will promote our Pacific languages – especially those cultures and traditions that have a special relationship with New Zealand. The Cook Islands, Tokelau, and Niue languages need our support alongside all our Pacific nations and Niu FM will work with our Pacific communities and the government to ensure our cultures and traditions are not lost.

It also means that Niu FM will continue to make a positive contribution to New Zealand’s identity as a Pacific nation.

These are just some of the ways in which this Government is making a difference for Pacific people and other New Zealanders. And I expect will continue to make a difference now and into the future.

But tonight we are here to celebrate the achievements of the Hawkes Bay Pacific community over the past year - to build and strengthen the networks of support services, agencies and Pacific communities.

This week is about putting a strong emphasis on Pacific education in the Hawkes Bay - raising Pacific student achievement, providing support and guidance and making the right choices for your future.

May I thank Rose Fatialofa and the Ministry of Education for their commitment to leading Spacifically Pacific and to all the government agencies involved, private organisations and individuals.

It is my great pleasure and honour to declare Spacifically Pacific Hawkes Bay 2005 officially open.

Ia manuia tatou fa'amoemoe.