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Education Minister Anne Tolley says Paerau School in Central Otago is to remain open following a final decision on its future.

Consultation on its possible closure had taken place after the roll had fallen to just two students.

The school roll has now increased to 10 students, helped by community support to keep families in the rural area.

“I needed to make sure this boost in numbers wasn’t temporary, and that there wouldn’t be another drastic roll drop, before making a final decision,” says Mrs Tolley.

On the 93rd anniversary of the end of the First World War, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Judith Collins has today paid tribute to those who fought and died in the conflict.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the Allies signed an Armistice with Germany ending hostilities after more than four years of war.

“Today we commemorate the end of the First World War, and remember the men and women who served our nation,” Ms Collins said.

Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed Russia’s imminent membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

“New Zealand is extremely supportive of Russia’s imminent membership of the WTO”, Mr Groser said. “We have long advocated for Russia’s membership and have worked hard over many years to bring that about. We were the first developed country to conclude our bilateral goods negotiations for Russia’s accession in 2003.”

Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced the eight secondary schools around New Zealand which have successfully bid to open new Service Academies in 2012.

It follows new funding of $63.1 million in Budget 2011 to expand the number of Service Academies and Trades Academies, to provide more opportunities for young people to access skills training while earning worthwhile qualifications, free of charge.

Good morning and thank you for again inviting me to open this conference – New Zealand’s premier tax conference.

We are almost at the end of the year and at the end of the first term of the current Government.

And what a year this one has been.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia, has confirmed today that a contract was awarded in September 2011 to Korokoro Ora Manawa Ora (MOKO) to start throat swabbing services in Kaitaia.

“Some confusion has emerged publicly suggesting the Ministry of Health has not funded Rheumatic Fever checks in Northland. I believe it is important that clear information is provided to those who may be concerned.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced over $5 million in funding to support five schools to replace seven classroom blocks, in the latest example of the Government’s commitment to upgrade and modernise school buildings.

More than 500 major building modernisation projects have already been completed, including over 270 new classrooms and gyms and more than 140 libraries, halls and administration blocks.

A double tax agreement between New Zealand and Hong Kong is now in force, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.

Mr Dunne has welcomed the new agreement, which was signed in December last year.

“It will further strengthen New Zealand’s significant international cross-border trade and investment partnerships for the benefit of businesses, investors and taxpayers in both countries,” he said.

The Government remains committed to sound management of its finances and returning to surplus in 2014/15 as the economy continues to grow, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Tax revenue, Government spending and net debt were all slightly lower than expected in the Crown accounts for the three months to 30 September issued today, but these variances are expected to reduce over coming months.

The lower than forecast tax revenue contributed to a slightly larger than expected operating deficit before gains and losses of $2.48 billion for the three months.

Thank you to Professor Smith, and our kaumatua, Beau Haereroa, for laying out the whariki by which our korero today can be held.

This is an extremely important forum and I want to acknowledge the commitment of the Maori Health Committee of the Health Research Council, in hosting this hui; and in providing us all with an opportunity to map health research to Maori health gains.

I want to firstly mihi to Terry Dunleavy, to Hohepa Campbell, to our taiohi and kaumatua.

Six years ago, at the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education, Nathan Matthews presented a paper to the hui entitled, He Kura Mäori, he Kura Hähi.

His korero was focused on Maori Boarding Schools and I want to share a statement from that report:

Minister to host inaugural SCPEM meeting

Police Minister Judith Collins will chair the inaugural meeting of the Standing Council on Police and Emergency Management (SCPEM) in Auckland this week.

The meeting will be held on 11 November and will be attended by more than 70 New Zealand and Australian Police and Emergency Management Ministers, Police Commissioners and senior officials.

SCPEM, established by the Council of Australian Governments in September 2011, forms part of the new Ministerial Council arrangements recommended in the Hawke Review.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says new official data shows the region’s economy continues to improve strongly, with trade through Canterbury’s ports and airport hitting a two-year high of $950 million in September.

“The recovery is well under way,” Mr Brownlee said.

“This is the sixth monthly release of this data set and consolidates a number of positive trends over the period.”

The latest Ministry of Economic Development economic indicators show steady growth being driven by trade and manufacturing.

Education Minister Anne Tolley has wished students the best of luck for this year’s NCEA exams which get underway tomorrow.

More than 143,000 candidates are preparing for the NCEA and NZ Scholarship exams, which continue until 30 November.

“The Government is ambitious for every single New Zealand student,” says Mrs Tolley.

“I know students all over the country are studying hard, and I want to wish them all the very best of luck in the days ahead,” says Mrs Tolley.

I am so pleased to be here today, to celebrate your success in receiving the Te Wana quality accreditation for service delivery.

Exactly two years ago, this marae achieved nationwide acclaim when your story featured on Maori Television’s DIY Marae series.

On 8th November 2009 the story of Wairoa Marae screened on the channel, showing some 150 people who got together over four days to lay concrete, bang in nails, pull up the asphalt and lay out a beautiful lawn and gardens.

More farmers are purchasing helmets and wearing them on their farms in response to the Government’s quad bike safety campaign, says Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson.

“The Department of Labour’s first monitoring results for the campaign, which began in November 2010, shows a 200 percent increase in the number of quad bike helmets being sold and a rise in farmers wearing them – this is a fantastic effort in just one year.

The Crown has signed an Agreement in Principle towards settling the historical Treaty of Waitangi claims of the Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki iwi, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki suffered significant Treaty breaches including land loss through raupatu and significant Crown taking of ‘surplus lands’ from old land claims such as the Fairburn Purchase that left them effectively landless from the 1880s. Today Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki retain less than 1% of their original land.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says while it is pleasing to see the road toll continue to come down, there are still far too many preventable deaths on New Zealand roads.

The government’s ultra fast broadband (UFB) initiative is now underway in Christchurch, with the first fibre laid today in Aidanfield.

The Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Steven Joyce, says ultra fast broadband will assist the transformation of the Canterbury economy.

Under the UFB initiative Enable Networks is contracted to roll out fibre-optic cable to across Christchurch and in Rangiora.

The New Zealand King Salmon Company Limited’s (NZKS) proposal to establish eight new salmon faming sites in the Marlborough Sounds has been sent directly to an independent Board of Inquiry under the Government’s nationally significant proposal process with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Environment Minister Nick Smith announced today.

A new temporary stadium with seating for 17,000 will be built in Christchurch for major sporting and cultural events.

"The new temporary stadium will allow Cantabrians to experience the excitement of Crusaders and Canterbury ITM Cup home games again as well as Phoenix football matches, rugby league games, other major sporting events, concerts and festival events," says Mr Key.

"I'm thrilled the New Zealand Rugby Union has also announced today our world champion All Blacks will play a test match against Ireland at the new venue in June next year.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed today's announcement that a new temporary stadium will be built in Christchurch in time for next year's Super Rugby season.

"I'm absolutely delighted the Government has been able to pull together this deal to fund building the new temporary stadium in Christchurch," Mr Brownlee says.

"This means Cantabrians don't have to miss out on major sporting and music events for another year and will have many great occasions to look forward to," he says.

The number of New Zealanders on Unemployment Benefits dropped by 791 last month says Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.

“There are 13,500 fewer people on Unemployment Benefits since the peak last January and about half of that decrease is made up of young people.”

“We’ve seen 549 fewer 18-24 year olds on the Unemployment Benefit over the last month, which is fantastic,” says Ms Bennett.

There are 54,870 New Zealanders on the Unemployment Benefit and 330,755 people on all benefits.

Chief Executive of Local Government New Zealand, the recipients of the Geok Ling Phang Memorial Award, organisers, ladies and gentlemen - thank you for inviting me to join you here this morning.

I would like to thank the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Planning Institute for hosting this event, on what is a significant day for planning globally.