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E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good evening and thank you Richard [Stubbs, Managing Director, P3 Research] for the kind introduction. 

I am delighted to be here tonight to celebrate the completion of renovations to P3 Research’s unit. 

I would like to acknowledge the ground breaking work that P3 Research does, both in Wellington and in Tauranga, to help develop new treatments. 

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew has announced that a project which aims to provide information for growers on alternative tree species has been approved for a Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) grant.

“The project will focus specifically on cypresses and eucalypts. Both species groups have been successfully grown here on a wide range of site types for many years, but on a limited scale,” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good morning, it is my pleasure to be able to open the 2014 Heart Foundation Forum.

Thank you Tony for your warm welcome.

I acknowledge the life members, board members and delegates.

I would also like to acknowledge this morning’s other speakers Prof Phil Baker, Chair of Gravida and Professor of Maternal and Foetal Health at the University of Auckland, and Dr Debbie Ryan, Director of Pacific Perspectives.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Thank you so much for having me here this evening and thank you, Grant, for introducing me.

I would like to also acknowledge Selwyn Mayor Kelvin Coe, and Ray MacDonald, Chair of the SeniorNet Federation.

It is fantastic to see so many people here today - so many people who are embracing the ever-changing range of technologies, and teaching others to embrace them also. 

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has launched the next phase of the national patient safety campaign Open for better care, which focuses on reducing harm associated with surgery.

“Over 300,000 publicly funded operations are performed in New Zealand each year, and while the majority are incident free there are occasions where patients do suffer harm,” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Thank you to Merryn Morrison for your kind introduction. 

I am grateful to the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce to have this opportunity to speak to you tonight.

The Chamber has a proud history as the district's leading business organisation for over one hundred years. I look forward to the contribution you will make over the next hundred.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced an additional $170,000 for two new specialist Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention (EANP) services, one in Wairoa and one in Rotorua which will also cover Kawerau.

“Raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect is one of my top priorities as the Minister for Senior Citizens. As a Government, we want an environment where older people can live life as healthy, independent, connected and respected members of our communities,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew has today welcomed the release of the revised and retitled brochure, No car? No problem! Getting around your community without a car.

“People stop driving for a variety of reasons. Adjusting to life without a car doesn’t mean losing your independence and freedom,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed the expansion of the National Depression Initiative (NDI) to include voices from rural communities.

“Rural depression is a significant issue. We want rural people who might be isolated to know that they’re not alone,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“Research shows that suicide rates amongst our rural communities are higher than urban areas. In recent years male suicide rates have been up to 67 per cent higher in rural areas compared to men living in towns and cities.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed the news that already over 654,000 influenza vaccines have been distributed to New Zealanders.  

“31 March was day 36 of the 2014 influenza vaccination campaign and already we’re over halfway to our target of 1.25 million doses by 31 July,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“This year there has been a 10% increase on last year’s results over the same time period.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has today welcomed data on Surgical Site Infections (SSI), which has been added to DHBs quarterly reporting on Quality and Safety Markers.

“SSIs are uncommon but can lead to pain, disability and even death. The data released today measures compliance with the right dose of antibiotics being administered at the right time,” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

I would like to start by acknowledging Tasman District Council Mayor Richard Kempthorne, and my colleague local MP Dr Nick Smith and Labour’s Damien O'Connor.

Thank you all for being here today, and thank you for inviting me to speak to you on a subject I love talking about – positive ageing and ageing positively.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced the seven community groups which will receive a skilled intern. 

“The Community Internship Programme (CIP) funds hapū, iwi or community groups to employ skilled professionals as interns to help them meet clearly identified objectives,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The programme focuses on skill-sharing and the exchange of knowledge between sectors, while building on-going relationships which continue after an internship ends.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Thank you Pamela, and good morning to you all and welcome to the 2014 PreFabNZ conference.

I’d like to extend a special greeting to delegates from overseas, welcome to Auckland.

Putting together conferences like this takes time and energy.

I would like to start by acknowledging Pamela Bell, PreFabNZ chief executive, who has done so much to make this event possible.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed the publication of DHB Quality Accounts, saying they are another tool to ensure New Zealanders get the best and safest health care possible.

“Quality Accounts show that quality of care is core business for DHBs, by placing the reporting of quality on an equal footing with financial reporting. This is a more mature and transparent approach to healthcare,” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Thank you Jacob Tapiata for your warm introduction.

It’s a pleasure to be here today, and I thank Massey University for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this exciting event.

When I learned about this project called It’s My Life I was very impressed that you, the students, are the driving force behind it. 

I think it’s important that young people lead the way in creating a Smokefree New Zealand by 2025.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew says that public consultation on proposed operational changes to the East Coast Forestry Project (ECFP) has now ended.

“We were pleased to receive submissions from landowners, research providers, forestry companies, local government and industry bodies.

“The submissions were supportive of improving the ECFP. Many of the submissions identified issues that we are aware of such as the need to speed up the payment process to reduce the period of bridging finance. 

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Thank you for inviting me to speak about the value of the voluntary sector to New Zealand, and to assist in presenting this evening’s awards.

I am delighted to be a part of this wonderful and prestigious event.

The Trustpower Community Awards is now one of the country's largest community-based awards programmes.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew has this evening congratulated Mistletoe Bay Trust on winning the supreme award at the Trustpower National Community Awards and the Neurological Foundation Southern Chair of Neurosurgery for receiving the runner-up award.

“Each year, more than a million kiwis give their time, effort and energy to their communities for free. These annual Awards are our chance to recognise and thank dedicated volunteers for their contribution,” says Mrs Goodhew

Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew are welcoming commercialisation of new forestry technology this week as a big step forward in improving both productivity and safety.

“The Steepland Harvesting Programme is a very exciting Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) project, with $6 million in joint funding from the industry and the Government and a vision of 'No worker on the slope, no hand on the chainsaw',” says Mr Guy.

Associate Minister of Health Jo Goodhew has welcomed a Ministry of Health report which has confirmed WiFi in schools does not pose a health risk to children or staff, with exposures many thousands of times lower than the relevant standard.

“The report covers a snapshot study carried out following concerns from some schools and parents over whether exposure to radiofrequency fields produced by WiFi could cause health problems, particularly in young children” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

I would like to acknowledge the pan-industry conference organisers; the Forest Owners Association, the Wood Processors Association, Pine Manufacturers Association and the Forestry Industry Contractors Association.

I would also like to acknowledge our MC Dr James Buwalda and my fellow panellists, Labour’s Hon. David Cunliffe and Dr Russel Norman from the Greens.

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew has tonight paid tribute to the best of the best in Kiwi timber engineering and building design.

“Innovative designs in wood are giving us a whole new kind of building. The best of what is being built today is strong, sustainable and thermally sound.”

Mrs Goodhew made the comments during the presentation of the Ministry for Primary Industries Supreme Judges’ Choice Award at the NZ Wood Resene Timber Design Awards 2014.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew is calling for applications for this year’s Support for Volunteering Fund.

“The fund provides over $502,000 each year to projects and organisations that promote and support volunteering in New Zealand,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The funding is divided between Volunteering New Zealand, regional volunteer centres and selected projects in the volunteer sector.