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Good afternoon, and thank you for coming along today. I’d like to acknowledge Chris Till and the Human Resources Institute for hosting me. 

This is my first major speech as Minister for Women and that seems quite appropriate given that tomorrow is International Women’s Day. 

Talofa lava, and warm Pacific greetings.

I wish to extend my deepest thanks to our hosts, the Government of Samoa.  

I want to acknowledge my counterpart, and our Chair for this meeting, the Hon Faimalotoa Kika Iemaima Stowers, Minister for Women, Community and Social Development. 

To my other Ministerial counterparts and colleagues who have travelled from far and wide, greetings to you all.

A special thanks to the Commonwealth Secretariat for their kind invitation to speak today.  I am honoured to be here.

Kia ora and welcome everyone.

I am delighted to be here today to launch the report Getting it done: Utilising women’s skills in the workforce.

This report focuses on our work with Canterbury stakeholders to increase women’s participation in trades training and jobs, and how these lessons can be applied to opportunities in the labour market elsewhere. 

I’d like to start by thanking Leeann Watson for the warm welcome on this slightly chilly day.

It’s great to see my colleagues Hon Nicky Wagner and Jo Hayes here today.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

I am honoured to present the New Zealand Government’s national statement to the Commission on the Status of Women.

To start, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge civil society for its contributions to the preparation for this important meeting. In particular, I would like to thank the non-governmental organisations from New Zealand and the Pacific for their contributions to the national and regional preparations.

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

[Distinguished guests.  It is a great honour to greet you all at this important event today].

Thank you for inviting me to host this important breakfast this morning, and thank you, Beryl, for your kind introduction.

I would like to acknowledge: