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Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is encouraging people to have a conversation today about organ donation.

“Today is Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Day and I hope people will support Organ Donation New Zealand’s campaign by having a discussion with family about their wishes around organ donation,” says Dr Coleman.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Craig Foss today announced the winner of the 2014 Battle of Passchendaele Multi-Media Competition as 17-year-old Siobhan Lenehan from Carmel College in Auckland.

Sara Stern from Middleton Grange School in Christchurch and Micaela Meder from Pakuranga College in Auckland were named equal runners-up.

The competition was launched in 2011 to ensure New Zealand’s sacrifice on the Western Front is not forgotten.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is getting out of the Beehive to meet the health sector, starting with Southern District Health Board tomorrow.

“I will be visiting all 20 District Health Boards over the next few months to engage with doctors, nurses and management. As a doctor I know the value of clinicians in helping to drive progress in the health system,” says Dr Coleman.

Good morning and thank you for the invitation to open the New Zealand Respiratory Conference for 2014, A breath of hope. I opened this conference two years ago, and I am very pleased to be here again in this 50^th anniversary year of the Asthma Foundation – a great achievement.  This year the conferencewelcomes over 200 attendees from across New Zealand and Australia.

I would like to acknowledge my colleagues, MPs and extend a particular welcome to those who have travelled from overseas for this conference, including:

Applications for the 2014 Prime Minister's Pacific Youth Awards open today, offering the chance to highlight the success of young Pacific peoples in New Zealand.

The program is now in its sixth year and recognises the achievements and potential of our future Pacific leaders.

“Our Government recognises that the Pacific community is one of the largest and youngest populations in New Zealand.  Ensuring that our young people thrive is crucial for the entire economic and cultural outlook of New Zealand.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully travels to New York today ahead of the United Nations Security Council elections.

“On 16 October New Zealand will vie with Spain and Turkey for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,” Mr McCully says.

“The final days of our campaign are crucial and we will work hard right up to the vote to convince the international community that New Zealand deserves a place on the Council.