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Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia today announced a review has begun into building access for disabled people.

The review will look into how New Zealand Standard 4121, which outlines how people with disabilities can access buildings, aligns with the Building Code and how the Code more generally represents the needs of disabled people.

The Associate Minister of Social Development, Tariana Turia, launched the Nga Vaka o Kaiga Tapu: Pasefika Proud Family Violence Research Plan at an event in Auckland this week.     

 “The Pasefika Proud Family Violence Research Plan is unique, as it is the first research agenda of its kind to carry cultural significance across the Pacific for the Pasefika peoples of Niue, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tokelau and Tonga living in Aotearoa New Zealand today,” said Minister Turia. 

Thank you Reverend Elama Maea for opening this fono with your blessing for our day.

I want to acknowledge:

·       Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira : the Chair of the Pacific Advisory Group;

·       Murray Edridge; the Deputy Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development

Associate Minister of Health Tariana Turia announced the opening of eight sore throat drop-in clinics in Auckland this week as part of the Government’s $45 million campaign to reduce rates of rheumatic fever.

“These drop-in clinics offer easy, free sore throats checks for children who don’t attend schools with throat swabbing services or when it’s out of school term,” says Mrs Turia.

Thank you Reverend Elama Maea for the opening prayers – for setting the right platform for us tonight; to come together in the spirit of Pasefika Pride.

Thank you, also to Sandra Kailahi  - who was such a wonderful host when we launched the Ngā Vaka o Kaiga Tapu Family Violence conceptual framework last year.  It is with great pleasure that I learnt you would be helping us to celebrate the next part of our journey tonight.

My humble acknowledgments, firstly to

I am delighted to welcome here today, to your House - our Special Olympic graduates, your friends, supporters, sponsors and of course your families who make it all possible.

I want to thank Ian McKelvie, MP for Rangitikei; and the Chairperson of Special Olympics for the honour of addressing you at this very important event.

I acknowledge two very important people with us today - Kathy Gibson, your Chief Executive and Grant Quinn, the Founder of Special Olympics New Zealand.

I want to thank Cindy Johns, your National Manager and Hamish Taverner, your National Chairperson for the opportunity to speak at this event. I also thank Lee Rutene for opening this event.

I can’t help but think that flying free like the butterfly is a wonderful image for your logo. For 30 years you have been speaking up and giving voice to the voiceless to say what was important to disabled people.

It is with great pleasure that I follow in the footsteps of your esteemed life member, Robert Martin, in this very important milestone event.

Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia announced the introduction of a brand new service today to help make government services more accessible to Deaf people.

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) is being progressively rolled out around the country in key government services. It connects a Deaf person to a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter based in an Auckland call centre via an internet video connection and to a face-to-face meeting with a government service worker.

Ki a Kingi Tuheitia, me te kahui ariki anei nga mihi. Aa, ki te tangata whenua o te rohe nei, nga iwi o te waka o Tainui,  tena koutou. Tena koutou te whanau whanui, nga mihi nunui kia koutou katoa.

Firstly I mihi to Te Arataura Tainui Waikato and the Tuwharetoa Trust for your tautoko of this event today.

I acknowledge the presence of the Mayor of Hamilton, Julie Hardaker, tena koe.

Performance criteria and improving quality - A Whanau Ora Approach

I am delighted to be with you at the 2013 New Zealand Healthcare Summit.  

There is nothing closer to my heart than thinking about performance criteria to improve Maori health outcomes.  

The Associate Minister for Social Development, Tariana Turia today announced the establishment of an Expert Advisory Group on Family Violence in New Zealand.

“The Expert Advisory Group on Family Violence is being formed to provide independent strategic advice to assist Government to determine key priority actions to address family violence in New Zealand,” says Minister Turia.

Requests for Proposals are being sought for the expansion of the Maori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative from the current 600 places to 3000 places.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Tariana Turia are leading the Maori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative, which supports 18 to 34-year-olds to gain trades qualifications and apprenticeships, with the goal of a level four trade qualification and employment.

I want to acknowledge the importance of the Disabled Persons Assembly who for over thirty years have been working to promote the wellbeing of disabled people in New Zealand.

I want to congratulate and commend Bev Grammer the President, Brendon Murray the President Elect and the ever-energetic Rachel Nobel who is doubling as both our MC and of course the Chief Executive of DPA; for hosting this event today.

Ka rere atu nga mihi ki te hau kainga, te tangata whenua, tena koutou katoa. 

Ki aku hoa, Te Kahui Tumuaki - ki a koe e Kimiora, tae noa ki a koutou katoa kua tae mai i nga kokona e wha o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

E nga rangatira, e nga iwi kua huihui nei, mai i nga topito o te ao, tena koutou katoa.

Tena korua nga kaumatua Sam korua ko June Jackson - nga mana whenua o tenei rohe.   You are forever gracious hosts in your rohe.

E te iwi e huihui nei ki te manaaki i te karanga o te ra, tena hoki koutou.

I want to also mihi to Richard Wallace for our mihi whakatau.

I acknowledge the leadership of Professor Ian Town - the chair of the Asthma Foundation Board - Board members and Chief Executive Angela Francis and her team.

I want to thank Dr Nigel Christie - your General Manager and Trenton Martin - your cultural advisor for the opportunity to be with you today - and to share some time thinking about the difference you make in working alongside the families whom you support.

And it is great that at this conference you have been able to bring together clients, support workers, board members and staff of Te Hauora Pou Heretanga to focus on how to achieve your mission - To Value Wellbeing.

This is such a wonderful occasion to come together, to celebrate a new era; an era in which the language of the hands is being recognised as the key to communication and opportunity.

I want to firstly acknowledge our Human Rights Commissioner for Disability Issues; Paul Gibson; who is such a bold advocate; a passionate champion for people with disabilities.

The Pasefika Proud Campaign is seeking to build violence free families by drawing on the strengths of Pasefika peoples and their culture.

At the campaign launch today, Associate Minister of Social Development Tariana Turia said the Pasefika Proud campaign is about changing behaviours – about prevention rather than dealing with violence in a crisis. The campaign will run for a minimum of two years, driven by the Pacific Media Network and funded by the Ministry of Social Development.

Firstly, my thanks to Reverend Logopati Mata’afa for your prayers  and blessings on this special night.

I want to acknowledge Jacinta Fa’alili-Fidow and Dr Teuila Percival for your contribution to Pacific maternal and infant health.  

And I want to also thank Hilda Fa’asalele for your welcome- and to pay tribute to the influence and inspiration of your role as the National Clinical Director Pacific Health.   I am always grateful for your advice Hilda.

Talofa lava.  Malo e lelei.   Fakaalofa lahi atu.   Ni sa bula vinaka.   Kia orana.   Ia Orana.  Taloha ni.   Kia ora tatou katoa.

Fifty years ago this week, an African-American Baptist Minister, addressed a crowd of 250,000 people assembled in the March of Washington and spoke out about a nation that was failing to live up to its promise as a home for all God’s children. 

Talofa lava.  Malo e lelei.   Fakaalofa lahi atu.   Ni sa bula vinaka.   Kia orana.   Ia Orana.  Taloha ni.   Kia ora tatou katoa.

Fifty years ago this week, an African-American Baptist Minister, addressed a crowd of 250,000 people assembled in the March of Washington and spoke out about a nation that was failing to live up to its promise as a home for all God’s children. 

The Pasefika Proud Campaign is seeking to build violence free families by drawing on the strengths of Pasefika peoples and their culture.

At the campaign launch today, Associate Minister of Social Development Tariana Turia said the Pasefika Proud campaign is about changing behaviours – about prevention rather than dealing with violence in a crisis. The campaign will run for a minimum of two years, driven by the Pacific Media Network and funded by the Ministry of Social Development.

Minister for Whanau Ora Tariana Turia has announced the Request for Proposal (RFP) Process is now underway for Whanau Ora Commissioning Agencies for the North Island, South Island and Pacific families.

Te Puni Kokiri is responsible for leading the non-governmental organisation (NGO) procurement process with support from the Ministries of Pacific Island Affairs; Business, Innovation and Employment and Treasury.

The Government has committed funding for a further 19 community projects aimed at reducing bullying amongst young people under a second round of the Te Punanga Haumaru fund, announced Associate Social Development Minister Tariana Turia today.