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Good evening and thank you for inviting me to speak tonight.

We’re here tonight to launch a very important study into what is a very important industry.

The Logistics and Supply chain includes wholesale trade, transport, postal and warehousing activities. Nationwide it accounts for about 12 to 15% of New Zealand’s GDP.

Manawatu’s advantages

It’s great to be here today as both the Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand, and as the MP for Otaki. Of course a big chunk of my electorate is part of the Horowhenua and Horizons Regional Council.

As the Minister, I’m well aware of how important it is we preserve our public records.

In a democracy, public records help protect the rights and entitlements of citizens. They support accountability, transparency, and evidence-based decision making.

There are 2,250 fewer New Zealanders on Unemployment Benefits since November, but the overall number on benefits has risen by 1.2%

As usual with universities finishing for summer, an influx of students (5,802) going onto benefits pushed overall benefit numbers up.

“But we are still seeing jobseekers find work, in fact more than 8,000 people went off benefits and into work last month,” says Ms Bennett.

Of the total 8,384 people who cancelled their benefits because they found jobs, 5,418 had been on an Unemployment Benefit.

 I welcome this timely visit of the OECD to New Zealand.  Over the last two years we have made the most significant fundamental changes that New Zealand’s science and innovation systems have seen in the last 20 years.  These changes, although important, are only steps in a continuous journey of improvement.

The OECD has provided invaluable information and input around best practice in science and innovation policy.

In June I met the OECD’s Deputy Secretary-General and Chief Economist, Pier Carlo Padoan. 

The cities of Hamilton, Tauranga, Whangarei, New Plymouth and Wanganui will be among the first to benefit from the government’s rollout of ultra-fast broadband (UFB), says the Minister for Communications and Information Technology Steven Joyce.

Crown Fibre Holdings has concluded negotiations with two partner companies, following shareholding ministers’ approval of the deals over the weekend. 

The partners are:

Legislation to discourage smoking by removing displays of tobacco products in dairies and other retail outlets was introduced in Parliament today by Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

“This Government is serious about reducing the harm caused by smoking and it is vital that we do more to help people quit smoking and stop young people from being tempted to take up the habit.

“The evidence shows that most people who smoke want to quit. It’s harder to quit when you walk into a shop and are confronted with the instant temptation of tobacco on display.

I want to acknowledge Anthony Hill, the Health and Disability Commissioner and Tania Thomas, Deputy Commissioner Disability for your kind invitation to speak at this hui.

I am pleased to be part of what can only be described as a stellar cast of speakers.

There is nothing quite as enticing as a conference promo that suggests this will be a “conference like never before”.

I can well believe it.

Chief of Army Major General Rhys Jones has been appointed the new Chief of Defence Force. He will be promoted to Lieutenant General and take over from Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae on 24 January next year.

“Major General Jones is an experienced and highly-respected officer. He has played a key role in developing the Defence White Paper, which will be implemented during his term.

Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith heads to Cancún, Mexico today for the high level ministerial section of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“New Zealand is determined to do its fair share on the global challenge of climate change and re-gather momentum from last year’s conference in Copenhagen,” Dr Smith said.

Prime Minister John Key today announced that Hekia Parata is to be appointed a Minister in Cabinet.

“Ms Parata takes over the Ethnic Affairs and Women’s Affairs portfolios previously held by Pansy Wong. She will also be Associate Minister for ACC, of Energy and Resources and for the Community and Voluntary Sector,” Mr Key says.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson will accompany a research team to New Zealand’s remote Subantarctic Islands today as part of the joint Navy and Department of Conservation expedition, Operation Endurance.

The expedition involves a team of 14 researchers who will look into the recovery of the islands since the removal of sheep and rats and measure the benefits of previous conservation work.

Agriculture Minister David Carter has today confirmed the Government’s commitment of $30 million annually until 2015 to manage bovine tuberculosis (TB).

"New Zealand is widely recognised as the world leader in TB management through its integrated disease control programme, and the Government is committed to supporting efforts to rid farmers of this disease," says Mr Carter.

Prime Minister John Key today introduced legislation to amend the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service Act 1969.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service Amendment Bill will update the Act to reflect legal and technological developments made in the past four decades and their impacts on the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS).

“This country’s security legislation needs to be relevant to the global security environment in which the NZSIS operates,” says Mr Key.

Larger than forecast deficits in the Crown's financial statements reinforces the need for tight fiscal discipline alongside the Government's ongoing efforts to move resources to frontline services, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Lower than forecast tax revenue combined with the fiscal impact of the Canterbury earthquake have contributed to a $4.4 billion operating deficit before gains and losses in the four months to 30 October.

We’re here this evening to acknowledge the work of Firefighters in Canterbury during what so easily could have been a human tragedy.

It’s appropriate that I say a few words on what was a human tragedy, the Pike River Mine disaster.

Tragedies are part of the work a firefighter but nothing can prepare us for an event of this scale, particularly when our own are affected.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia is urging New Zealanders to celebrate the outstanding contribution volunteers make to their communities.

This Sunday is International Volunteer Day and today Mrs Turia released the latest Quarterly Generosity Indicators Update June 2010.

“Everyday of the week volunteers are helping in their communities whether it’s saving lives or just ensuring life is a little more comfortable.

New research released today by the World Bank and Waikato University shows the Government’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is producing positive spin-offs for Tonga and Vanuatu.

RSE, which supplies migrant workers for the local horticulture and viticulture industry when New Zealanders are not available for work, improved per capita income for Pacific households with RSE workers by almost 40 percent.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley has today acknowledged the key contribution of Honorary Fishery Officers to the sustainability of New Zealand’s fisheries.

Mr Heatley says it is particularly appropriate to thank fisheries volunteers for their work with World Volunteer Day coming up this weekend (5 December).

"Honorary Fishery Officers are a key part of the Ministry’s work throughout the country," Mr Heatley said.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley has today welcomed the opening of a new Ministry of Fisheries office at Kaikoura.

Mr Heatley says the office, to be staffed by two full-time employees and five volunteers, is a significant boost to the Ministry’s presence and capacity in an area where outdoor activity, including fishing, is increasing.

"The new office is opening just in time for the busy summer season," Mr Heatley said.

From next year the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQA) will assume direct responsibility for quality assurance of Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, taking the role from ITPNZ which has had the responsibility through ITPQ since 1993.

The Minister for Tertiary Education, Steven Joyce, says the change has come about as a result of discussions with the ITP sector about the international trend towards independent quality assurance for both public and private providers.

ITPNZ has voluntarily returned the delegation for quality assurance to NZQA.

Commerce Minister Simon Power today announced the reappointment of Mike Willing as a member and vice-chair of the governing board of the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ).

JAS-ANZ is responsible for overseeing a joint accreditation system that ensures safety and quality, and underpins environmental management schemes. As a trans-Tasman organisation, JAS-ANZ strengthens trade between New Zealand, Australia and other countries.

Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced that Dr Tom Marshall is replacing Dr Virginia Hope on the National Health Board. Dr Hope has recently been appointed chair of both the Hutt Valley and Capital and Coast District Health Boards.

That is the only change on the Board, which is chaired by Dr Murray Horn.

The membership of the National Health Board is Dr Murray Horn, Ms Mary Gordon, Mr Hayden Wano, Mrs Marion Guy, Mr Rob Cooper, Dr Bev O'Keefe, Dr Margaret Wilsher, Dr Jeff Brown, Dr Tom Marshall, Dr Des Gorman, and Dr Murray Milner.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The stage I stand on today is a small stage – too small to hold the four million New Zealanders who would like to express their deepest sympathy this afternoon, and show solidarity with this community at the time of its greatest suffering.

But you can rest assured that those four million people are behind you today as they have been since that fateful afternoon almost two weeks ago.

New Zealanders as a whole are not an overly-religious people and are not given to public outbursts of emotion.

It is only fitting that when we celebrate the work of Family Start Manukau, we celebrate Dame June Jackson – and we celebrate with her the rich diversity of the community embraced within your service.

Today is a day to recognise the hard work, inspiration and commitment of so many people who have made Family Start Manukau what it is today.

In particular I want to acknowledge the three founding organisations who have invested so much in this group– Te Hononga o Tamaki me Hoturoa PHO; Ta Pasefika Health Care Trust; and the Plunket Society.