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Disability Issues Minister Hon Tariana Turia released the review of the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006 today.

The New Zealand Sign Language Act established sign language as an official language of New Zealand.

“The passing of the Act was a landmark day for the Deaf community that sent an important signal about their place in our communities and whānau,” says Mrs Turia.

A funding boost for weight-loss surgery is producing results, with Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia announcing an increase in the number of procedures nationwide in the first year.

E nga mana e nga reo, koutou kua huihui mai nei, ka nui taku mihi ki a koutou.

Te Atiawa, tena koutou katoa.

I am so proud to greet everyone today; on this most auspicious occasion.

I want to acknowledge the presence of David Rutherford, the new Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission; Commissioners Dr Judy McGregor, Jeremy Pope and Richard Tankersley.

I thank our interpreters, Wenda Walton and Alan Wendt for helping to support this event.

I am so pleased to welcome everyone here today to this very important moment.

Tuatahi me mihi atu au ki a koutou kua huihui mai nei, te reo o te kaikaranga, nga kaikorero o te paepae, me nga manu tioriori me te hunga kua huihui mai.

Tuarua, me tukuna au aku mihi ki a Tuheitia me te Kahui Ariki e noho mai ra ki Waahi i raro i te kapua pouri. Haere atu koe Whatumoana.

Ratou ki a ratou, tatou ki a tatou, tena koutou, tena koutou.

I have a very good feeling about being here today.

In 2005 I had the privilege of launching the Tipu Ora National Certificate in Hauora at Houmaitawhiti Marae in Rotorua.

E nga mana e nga reo, koutou kua huihui mai nei, ka nui taku mihi ki a koutou.

Tuheitia, me te Kahui Ariki, e noho mai nei ki Turangawaewae, tena koe, tena koutou.

Waikato-taniwha-rau
He piko, he taniwha
He piko, he taniwha

I greet you today, as uri of Whanganui – a descendant of te awa tupua.

Our rivers connect us to a common whakapapa; our stories link us forever, in the journey we make as whanau; every bend reminding us and inspiring us to cherish the leadership within.

Friday 16 September 2011; 10am

I couldn’t be prouder to be here today.

This is an historic day – a powerful moment in our shared histories when a statement is being made about the state of our lives.

This is a day when together  - Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngati Whatua and Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi have stood tall. 

E nga mana, e nga reo, tena koutou. Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Raukawa, Te Atiawa, tena koutou.

This morning at 5am, there was the most brilliant full moon. It was one of those sights that make you think everything is fine with the world.

The perfectly formed moon shimmering on still waters – the first light of day breaking through, the quiet calling of the birds reminding us that we share our universe with others.

I am so pleased to be here at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Rangianiwaniwa surrounded by the wonder of all of our tamariki and mokopuna, to launch this aptly named initiative : MOKO – Manawa Ora, Korokoro Ora – a healthy heart, a healthy throat.

Today is about all our mokopuna - our heart and soul.

I have always liked the whakatauaki – kia tötöia ngä waewae o taku mokopuna hai whai tako: let the legs of my grandchild be massaged so that he may be supple and agile.

There have been a number of reported cases of meningitis throughout the country and Associate Health Minister, Tariana Turia, is encouraging families, especially those with babies, young children and teenagers, to be especially vigilant.

“It’s important that if you think you or someone else you are close to may be at risk, don’t wait, take action! Ring a doctor or medical centre straight away or even the hospital if you have too. Meningitis is serious if left untreated” Mrs Turia said.

Twenty five years ago Te Whakaruruhau was established as the first Maori Women’s Refuge in Aotearoa.  

Ever since those early days, Te Whakaruruhau has been known as breaking new ground, providing the leadership and the inspiration for working with whanau in a way which would best result in wellness and wellbeing.

And so I am absolutely delighted, having shared the journey over the years, to now be here with you all, celebrating the opening of your new safe-house.

I have to say, I have a special fondness for Whakaruruhau. 

I want to firstly acknowledge your Chief Executive, Sonia Thursby, who has been instrumental in establishing this initiative, to enable the participants to dream their dreams, to grow and to achieve what they may never have thought possible before.

I have been really looking forward to being here today, to celebrate this inaugural graduation of the Voyager Leadership Development Training Programme. 

And I have been particularly looking forward to meeting the young people whom we are honouring tonight, for their success over the last year in this programme.

School children at six Flaxmere schools will continue to have their throats swabbed whenever they get a sore throat as part of an extra $12 million of government funding to combat rheumatic fever.

The Hawkes Bay 'Say Ahh' programme is the first of eight newly funded services around the country which detect and prevent rheumatic fever.

It is a great pleasure to be in the company of a group of people dedicated to improving Maori health.

And it is both a credit to this organisation, and the initiatives you have pioneered, that I am told there are now over 250 Maori students and medical practitioners currently registered with Te Ora.

That’s 250 guardians to advance outcomes for whanau, hapu and iwi!

It also means we have 250 champions to pursue article 24 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People: that is,

Justice Minister Simon Power and Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia have today announced the appointment of Paul Gibson as a part-time Human Rights Commissioner responsible for disability issues.

Mr Power said Mr Gibson, who was until recently the senior disability adviser at Capital and Coast District Health Board, brings a wealth of experience and skills to the newly created role.

“Mr Gibson has been a strong advocate for disability rights. He has extensive experience in leadership roles in disability policy, management, and governance.”

Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Tariana Turia is pleased to support Random Acts of Kindness Day again in 2012.

Minister for Disability Issues, Hon. Tariana Turia, has welcomed the New Model for Supporting Disabled People launched today in Tauranga.

“The overwhelming priority for me as Minister has been to support disabled people and their whanau with greater choice and control over the supports they receive” said Minister Turia.  “I have been determined to act on the aspirations  disabled people have shared with me, to identify and achieve what represents a good life for them.  

Whoever it was that coined the phrase, ‘A good man is hard to find’ clearly had not met Gregory Fortuin and Kim Workman.

Today we are here to celebrate two very good men – men who have lived their lives in a way which is inspirational to us all.

Last night I released a pack of resources around whanau wellbeing including a set on becoming a Dad.   The key messages we were promoting are that becoming a father is easy, being a Dad isn’t.  

A good dad is someone who speaks openly and honestly with compassion. 

One of the greatest sources of celebration, of unity, of togetherness that we share, as peoples of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, is the gift of song.

And so when I think of the concept of ‘E Tu’ to stand tall, I am inevitably drawn to the words of a waiata that our children are brought up on

E tu kahikatea , hei whakapae ururoa
Awhi mai awhi atu, tatou, tatou e.

Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Tariana Turia has announced new resource materials to raise awareness about and address family violence been developed for Maori and Pasefika communities.

“These materials will reinforce activities already underway at the local level”, Minister Turia said.   “Local communities are leading the way in providing clear, consistent messages about building strong families and preventing and addressing family violence. These resources will help support that work”. 

Kua tau e au te taua lelei, kua taunuku kite hini, kua fakatalitali mai la mo oku te pale o te amiotonu.

Many Pacific peoples will share the nation’s grief at the death of Sir Paul Reeves, acting Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Hon Tariana Turia said today.

Minister Responsible for Whanau Ora Tariana Turia today launched the Whanau Ora E-Booklet at the first gathering of Whanau Ora provider collectives in Auckland [Whanau Ora: Transforming our futures].

"This booklet brings together real stories about how whanau are finding their own answers to their situations. It shows whanau identifying what tools they need, how they can create change and who they want to work with, to invest in their own transformation. That is what Whanau Ora is all about".

I have been looking forward to being here with you today; to be joining you in the pathway forward – He ara whakamua.

I have to share with you, that in all honesty, sometimes I attend hui and without realizing it I am scanning the room for a Maori face; searching out that connection, Maori mai, Maori atu.

Today as I look around me, I see in this hui connections which link me through whakapapa and the most precious ties of whanau. I see hauora Maori providers; whanau with diabetes; Maori nurses; I see me.

Your Excellencies, the Governor General of New Zealand, the Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand, and Lady Susan Satyanand, members of the Trust Board, Chief Executive Brendan Boyle, Fellows and welcomed guests.

This is a very special event for us all today – to acknowledge and honour the achievements of the twenty-three Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellows, who completed their Fellowships in 2009 and 2010.

I want to firstly acknowledge the presence of

• Heitia Hiha (Ngati Matepu); 
• Her honour the Mayor of Napier, Barbara Arnott; 
• members and tenants of the Napier Community House Trust;
• and the wider community who are so central to this place.

When I opened my diary and saw that I was going to a fifth birthday celebration I had to say I was quite excited.

I was even more pleased when I saw that the celebration was in Ikaroa Rawhiti – specifically the Hawkes Bay.