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Thank you Tony (Tony Nowell – Chair of New Zealand Food Innovation Auckland).

Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey, my colleague Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Councillors Arthur Anae and Alf Filipaina, members of the Board of New Zealand Food Innovation Auckland, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s great to be here today to celebrate the opening of this impressive centre.

When I spoke to you 12 months ago there was quite a lot of despondency within the industry. There were calls for greater unity and greater cooperation.

It is, therefore, good to see both the Meat Industry Association and Beef and Lamb New Zealand hosting this conference together. It sends a clear signal to your industry that better collaboration is real and not rhetoric.

It’s a pleasure to be here tonight to formally launch the New Zealand Poplar and Willow Research Trust.

Can I take this opportunity to publicly congratulate Bruce Wills on his appointment as President of Federated Farmers. Bruce, I look forward to working with you in your new role.

Can I also acknowledge Grant and Bernie Weller from the Waimea Valley in Southland – this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Award National winners, who are here tonight.

(Note: Owing to bad weather closing Christchurch Airport, Hon David Carter’s speech was delivered by Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga)

It’s a pleasure to be here to open Horticulture New Zealand’s annual conference.

I’d like to acknowledge the directors of Horticulture New Zealand, growers and supporters of the horticulture industry.

Your theme this year is Capturing Value, Creating Profit.

I would like to acknowledge local iwi for your warm welcome. I would also like to thank Craig Davey for inviting me to speak at your conference.

Thank you for your contribution to biosecurity in this country – your Institute does an important job. Of my four portfolios, biosecurity is the most critical. It is paramount in determining New Zealand’s economic well-being.

Mr Chairman, Secretary-General, distinguished delegates.

Firstly, I would like to convey New Zealand’s warmest congratulations to José Graziano da Silva for his successful election to Director-General. New Zealand looks forward to working closely and constructively with him.

The election of a new Director-General could not have come at a more important time for FAO.

Welcome to Christchurch.

For many of you, this is probably the first time you have been here since the two earthquakes. I’m sure you have seen for yourselves some of the damage to our city as you made your way here today.

Being Christchurch born and bred, this has been a distressing and challenging time. But the way all New Zealanders have joined together to help Canterbury through these tough times has been truly humbling.

I’m delighted that this joint Australian and New Zealand forestry conference is being held in New Zealand, and I’m equally pleased to see the emphasis on the broader Pacific region.

As you know, 2011 is the United Nations’ International Year of Forests, with the theme "Forests for People". This is clearly interwoven into your programme, as shown by your line-up of speakers – so my congratulations to the organisers.

The Christchurch earthquake – while a poignant reminder of the fragility of human life – also highlighted how well a small country like ours can rally around to respond to such a catastrophic event.

Fonterra was quickly at the forefront of this response, contributing much-needed drinking water, as well as a very substantial donation to the relief and recovery effort.

As a Cantabrian, I want to personally thank you for that.

Thank you for inviting me to open your conference, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Driving Innovation and Productivity is the theme of the day, and that drive is also at the centre of the Government’s economic growth agenda.

Today, I want to talk about the value your sector adds to the economy. And I want to talk about what the Government’s doing to keep your businesses driving forward – so collectively, we can have the tradable sector of the economy performing substantially better.

Good morning and thank you all for coming along today, many from the other side of the world. It is humbling to look around the room and see so many ‘world class’ Kiwis assembled in one place.

As a small nation we have achieved some incredible things, and when I look at the collective talent represented here today, I’m confident that we can do much more.

Frankly we must do – the world does not owe New Zealand a living.

The Christchurch earthquake has obviously been dominating everyone’s thoughts over the last three weeks.

As a Cantabrian, my heart is very much with the people of Christchurch. We are made of stern stuff, but we’ve been well and truly tested in recent months.

Prime Minister John Key has said this is not just Canterbury’s test, it is New Zealand’s test – and I know we will come through this.

I am very pleased to welcome you all to the New Zealand launch of the International Year of Forests.

As you know, the United Nations has designated this year to raise public awareness of the importance of forests. The theme is "Forests for People" – and it’s why we are gathered here this evening.

I want to take a moment to reflect on the devastation of my hometown, Christchurch. It is two weeks since the earthquake and the recovery process will be a long one.

Good morning.

Thank you, for the opportunity to attend the inaugural conference of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre – it’s an important milestone.

We are all aware that the world is facing many challenges - balancing economic aspirations alongside environmental stewardship is one challenge, food security is another.

It gives me great pleasure to open the 2011 World Jersey conference.

I want to extend a warm welcome to international and national delegates, particularly members of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau and Bureau President, Gonzalo Maldonado.

For the benefit of our overseas visitors - New Zealand is a proud agricultural nation.

There are around seven sheep to every person, and for our human population of 4.4 million there is also at least one dairy cow.

Good evening and bonsoir ladies and gentlemen.

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you, Your Excellency, Mr Francis Etienne and wife Jane to New Zealand.

I thank you also Your Excellency and Dr Richard Wild, president of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, for hosting this evening’s event.

As Minister of Agriculture I am responsible for animal health and welfare, so I am very pleased to welcome guests to the New Zealand launch of World Veterinary Year.

New Zealand has a strong and long connection with France.

Mr Speaker, I move that the National Animal Identification and Tracing Bill be now read a first time. 

At the appropriate time, I intend to move that the Bill be considered by the Primary Production Select Committee.
Mr Speaker, New Zealand has a highly effective biosecurity system to manage the risks posed by harmful organisms, including the risks to our very important livestock industries. 

Welcome to Parliament.

I want to start by extending my thanks to Professor Andy Buchanan, the Timber Design Society and NZ Wood for your long-standing commitment to providing your expertise and services to this industry.

Forestry is critical to New Zealand’s growth agenda.

It is New Zealand’s third largest merchandise export earner, accounting for 10 percent of all merchandise exports and generating around $4 billion in export revenues a year. The forest industry also contributes around 2.8 percent of GDP.

Thank you for inviting me here today to close your conference.

But more importantly thank you for your commitment to Rural Support Trusts.

It has been a busy year – droughts, floods, storms and earthquakes.

Unfortunately, I am unable to stand here and tell you that it is going to get any easier; instead it looks like you are in for a busy summer.

Tomorrow I’m heading to Northland – where it’s my expectation I will see a very serious situation.

Good morning. Thank you Jim (Cotman) for the introduction.

Here in the Waikato, I certainly don’t need to tell this audience how vitally important the dairy industry is to the New Zealand economy.

As I’ve said previously, South Africa has diamonds, Australia has minerals, Saudi Arabia has oil – and in New Zealand we have farming based on pasture.

Dairy holds the lion’s share of our primary production system.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you, Chris (Laidlaw) for your introduction.. I am pleased to have the opportunity to help set the scene at this water symposium.

I would like to acknowledge our hosts, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. Can I also acknowledge my ministerial colleague, Hon. Nick Smith and my parliamentary colleagues, Chris Tremain and Craig Foss.

Everyone here today has a clear goal of working together on future planning for freshwater.

Good morning. Can I firstly acknowledge Federated Farmers' President Don Nicolson, Vice-president Donald Aubrey, National Council members and CEO Conor English.

It gives me great pleasure to be opening today's session on dairy farming and sustainability.

Good evening everyone and welcome to the launch of Ten Years of Grassroots Action.