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Tena Koutou Katoa and good morning to you all.

I want to thank Susan Forde, your Chairperson; and Janet Webb; the Centre Manager; for the opportunity to join with you today, to share the opening of the new buildings for the Stewart Centre

Kia Ora and Good morning. [with sign language]

[with sign language] My name is Pansy and I am the Associate Minister for Disability Issues.

Over the course of my lifetime, we have shifted house more times than I like to remember. 

I am honoured to stand here today, on behalf of the Minister of Disability Issues, and the Minister of the Community and Voluntary Sector, Tariana Turia.  

I want to thank the Chairperson, Douglas Langford, for honouring me with the opportunity to speak to you tonight; and also to Douglas Webb who has been keeping the evening flowing as the Master of

Warm greetings to you all.

It is a pleasure to address the Annual Conference of the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand.

Kia Ora, good morning and warm greetings to you all.

I am delighted to be able to represent the Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Tariana Turia, in opening this important seminar to celebrate awareness of ADD / ADHD.

Ka tangi te Wharauroa, ko nga karere a Mahuru

If the shining cuckoo cries it is the messenger of Spring

Maya Angelou, the great African-American writer, could have written the foreword to this report when she said,

As the wind whistled in Wellington last night, and the storm raged on, I put on my winter socks, wrapped up warm, and predicted there would be snow in the air.

As I travelled here tonight, I was fascinated to learn some of the history of the carved wharenui on campus here.

I was fascinated by the theme of this conference - social innovation, navigation and speed of trust.

I am delighted to be here today, to congratulate David Ogden, Mayor of Hutt City Council; and Wayne Guppy, Mayor of Upper Hutt City Council, for the example they are setting us all - about collabor

64 years ago, the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand was established to improve the quality of life for blind and vision-impaired New Zealanders.

I am really pleased to be able to spend some time with you this morning.  It is a meeting that I have been looking forward to, greatly.

Thank you to Trish Grant, the Director of Advocacy for IHC, for your introduction.

Thankyou to Trish Grant, the Director of Advocacy for IHC, for your introduction.

The other day I watched the most beautiful DVD tribute to the late Emma Agnew. 

Two nights ago the nation watched a grieving widow speak of her love for her soul-mate, who had passed away just eight weeks ago.