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We are indeed blessed today with the presence of our kaumatua, Denis Hansen; the Patron, Buck Shelford, and all of the whanau who are living in this wonderful house.

The name of this whare – waimarie – is absolutely perfect,

It is a concept which immediately conjures up an expression of hope: 

kia u ki te whakapono, kia aroha tetahi ki tetahi –
hold strong to your beliefs and care for one another.

We are indeed blessed today with the presence of our kaumatua, Denis Hansen; the Patron, Buck Shelford, and all of the whanau who are living in this wonderful house.

The name of this whare – waimarie – is absolutely perfect,

It is a concept which immediately conjures up an expression of hope: 

kia u ki te whakapono, kia aroha tetahi ki tetahi –
hold strong to your beliefs and care for one another.

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.

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.

Delivered by Michelle McNabb on behalf of Minister Turia  Speech

I am so pleased to be able to pay tribute to Parent to Parent as a national organisation – and in doing so, to honour the amazing role that parents play in supporting children and families with disabilities.

I firmly believe that there is no greater responsibility, no greater privilege and no greater joy, than the raising of the next generation.

Delivered by Nicky Wagner, List MP

I want to thank Graham Martin, The Trust Board Chair; and Karin Hofmans, your Manager, for the invitation to be with you all today.

Forty years ago this week, a Carole King classic peaked at number one on the Billboard Top 100 hits.   It’s a song that I dare say has been symbolic of the lives you, the people of Canterbury, have lived over these last nine months.  

It states, quite simply ‘I feel the earth move under my feet; I feel the sky tumbling down, tumbling down’.

I am honoured to be here at the invitation of Michael Barnett, Chief Executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce; and John Allen, Chair of the Employer’s Disability Network.

I want to particularly thank the Chamber for hosting tonight’s event; and all of the board members of the Employers Disability Network
who have walked alongside employers and members of the disability community in this journey to drive social change.

I am absolutely rapt to be here today, to celebrate the launch of Te Whakaaheitanga Marae Accessibility Toolkit.

There is no better message than that of the vision of CCS Disability Action: Te Hunga Haua Mauri mo nga tangata katoa : including all people.

How do we truly care for all our people? What does inclusion mean? How do we ensure the environments we live, work and play in, are safe, friendly and accessible?

And importantly how do we increase awareness about the various health and disability issues that members of our whanau may face when at the marae.

Firstly, may I acknowledge, John Allen, Chair on the Board of Be.Institute, Chair of the New Zealand Employers Disability Network and Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, for your visionary leadership in establishing this Be. Accessible initiative.

I want to also thank Sir Don McKinnon – Director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, for your generous partnership in hosting us here tonight and for your ongoing commitment to accessibility.

I have never been happier to be here in Aotearoa; on our whenua.

I am honoured to bring to you the words of Hon Tariana Turia, who has been representing the Government at the World Health Organisation in Moscow and I believe she may be in a plane right now heading home.

In these times of breaking news, it is indeed exciting to be gathered here today, on such a significant day.

And I am delighted that the students of St Pius the Tenth Primary School and Newlands College have been the ones who are literally helping us shape a new song for our future.

Disability Forum;  Bowen State Building, Wellington
Delivered by Hon Georgina te Heuheu

This is an important day – indeed it marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to removing barriers for disabled people.

I want to firstly acknowledge Mr Sumasafu Vilsoni and Ms Savina Nongebatu, the Co-Chairpersons of the Pacific Disability Forum, for inviting me to open this second day of the Pacific Regional forum.

It is a great honour for us all in Aotearoa, to welcome to our shores representatives of disabled persons organizations, government agencies, donor organisations, disabled people and other interested parties from the Pacific, Australia and Asia.

And I have particular pleasure in seeing on the agenda a place for two people known as great friends to this forum:

I have a special pride in being asked to speak here today at the national Maori disability providers’ Hui Taumata.

Last year I had the honour of launching Te Piringa at your hui at Kairau Marae in Taranaki – within my electorate of Te Tai Hauauru.

Even though it was a launching - I knew that the inaugural Maori Disability provider hui had been some five years ago, at Te Puea Marae, Auckland in June 2006. And that between then and now there had been other Hui Taumata held at Huria Marae, Tauranga in November 2007, and Pehiaweri Marae, Whangarei in March 2009.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to open the 64th Annual Conference of the Amputees Federation of New Zealand.

As Minister for Disability Issues I welcome every opportunity to meet the people who are at the forefront of providing services and advocacy for disabled people.

This event, in bringing together representatives from each of the nine district amputee societies is a good chance to hear about your priorities and to share some of the ideas we are working on.

I am so pleased to be here today, to join with and celebrate the collaboration that characterises the New Zealand Disability Support Network.

This is a very auspicious occasion – the first conference for this vital support network. You have embarked on a remarkable journey since you launched on the 14th April 2010, and I want to mihi to you as the Minister of Disability Issues, for the initiative you have taken.

I want to firstly acknowledge the significance of this moment; and to recognise a number of individuals and organisations who will be associated with this day.

And so I stand here today, to honour the words, the commitment and the inspiration provided by:

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.

I want to thank Michael Barnett, the Chair of the EEO Trust, for according me the privilege of being able to share a few words in this very exciting night.

E rere kau mai te awa nui, mai te kahui maunga ki Tangaroa;

Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.

This is a most appropriate time to be thinking about the theme of transitions.  Over the last week all of our communities have experienced a transition of varying degree.

I am absolutely delighted to be part of this inaugural Access Tourism New Zealand Conference; and I want to congratulate the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute and the Auckland University of Te

When I looked at the list of those attending today's consumer consortium meeting, I was greatly pleased at the range of organisations represented -

• Autism New Zealand;

There is a particular anthem that you might hear at weddings; at funerals, at school graduations and even at football matches.  

Talofa lava, kia orana, malo e lelei, fakaalofa lahi atu, ni sa bula vinaka, talohi ni, tena koutou katoa.