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Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced several appointments and reappointments to health sector boards.

Mrs Gay Shirley has been appointed to the Waikato District Health Board, replacing Mr Gordon Chesterman, who resigned shortly after the recent elections.

Mr Jamie Simpson of Christchurch has been appointed to the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) and Ms Anne Hobby has been reappointed.

Mr Alastair Scott and Ms Pip Dunphy have been reappointed to the Crown Health Financing Agency (CHFA), and Mr Scott has been appointed chair.

Cabinet last week approved re-opening the drinking water subsidy scheme for small communities of under 5,000 people.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says "The government was concerned that the scheme had been running on a first-come first-served basis - allowing comparatively better off communities to apply for subsidies, and not targeting the communities most in need of the funding."

The criteria for the Drinking-Water Subsidy Scheme have changed:

$10 million is available for allocation each year until 2015

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne will chair a roundtable meeting of media, mental health professionals and researchers early in the new year to update guidelines on media reporting of suicides.

The roundtable meeting will be a significant step towards updating the health Ministry’s Suicide and the Media resource, and Mr Dunne said it is hoped to also involve the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman, and the Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean.

Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today welcomed the appointment of Dr Lynne Lane as the new chair of the Mental Health Commission.

Dr Lane has been appointed for three years from 1 January 2011 and replaces Dr Peter McGeorge who resigned earlier this year.

‘’Lynne brings strong management expertise and significant health sector experience to the role,’’ Dr Coleman says.

We’re here today to release a significant survey – one which, for the first time in 21 years, gives us a clear and up-to-date picture of the state of oral health in New Zealand.

Overall, the survey shows that the oral health of New Zealanders has improved over time.

It validates the improvements in oral health shown in the annual monitoring of the school dental service.

The Government spends over $100 million each year on providing free dental care to children and teenagers.

Delivered by Hon Nathan Guy on behalf of the Minister

Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister of Internal Affairs)256GUY, Hon NATHAN21:59:32 I move, That the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.

At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be referred to the Health Committee for consideration and report back by 8 April 2011.

A bill tightening up tobacco controls has passed its first reading in Parliament today and will now go to select committee for public submissions.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says the introduction of the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Bill is a further signal that this Government is serious about reducing the harm caused by smoking.

The Bill proposes banning tobacco retail displays and retailers from using tobacco trading names to advertise tobacco and stricter restrictions on selling tobacco to minors.

Nearly 38,000 New Zealanders received colonoscopies to investigate for bowel cancer and other serious bowel issues in 2009/10 – 2,346 more than the previous year says Health Minister Tony Ryall.

"Bowel cancer kills more than 1,200 New Zealanders a year but it is also one of our most treatable and curable cancers if caught early. Colonoscopies detect bowel cancer and early detection can save lives,” says Mr Ryall.

Waitemata District Health Board has been selected to run the four year bowel screening pilot.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the pilot, announced as part of this year’s Budget, will cost $24 million over four years and is expected to begin in October next year. Further details will be finalised soon.

“Waitemata DHB has shown it has the knowledge and experience to run a successful screening programme,” says Mr Ryall.

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.

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.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is urging New Zealanders to treat people living with HIV and AIDS with dignity and respect.

Today is World AIDS Day and the theme is Universal Access and Human Rights.

“HIV and AIDS can affect anyone at anytime and it is important to remember that this disease knows no social, ethnic or economic barriers,” says Mrs Turia.

“By promoting individual human rights new infections can be prevented and people with HIV and AIDS can live free of discrimination.”

I was rapt to receive the invitation from Don Riesterer, on behalf of Te Ao Hou Trust, to join you at this very launch of the Toi Ora Whanau Ora Centre.

It seems so appropriate that we are celebrating Whanau Ora in the context of Te Ao Hou.

We are indeed welcoming the new world - and yet a world that sources its origins, vision and values from a tribal foundation stretching from the beginning of time to eternity.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia today announced the three Te Apa Mareikura Award recipients and two John McLeod Scholarship recipients.

Hori Barsdell, Phillip Tane, Matiu Julian, Pirihia Roberts and Harata Te-Amo Simeon have been acknowledged for their exceptional academic and community achievements in Maori health.

"These wonderful recipients have made an indelible mark in shaping the nature of the communities around them.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia today launched the Whanau Ora Integrated Services Delivery Report, a study that looked into how Maori health providers deliver integrated services across health and other sectors.

"The findings of this study provide useful information as the implementation of the Government's Whanau Ora initiative gets into full swing," says Mrs Turia.

The Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointed members of the 20 District Health Boards, including 10 new chairs and several people serving on more than one board.

The 2009 Tobacco Use Survey released today shows that the overall prevalence of smoking is continuing to decline but exposure to second-hand smoke is still a significant issue for some households,

Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today announced the Government's next steps to improve access to mental health and addiction services over the coming year.

E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. 

Good afternoon.
Thank you for the invitation to speak to you today.
Two years ago tomorrow I was appointed Minister of Health – happily because I asked for the position.
Before that, in my three years as opposition health spokesman, I also talked to hundreds of doctors and nurses, and managers and other health professionals.
I talk with many of you.
Your message was and is clear - you want more clinical engagement and more clinical leadership.

Everyone has a role to play in helping to reduce diabetes in New Zealand, says Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

Vice-Chancellor, Hon Steve Maharey; Tuwharetoa paramount chief; Sir Tumu te Heuheu; Dr Turoa Royal; distinguished guests; graduates; whanau and friends.

Removing retail tobacco displays and tightening up tobacco controls have been announced by Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia today.