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Good evening. Thanks for your introduction Mike O'Rourke. (RANZCO president)

Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne have announced a new funding package and plans to tackle problem gambling today.

Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman announced today that Dr Peter McGeorge is stepping down as Chair of the Mental Health Commission.

Thank you for inviting me here again this year to celebrate International Nurses Day, which is tomorrow. 

It is always a pleasure to take time to recognise the important contribution that nurses make to the health of New Zealanders. 

State of nursing in New Zealand

Nurses are hugely valuable and respected workers in our health system.  According to the Nursing council there are just on 46,000 nurses currently practising in New Zealand.

That's an increase of around 1,000 nurses on last year.

The seasonal flu vaccination programme has seen more than 900,000 doses of vaccine distributed throughout the country.

The Health Minister Tony Ryall has officially opened Capital and Coast DHB's new high dose brachytherapy* bunker for cancer treatment, this morning.

Reporters' Note:

Thank you for inviting me to the launch of Alzheimers New Zealand's National Strategy for Dementia in New Zealand.

Welcome to the opening of the first three villas at Pacific Coast Village.

Thank you for inviting me here today.

A report looking at ways to improve access to high cost, highly specialised medicines has been received by the Minister of Health, Tony Ryall.

Thank you for the invitation to open this research facility this morning.  It's good to be here.

Key points:

The Government has announced a bowel cancer screening pilot costing $24 million over the next four years which will be funded in the Budget this month.

The Government has announced that the new Health and Disability Commissioner is Anthony Hill, currently a Deputy Director-General at the Ministry of Health.

I want to thank you for the honour of unveiling this powerful installation.

The Government is supporting the expansion of Age Concern's Accredited Visiting Service, which will be expanding into all District Health Boards.

The New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill has been introduced to the House of Representatives.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says tonight's passing of a bill to increase the tobacco excise will go a long way to reducing preventable deaths from smoking related diseases.

I move that the Excise and excise-equivalent duties table (tobacco products) amendment bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, I move, that the Excise and Excise-Equivalent Duties Table (Tobacco Products) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.

The introduction of a bill to increase the tobacco excise is a clear signal that this Government is serious about reducing the death toll from smoking, says Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.

Associate Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has thrown his support behind Pink Shirt Day to help raise awareness of the link between bullying and depression.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has thanked the Law Commission for its report on alcohol tabled in Parliament today.

Approval has been given for Waikato DHB to add two dedicated elective surgery theatres to its $113 million redevelopment project at Waikato Hospital.