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Ladies and gentlemen

Thank you for that warm welcome.

It is a pleasure to be with you here today.

All our thoughts are with the people of Japan this afternoon as they confront an unimaginable crisis.

As a nation that is, itself, coming to terms with a major catastrophe, we share their grief and their sorrow at this time of great loss and uncertainty.

When the earthquake struck Christchurch on 22 February, Japan was quick to offer help.

Their people were on the ground just days after the quake struck.

Good morning.

It is wonderful to see you all here so bright and early today.

And it’s great to see so many familiar faces.

It is a pleasure to be talking to a group of people who will be very much in the driver’s seat of New Zealand’s economic recovery in the months and years ahead.

As New Zealand and the world emerges from the recession there will be plenty of opportunities for New Zealand businesses.