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Good afternoon and thank you to the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce for inviting me back to speak to you this year.

To say that a lot has happened since I spoke to you 12 months ago is something of an understatement.

Throughout 2010, aftershocks from the global financial crisis continued to ripple around the world.

Good afternoon. We’re all familiar with the events in Christchurch last month. Few words come close to conveying the scale and impact of that disaster.

Can I also acknowledge the horrific events in Japan last week - they show there is always someone worse off than ourselves. More than most, we understand what the Japanese people are going through.

Here at home, helping support and rebuild Christchurch is among the most important things the Government will do this year and into the future.