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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.

I’m pleased and honoured to be here today celebrating with you. Today is a special day – we are marking the opening of the new Hobsonville motorway and Brigham Creek Extension – 9 km of safer new highway for Auckland.

As you know this new motorway runs from Upper Harbour Bridge to Westgate, completing the northern part of the Western Ring Route.

I was delighted to be invited to the Big Latch on 2011.

It is a wonderful thought that today we are part of a global campaign to celebrate breastfeeding.  

I will be carefully watching the clock to ensure that all of us that can are all set to go to contribute to the world record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously at 10.30am today!

I move that the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

The third reading of this Bill gives me a great deal of pleasure.

What began as a Bill with a primary purpose to reclassify pseudoephedrine and ephedrine as Class B2 controlled drugs has become out of necessity a Bill that will also enable the Government to more easily deal with the potential harms associated with new and emerging psychoactive substances, like Kronic.

Ladies and Gentlemen - welcome to Parliament today.

It's my pleasure to be your host today as the Minister Responsible for the National Library.

It was just two years ago that many of us were here to announce the outgoing Poet Laureate, Cilla McQueen, whose poetry we've just shared.

That was my first official event as the Minister Responsible, so it's an event I remember well.

Introduction

Good morning.  It is a pleasure to be here to open the New Zealand Home Health Association’s Annual Conference and I would like to thank the association for its invitation to speak to you.

First up, I’d like to thank the many health professionals, managers, coordinators and support workers in home care for their outstanding efforts and perseverance during and after the series of Canterbury earthquakes.

Good afternoon and thank you for your welcome.

I enjoy speaking to the Trans-Tasman Business Circle because I always get a huge amount out of sharing ideas with you, at the coalface of the extremely vital trade relationships with our biggest trading partner.

Some of you have probably heard me say that I haven't met an Australian I don't like, but it's true.

And I suspect it's a sentiment that's reciprocated – not for me specifically, but for New Zealanders generally.

I thank you for your interest and your initiative in being open to the connection between Whanau Ora and the Family Court.

It is also a great pleasure for me to be here today in the company of so many great minds from home and abroad.  

Thank you Chief Commissioner Carl Davidson, for your words of welcome and indeed for the opportunity to be here today.

I am truly happy to be here today, to celebrate whanau yesterday, today, tomorrow.

It’s no secret that I’m what you might call a whanau fundamentalist.   I believe our whanau are fundamental to our future; they are the source of our greatest strength; their experience and their history the ultimate guidance for our actions tomorrow.

Thank you for inviting me to speak at your Conference.  It’s a pleasure to be here in Dunedin.

Before I start, can I congratulate Dave Adamson, the Southland District Council Chief Executive, who has recently received a Queen's Service Medal for services to the New Zealand Fire Service.

Dave has been the local government representative on the National Rural Fire Advisory Committee for 11 years and led the establishment of the Southern Rural Fire Authority.

Speech to the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand Annual Conference, Auckland 

Introductions/Acknowledgments

Kia ora hui hui tatou katoa

Can I start by acknowledging our distinguished speakers and international guests as well as the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand for organising this conference.

Unfortunately we are unable to be in Christchurch as originally planned but I commend the Society for moving this important event to Auckland.

The protest movements that have swept through the Middle East and Northern Africa since December last year have collectively overturned the landscape of the Arab world.

Some have said that the impact of the Arab Spring on world affairs is on par with the fall of the Berlin Wall.

So what has changed?

At the big picture level, there is widespread support for genuine democratic and economic reform.

We are operating in an environment where old assumptions are no longer valid.

Kia ora hui hui tatou katoa.

Can I particularly acknowledge the Hon Mark Dreyfus, Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change & Energy Efficiency, and all our guests from Australia that we are honoured to host at this 7th Climate Change and Business Conference.

Good afternoon everyone and thank you for inviting me to speak today.

It is a tremendous privilege to be the Associate Education Minister.  I’ve learned so much about the large and complex area of special education in such a short time.

Thank you for inviting me back to officially open the first stage of the Rotorua Hospital redevelopment. 

Many of you were here with me in October 2009 when I had the privilege of being the first person to "turn the sod" on this project..

Today – it is again a pleasure to be back here celebrating another stage in the project.

All up, the price tag for the redevelopment is $83 million.

Thank you for the invitation to speak at your conference today

With the economy on the road to recovery, and the significant task ahead of us to rebuild Christchurch, it is an opportune time to meet and discuss how industry training can best help deliver the skills that we need as the economy moves forward.

The economy must become more competitive if we are to succeed.

Tertiary Education and Skills

I am so thrilled to be here, in heartland Nelson, within the warmth of Te Tau Ihu.

And I want to thank the Forum Steering Group – Victory Village, Inspiring Communities and the Families Commission – for making this day possible.

It is wonderful to see you all, and I want to particularly acknowledge the mana whenua; Carl Davidson, the Chief Families Commissioner; my fellow member of parliament, Hon Maryan Street; my former Parliamentary colleague Judy Turner, and all of those here today from my home town of Whanganui!

Introduction

I am very pleased to be a part of today’s ceremony for the winners of the Flying Start Business Plan competition.

Latest demographics

As we all know,small businesses are vital to our economy.  They are the life‑blood of New Zealand.  Their success is our success.

As Minister of Statistics, I want to quickly share with you some of the very latest data we have on small businesses. 

(Note: Owing to bad weather closing Christchurch Airport, Hon David Carter’s speech was delivered by Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga)

It’s a pleasure to be here to open Horticulture New Zealand’s annual conference.

I’d like to acknowledge the directors of Horticulture New Zealand, growers and supporters of the horticulture industry.

Your theme this year is Capturing Value, Creating Profit.

Welcome and thank you for inviting me to join you today.

Gathered here this morning are representatives from five countries, 16 government agencies and over 20 private sector organisations.

The international dimension of this seminar reflects not only how seriously our jurisdictions view financial crime, but also how financial crime does not respect borders.

As long as there has been organised crime, there have been ever more complex money trails that have reached ever further around the world.

President Roger, ladies and gentlemen - good afternoon.  Thank you for inviting me to your meeting today.

My talk today is about Auckland, its future and the recent amalgamation of eight councils to create one single organisation – the new Auckland Council.  I would also like to touch on what we need to reverse the ever-increasing burden of red tape that is bedevilling New Zealand.

Good morning everyone. I'm delighted to have this opportunity to speak to you today. Thanks Jolanda for your warm welcome.

It’s great to see so many delegates and exhibitors taking part in this fourth ALGIM Records Management Symposium.

As Minister Responsible for Archives New Zealand, I’m well aware of how important it is we preserve our records and archives; at both central and local government level.

Chairman Pat O’Brien and Harness Racing New Zealand board members, club delegates, and invited guests. Thank you for the welcome.

Thank you for the invitation to address the annual conference of New Zealand harness racing clubs and kindred bodies.

I would also like to acknowledge representatives of the New Zealand Racing Board here today, in particular CEO Bill Colgan. I’d also like to welcome Kristy McDonald, the Chair of the JCA.

Good evening and thank you for inviting me here to speak with you as we toast some of Waikato’s best buildings and building practitioners.

I would like to acknowledge Mayor Julie Hardaker, and Mr Colin Bertram, President of the Waikato Master Builders Association.

I also congratulate all those exceedingly talented professionals who are finalists in this year’s Waikato Registered Master Builders 2011 House of the Year Awards and the RMB Commercial Projects Awards.