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I move, that this House recognise that on the 4th of August 2014, we will mark the centenary of New Zealand entering the First World War.

A few hours after the declaration of war by the British Empire, of which New Zealand was a part, the Governor of New Zealand Lord Liverpool told a crowd of thousands outside Parliament that New Zealand was at war with Germany.

The New Zealand government’s offer to send an expeditionary force – a move endorsed by this Parliament – was hugely significant.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Thank you for inviting me to the Local Government New Zealand conference. It’s great to be here in Nelson, and it’s great to see all the local mayors, chief executives and elected members.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

The relationship between central government and local government is one of partnership.

We rely on each other to make good choices for our fellow New Zealanders.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Good afternoon, it’s great to be here today.

I would like to thank Business New Zealand and Fujitsu for hosting this event.

Today I want to talk about the Budget that Finance Minister Bill English will deliver next week.

I will also announce two important initiatives that will be of interest to this audience.

But first I want to set the scene as Budget 2014 approaches.

This will be the National-led Government’s sixth Budget, and can I say Bill English is doing an excellent job.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister
  • Budget 2014

It’s great to be here in Christchurch today.

Thank you to everybody attending today, and thanks to the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event.

One of the National-led Government’s four main priorities this term is to support the rebuilding of this, our second-biggest city, and to stand beside the people of Canterbury.

From the first earthquake in September 2010, the Government has totally backed Christchurch and the wider region to respond, to recover and to rebuild.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Today I want to talk about the Budget, which will come out on 15 May.

This will be the National-led Government’s sixth budget.

Some of those budgets have felt at times like an exercise in crisis management.

So I take my hat off to Bill English, who has done a great job of steering the country through the recession, the global financial crisis and the aftermath of a very destructive and expensive natural disaster.

Everyone’s circumstances are of course different and some people are still finding it hard.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister
  • Budget 2014

It is a great pleasure to be in Beijing today.

And I’m pleased to be here at the China Agricultural University for the first time - thank you for your warm welcome.

This is my fourth visit to China, reflecting the strength of the bilateral relationship between our two countries.

It also demonstrates the importance we place on the relationship and the potential we have to take it even further forward.

With me today are New Zealand’s Minister of Trade Tim Groser, and our Food Safety Minister, Nikki Kaye.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Good morning.

It’s good to be here in a place where ideas are encouraged and discussed, because that’s what I want to do today.

Anzac Day is approaching and, as you know, next year we will commemorate the centenary of that fateful landing by the Anzacs on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, 1915.

In the struggle, the sacrifice, and the wretchedness of Gallipoli, an Anzac reputation for courage, endurance and mateship was forged that has endured long after those who survived that campaign have passed on.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

E nga Rangatira

E tau nei ki Waitangi

Tena koutou

Tena tatau katoa

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Waitangi Day is a special day for New Zealanders. It’s a day when we reflect on the history of our young country, and it’s a day when we think about what we want for New Zealand’s future.

We come together here each year to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Treaty is more than a document which created a new nation.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Good morning. I hope you all had a good Christmas break and you’re starting 2014 eager and energised.

I know I am.

And I know the Government is, because there are a lot of things to get done this year.

Later in the year there’ll be an election, where I’ll seek the support of New Zealanders to continue the direction this country is going in.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Good afternoon, it’s great to be here today.

I want to thank the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event.

And I want to congratulate Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown on her recent re-election, as well as Fran Wilde and all the other successful local body candidates in the region.

I’m sure we will continue the constructive relationship we enjoy with Wellington City and the other councils in the region.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Good evening and thank you for inviting me to be here.

It’s always a pleasure to address the RSA National Council and to thank you for the work that you do.

New Zealanders are extremely grateful for the contribution our veterans have made to our peace, our freedom and our security.

Ex-servicemen and women hold a special status in the hearts of New Zealanders.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Mr President. Congratulations on your election to the Presidency of this General Assembly.  You take the reins at an important time.  We wish you every success. You have our support.

The recent events in Kenya, Iraq and Pakistan show how troubled the world can be. We commiserate with the governments and people of those countries and extend our deepest sympathies to those who lost family and friends in these tragic incidents.

Mr President.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here in London and here at Asia House.

This a good opportunity to reflect on the changes in New Zealand’s economy and society over recent decades and how that has increasingly involved Asia.

Of course, New Zealand’s relationship with the United Kingdom remains fundamental.

Queen Elizabeth is Queen of New Zealand, as well as the United Kingdom.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Thank you all for being here today.

I want to particularly thank the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event.

None of us will forget three years and six days ago – in the early hours of September 4th, 2010 – when Canterbury was shaken by the first of what would turn out to be a series of strong earthquakes.

The most disastrous, of course, was the earthquake of 12.51pm, 22nd of February, 2011.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Mr Speaker, this is an essential Bill which has attracted a lot of debate, much of it alarmist.

It’s one of the strengths of our country that people who oppose legislation have an opportunity to say so.

That’s their right, whether or not they understand what that legislation will actually do.   

Some people are fundamentally opposed to the work of our intelligence agencies.

Those critics oppose the agencies almost on principle. 

As Prime Minister, I am not one of those people.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Speech to National Party Annual Conference Nelson

Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow National Party members, it’s wonderful to be here with you today.

It’s a privilege to be the leader of the National Party.

Our Party is in great heart.

The organisation is strong. It supports a talented team of MPs who are representing New Zealanders from the very top of the North Island to the very bottom of the South Island.

And I’m proud to stand before you today as Prime Minister of this great country.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Ladies and Gentlemen, National Party members, welcome to the party’s Annual Conference for 2013.

This is the 77th annual conference of this great party, and I am proud to be here as party leader and as your Prime Minister.

Can I start by saying a big thank you to everybody here today.

You are what makes the National Party strong, and why it continues to be in such good heart.

It is because of you, and all your hard work, that National is in government today.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

It’s great to be back here in Seoul.  This is my third visit to Korea in four-and-a-half years as Prime Minister.  This is because we value the importance of the Korea relationship for New Zealand and for Korea’s rapidly expanding role in the world.

On this occasion we have a large contingent of New Zealand veterans and their supporters here for the 60th anniversary of the armistice which took place over the weekend.  Over 6,000 New Zealand army and navy personnel took part in the Korean war, in which 45 New Zealanders lost their lives.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

I would like to begin by specially acknowledging the presence of our party of New Zealand Korean War veterans who have journeyed to Korea to pay their respects to their fallen comrades and mark the 60th anniversary of the end of fighting in the Korean War. Sixty years ago yesterday the guns fell silent across the Korean peninsula.

The armistice that ended hostilities in the devastating war that had raged across this country for more than three years had come into effect.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Madam President, distinguished guests, honoured veterans, ladies and gentlemen

It is an honour to address you on behalf of the countries invited here today to commemorate, with our Korean partners, the 60th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement which ended hostilities in the Korean War.

We are here to remember the heroism and the sacrifices of Korean and allied troops from 21 nations large and small, including my country New Zealand, which answered the call of the Korean government and the United Nations.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Thank you for inviting me to the Local Government New Zealand conference once again. It’s great to be here.

I’d like to acknowledge your President, Lawrence Yule, and your board members for their hard work. I enjoy a great working relationship with Lawrence and meet regularly with him and LGNZ chief executive Malcolm Alexander.

I often meet mayors and councillors when I am travelling around New Zealand, and it’s great to see so many familiar faces here today. I’d especially like to acknowledge Hamilton Mayor, Julie Hardaker.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

Good afternoon.

Thank you for being here today. I want to acknowledge and thank the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for putting on this event.

Today I want to talk about some of the issues facing Auckland.

Auckland is not just New Zealand’s biggest city.

It is not just the home of one-third of New Zealand’s population.

It is not just New Zealand’s largest commercial centre.

It is not just the primary gateway into New Zealand.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister

It’s a great pleasure to be here at the opening of the first-ever New Zealand China Partnership Forum.

The Forum is the first of this nature and scale to take place between China and New Zealand.

So this is a notable occasion.

I want to start by acknowledging the two partner organisations – the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, and the New Zealand China Council.

Thank you for organising this event and ensuring an impressive line-up of presenters and guests.

  • John Key
  • Prime Minister