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Màlò e lelei, kia orana, tena kotu, tena kotu, tena kotu, katoa and kia ora.

Prime Minister, the Honourable ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

My counterpart, the Honourable Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Minister of Trade.

May I acknowledge all of the ministers, negotiators and officials who have travelled from around the Pacific to be here today.

The New Zealand economy is doing extremely well, because of trade liberalisation, not in spite of it. We are one of the most open economies in the world.

Our economic performance is the envy of many countries, certainly our closest neighbour and largest trading partner Australia and many EU member states.

GDP growth this year was 3.6 per cent and is forecast to remain between 3 and 3.5 per cent for a number of years to come.

Thank you for taking the time to be here today. 

I said earlier this year that I view one of the most important roles that I have is to better make the case with the New Zealand public about why trade openness and trade agreements are vital for the success of New Zealand businesses and the prosperity of New Zealanders.

Why trade is important to NZ

Whilst we are too small to produce everything we need, in some areas we also produce far more than we need. 

As a trading nation, New Zealand has much it can be proud of. For two small islands of 4.5 million people, thousands of kilometers from distant markets, we produce high quality goods and services wanted by consumers all over the world.
We've had a significant influence on world trade policy over the years.  New Zealanders have played an influential role at the WTO helping shape the world's trade architecture.  

It’s a pleasure to be here today to talk to you about trade.  I do so at an interesting time, for the prevailing consensus in New Zealand on trade is subject to more debate than it has been for many years.

There’s some irony in this.  We have just completed one of the most comprehensive and valuable trade deals ever for New Zealand, with benefits in growth, exports, and jobs beyond what we’ve seen before.

Your Excellency Minister Hoang, Excellencies, distinguished guests, members of the Vietnamese business community, ladies and gentlemen.

It is an honour to be here today. I’ve recently commenced in this role as New Zealand’s Minister of Trade and it is great to have the opportunity to celebrate trade success so early in my tenure.

There are of course two successes to celebrate this morning. Firstly, there is cause to celebrate what has brought us all together in Auckland - the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, set to take place tomorrow.

Good morning.

Thank you for inviting me to join you once again. Over the last few years it has always been my great pleasure to come and speak to you. 

Your role as payroll professionals and mine as Revenue Minister have a common interest in the smooth running of the tax system.  If it works well for you, then it’s working for me.

We all use the tax system at one time or another, whether it is paying income tax, child support, paying off a student loan or receiving tax credits, it all goes through the tax system.

It’s great to be here with you again.

First I want to say thank you. We have had an extremely busy year in the tax community. It has been a year of heavy lifting.

In just this year we’ve put out 14 consultation papers on policy, seen the introduction or passing of seven bills, and have been involved in the development of other legislation.

There has also been significant progress on the Business Transformation (BT) front from a tax administration point of view.  

That is huge. 

It is my pleasure to be with you here today to unveil the next important stage of how the Government is making tax simpler for business. 

Over the last few years we have taken the first steps in what is a very significant journey towards a simpler tax system for New Zealand.

While our tax system is among the best in the world, and is internationally recognised for that, I know that we can do better. The reality is that as the world becomes more and more connected, and more digital, we need to keep looking at what we can do to improve.

HRH the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Madame Chair – EU Representative and Vice President, Mogherini, Ministers, and delegates.

On behalf of the Northeast and South Asia group of Asian countries I would like to thank in advance Luxembourg and the European Commission for their excellent arrangements in hosting and chairing this ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting.

Good morning

Thank you for joining me here today.

My thanks to the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce for providing this opportunity to talk to you.

As Minister of Revenue, there are certain things I have noticed about tax.

It is a pleasure to be there this afternoon.

As we have already heard today, New Zealand and India have much in common and we enjoy a long and warm relationship.

Our trade and investment relationship is one that builds on deeper foundations of history, language, people -  and of course cricket.

And it is a relationship that will continue to grow and evolve. On the surface some might say that our two countries are polar opposites – one of the world’s biggest populations in the world compared to one of the smallest and most geographically isolated.

Thank you for inviting me to open your conference once again.

Following last year’s General Election I am pleased to have retained the Revenue portfolio. Actually rightly or wrongly, I asked to be able to retain it - and I look forward to working with you once again as Minister of Revenue.

The relationship that exists between IRD and the tax advisory profession is mature and one we need to continue to cultivate.

Thank you for inviting me here today. It is always a pleasure to address tax professionals.

I’m especially pleased to be here given the theme of your conference, The Future ­ Moving Forward.

That’s a very topical issue and something that I am deeply interested in.

Taxation is a necessary part of society as long as government is required to provide services such as health and education, police and defence, conservation and civil defence.

Good morning. 

I’m pleased to be here today as this is my first speech since the election and I have, to my great satisfaction, retained the Revenue portfolio and therefore the privilege as the Minister of Revenue of opening this conference. 

I’m happy to say that New Zealand is in an enviable position with a good tax and social policy system.  We are served well by our broad-base, low-rate (BBLR) tax settings.

This is consistent with the advice I have received from Inland Revenue in its recent Briefing to the Incoming Minister.