Search

Tena koutou katoa.

I’d like to acknowledge our mana whenua and our hosts here at Victoria University.

As leading business men and women you know well that now, more than ever, we are a country of global citizens. And that how we embrace the world and its needs will have a clear correlation with how prosperous we will be as a nation.

On a recent trip overseas I was reminded how quickly education systems are evolving and how important it is that New Zealand not just keep up, but carve our own pathway in these areas.

Good afternoon everyone.

Delegates, welcome to New Zealand.

I hope you have a great time at the conference and get to enjoy some leisure time in this wonderful country we call home.

This is the first time New Zealand has hosted this event and we are honoured to have you as our guests. Thank you for coming all this way.

I want to acknowledge you all, and in particular give thanks to our Retirement Commissioner, Diane Maxwell, for being a constant advocate for improving the money skills of New Zealanders.

Police Association delegates, Association life members and staff, representatives from overseas jurisdictions.

Thank-you for this invitation to open your conference and to say a few words about the Government’s priorities for Police and policing in New Zealand.

It’s always good to have an opportunity to talk face to face about how things are going, and in keeping with your invitation, I’ll try and leave a bit of time at the end of my speech for questions.

The last 15 years has seen the international strategic environment become increasingly uncertain and unstable.

Terrorism is a global issue that affects many nations, including those in the Asia-Pacific.

It is not new to Southeast Asia – extremist groups have had an enduring presence in countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines for decades.

The increasing influence of Daesh in the region is very concerning.

Good morning everyone, it’s a pleasure to be here today.

I just want to start by acknowledging Madeleine Wright, Fiona Driver and Gary Taylor, I really appreciate the invitation to come and speak to you.

You know if you told me when I first became an MP that in just a few years I’d be going all over New Zealand and in fact the world talking about climate change, I don’t think I would have believed you.

But now that I’ve had the portfolio for 10 months, I’ve got to say I am really loving it.

Tena koutou katoa. Thank you for the invitation to speak on day two of the uLearn16 conference.

It’s wonderful to see so many educators together in one room. You are part of an increasingly connected, collaborative and innovative education system.

Education is the backbone of any successful nation.

As a small nation we need to be smarter and focus on building the potential of our children and young people to become a highly skilled and qualified workforce.

Introduction

It’s a pleasure to be here to address the New Zealand Aged Care Association conference.

I’d like to acknowledge NZACA chair Simon O’Dowd, chief executive Simon Wallace, as well as the many members of the board of Association.

The theme of your conference ‘The pursuit of excellence, building on our strengths’ is timely. It’s an exciting time to be part of the aged care sector. I encourage you to take this opportunity to discuss and explore ways the sector can evolve to meet future demands.

E nga mana, e nga reo, e te iwi o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

Introduction –  Community Housing Sector

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.

I would like to acknowledge:

Mr Chairman – thank you for this opportunity and for Peru’s excellent hosting of this important event.

New Zealand has a formidable delegation here of business and Government representatives.

As a small economy in the South Pacific, engaging with the other 20 APEC economies is vitally important for us.

We take our role very seriously, and see it as an opportunity to engage and influence food security policies.

Good morning,

I’m pleased to see such a good turnout for what is, I believe, a significant step towards better services for people, and better government for the country.

Over the last five years, we’ve talked about social investment and about doing what works in social services.

Throughout that time agencies have been developing and assembling the pieces of a system that will deliver on this promise.

Shalom. Tēnā koutou katoa and warm greetings from across the Pacific.

Thank you for the invitation to participate in this Summit. I appreciate the opportunity to share New Zealand’s latest chapter in our ever-evolving education story, and how we’re preparing children and young people to be confident participants in their highly connected and increasingly innovative world.

Ours is a small nation with a far reach and big ambitions.

Introduction

Thank you for the invitation to be here today in the great state of Nebraska and to say a few words.

It’s very appropriate that we should be holding the 100th anniversary conference of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in a state where agriculture is so important, just as it is in my country of New Zealand. As a farmer myself, it makes me feel right at home.

This is my third visit to the USA in the last 12 months.

New Zealand welcomes today’s opportunity to discuss the serious threat to international peace and security posed by terrorist targeting of civil aviation.

I thank UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for his leadership on the resolution just adopted.

Air links are critical to New Zealand. More than 99 percent of our international visitors arrive by air, and around 15 percent of our exports are transported by air. The security of international civil aviation is therefore of vital importance to my country.

E nga mana, e nga reo, e te iwi o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

Good morning everyone and thank you for the invitation to speak to you today.

I want to acknowledge your host, and my parliamentary colleague, Ron Mark, and the Chief Executive of Fostering Kids, Linda Surtees.

And indeed, everyone here who does so much for our most at-risk children and young people.

Foster Carers, Social Workers, NGOs, and CYF staff.

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me here today. It is a pleasure to open your 55th annual conference.

Today, I would like to announce Cabinet’s decisions on a National Strategy to reduce the risk and harm of dog attacks in New Zealand.

As animal control officers, your work is invaluable. You are at the front line of protecting people and animals. The animals and the members of the public that you deal with daily can be equally unpredictable. Your work directly contributes to community wellbeing.

Good Morning,

New Zealand has convened today’s high level meeting on Syria for one simple reason: no other issue more urgently demands the attention of world leaders.

The Syrian civil war is the most devastating conflict of the 21st century.

We see a country shattered, terrorism and extremism rampant, and the daily horrors of the deliberate displacement, starving and killing of civilians.

It’s a special pleasure to speak to the General Assembly under the Presidency of a Pacific Island friend.

Mr President,

The world is facing serious challenges. 

Borders are closing to people and products, to investment, to ideas.  Many States are turning inwards. 

The politics of fear and extremism are gaining ground.  Too many States are flouting the rules.

But no country can face today’s challenges alone.

It is deeply disappointing to have to acknowledge that the comments I am about to make, and that others will make today, could have been made with equal force and relevance at any time in the last two and a half years since negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians were suspended. 

We all express dismay and outrage about the violence affecting ordinary Israelis and Palestinians; and yet innocent lives continue to be lost.

We all condemn settlements; and yet they continue to expand.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Transport I move that the Land Transport Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee to consider the Bill.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce this Bill to the House. The Bill aims to promote better regulation, improved safety, and greater economic growth and productivity.

Purpose of the Bill

Mr. Speaker, this Bill is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to create better, more effective regulation.

I thank Special Representative Yamamoto for his briefing. Sir, you have assumed your role at pivotal moment for Afghanistan.  

Afghanistan has been at war for far too long. Indeed, most Afghan people have no memory of anything but war.

New Zealand speaks today as a country that has supported Afghanistan in its pursuit of peace and stability over many decades, stretching back to the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989.

I will now make a statement in my capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs for New Zealand.

At the outset can I welcome the Colombian Permanent Representative to the Security Council today.

The historic peace agreement concluded between the Government of Colombia and the FARC rebels on 24 August represents a significant milestone, one that offers the promise of a future of security and prosperity for all Colombians in the years to come.

Thank-you for this opportunity to address this year’s annual conference for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Professionals.

This is a really important area of work not just for law enforcement and the wider financial sector but also for the community, which we all want to keep safe from this type of crime and the crime it can be used to finance.

So it’s great to see you all getting together to talk about how we can be even better at detecting that offending and preventing further harm.

Good afternoon,

I’d like to acknowledge

• Justice Minister Amy Adams
• Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell
• Distinguished members of the judiciary,
• Chief executives,
• Ladies and gentlemen

Thank you for the welcome.

And thank you all for the contributions you make to help New Zealanders lead safer and more secure lives.

It’s great to see so many people passionate about making a difference.

For most children, New Zealand is a great place to grow up.

Talofa lava, and warm Pacific greetings.

I wish to extend my deepest thanks to our hosts, the Government of Samoa.  

I want to acknowledge my counterpart, and our Chair for this meeting, the Hon Faimalotoa Kika Iemaima Stowers, Minister for Women, Community and Social Development. 

To my other Ministerial counterparts and colleagues who have travelled from far and wide, greetings to you all.

A special thanks to the Commonwealth Secretariat for their kind invitation to speak today.  I am honoured to be here.