Search

Delivered in New York, Monday 18 April 2016 (local time).

Thank you Mr President and other members of the Security Council.

Introduction

It’s great to be here today to open this Health Symposium.

This Symposium, Powering Up Our Future, focuses on building a people-powered, technology-enabled sector.

This is a key part of the updated New Zealand Health Strategy which I am launching today.

Government priority

Delivering better health services is a top priority for the Government. We’ve made health our number one funding priority.

At hui earlier this year, I gave an undertaking to carefully consider the Waitangi Tribunal report into the reform of Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 before introducing the Bill into Parliament.

The report, He Kura Whenua Ka Rokohanga, was released last month. I thank the Tribunal for the thorough consideration of the issues and their recommendations.

It’s good to be back here for my annual pre-Budget speech and I want to thank Business New Zealand for hosting me once again.

This year’s Budget will be delivered against a backdrop of a growing economy, supported by strong levels of tourism and migration, a large pipeline of construction projects and low interest rates.

Notwithstanding challenges in the dairy industry, most New Zealand forecasters are predicting growth of around 3 per cent on average over the next few years.

That’s a good position for the country to be in.

Introduction

It’s great to be here for Sport New Zealand’s annual sport and recreation conference.

I’d like to acknowledge Sir Paul Collins and Peter Miskimmin, and all of the other Chairs and CE’s here today. I’d also like to acknowledge the other speakers, including Lieutenant General Tim Keating who’ll be up next to talk about NZDF leadership.

Introduction

Thanks Haemish. It’s a pleasure to be here today to be part of the Association’s 68th Annual Meeting. I’d like to acknowledge Association President Dr Marlene De Maio.

I’d also like to acknowledge the important contribution the Association makes in advancing the knowledge and practice of orthopaedics.

Clinical leadership

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Parliamentary colleagues and visitors to Parliament Buildings.

I am delighted to host this launch of the New Zealand Drug Harm Index 2016.

I would like to begin by acknowledging that funding for this project to reproduce a Drug Harm Index for New Zealand was approved by the Prime Minister from the proceeds of crime.

We published the first drug harm index for New Zealand back in 2008, so it was somewhat timely to revise the methodology used to estimate the harm caused by illegal drugs.

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 coming along today to hear about the future for care and protection in New Zealand.

Can I acknowledge MSD Chief Executive Brendan Boyle for hosting this event today. Also the other chief executives from the Vulnerable Children’s Board, who have been so supportive.

Today’s event is about acknowledging the tough season dairy farmers are facing, bringing together all the support from different sectors into one place, and focussing on the broader outlook for the dairy sector.

There is no shortage of advice, guidance and support out there – from both Government and the wider industry.

So today we’re here releasing this new brochure on combining support for dairy farmers.

Outlook

I want to start by saying a few words on the wider outlook for the dairy sector.

Introduction

Thanks Sharon. It’s great to be here today at the National Rural Health Conference.

I’d like to thank the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network, the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand and the New Zealand Rural Hospital Network for organising this event.

The conference theme ‘Wai Ora – Healthy Environments’ focuses on providing quality primary healthcare services to rural communities.

Government’s Priorities for the New Zealand Forestry Sector [Slide 1 – title slide]

E āku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good morning. Thank you to (Dr) James (Buwalda) for the introduction, I am delighted to be here today.

I would also like to thank the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA) for the invitation to present, as well as to the other conference organisers:

Good morning.

It is a pleasure to be back at the Petroleum Conference.

I’d particularly like to welcome our international guests - I hope you have a wonderful time in New Zealand.

Let me start by acknowledging the challenging operating environment the industry is facing at the moment.

You have been through this before - oil prices were around $12 a barrel in the late 1990s - but the current price is a massive drop from what it has been for most of the last decade.

Good morning.

I am very pleased that you invited me here today – it is a welcome opportunity to catch up with the Clubs movement once more, and to hear what you have been up to.

I would like to begin by acknowledging Clubs New Zealand delegates from all over the country, and especially your national President, Tom Fisher.

I would also like to acknowledge your Chief Executive, Larry Graham, and host Cosmopolitan Club President, Wayne Henshaw.

Good morning everyone.

It is a pleasure to be here at the Asia Pacific Energy Leaders’ Summit.

Again, can I please acknowledge:

Thank you, Mr President,

It is an honour to be here this morning as the first New Zealand Minister to present to the Human Rights Council.

Keeping human rights in the spotlight

A decade on from the establishment of this Council and 50 years since the adoption of the two foundational human rights covenants, it is timely to reflect on the progress and challenges in the promotion and protection of human rights.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Today I would like to give you an overview of New Zealand’s international priorities for 2016, provide an update on our work on the United Nations Security Council, and talk about our role in the Pacific.

But first of all, the reason I’m here in Australia.  Tomorrow, I will be in Canberra for the six-monthly consultations with Julie Bishop.

Acknowledgments

• Professor Kishore Mahbubani
• Distinguished guests
• Ladies and gentlemen

Thank you for the opportunity to address you today and to share New Zealand’s perspective on some of the pressing issues facing our region and the world.

Before I begin, I’d like to acknowledge this School’s founder, Lee Kuan Yew, as we approach a year since his passing.

Tena koutou.

I am very glad to welcome you all to New Zealand, and particularly to Wellington, our capital.

A few of you here today, I know, have been here before – and to you I say ‘welcome back’!

However some, even many of you, have not been here before, and I am especially glad to welcome those people – hoping that our small friendly city with its brisk and breezy weather will leave a positive impression on you.

Thanks Ian. It’s a pleasure to join you this afternoon. I know you’re all busy people and it’s great you’ve set aside these two days for this forum.

Your meeting is very timely with the work on the updated New Zealand Health Strategy and the draft Pharmacy Action Plan.

I know this forum will help to build on previous discussions on how to deliver more integrated, innovative pharmacy services with the patient at the centre. 

Overview

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to be at Downstream 2016 this morning.

It’s an exciting and challenging time to be in the energy sector – both in New Zealand and globally.

Technological transformation, changing consumer preferences, a growing international focus on the critical role energy plays in business competitiveness, volatile fossil fuel prices and the need to transition to lower emissions economies all form part of this heady international context.

Good morning

It’s a pleasure to be here this morning to present the opening address at the 2nd Media Technology Pacific conference representing both my Communications and Broadcasting portfolios.

It’s no accident that I hold both those roles. 

After serving as Communications and IT Minister for three years during our previous term it had become clear to me that the space between these areas was shrinking so quickly that to deal with one without the other risked missing the realities of what was occurring in the real world. 

Good morning and thank you very much for inviting me to speak to you today.

This is my first speech in the Revenue portfolio and I am still in the process of getting my head around all that is happening.  Officials have been giving me in-depth briefings and I feel that it is a portfolio in great shape for which I am grateful to my predecessors for their work.

I’m also very aware of, and grateful to you for your valuable contribution in ensuring that our tax system runs as efficiently as we can make it.

Good afternoon.

Thank you Michael and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and Steve and Massey University, for inviting me back to this annual event.

It’s a pleasure to be here again.

Today I want to take you through some of our initiatives through to 2017. I can tell you there is no letup in pace this term – we’ve got a busy policy programme, and there is much to do.

I also want to share with you some of our longer term thinking, particularly with ongoing reform of urban planning and the Government’s finances.

Thank you for your warm welcome.

It is a pleasure to be here today to officially launch the Bariatric Management Innovations Initiative. 

I would like to start by acknowledging those who have developed this initiative – Dr Caz Hales, Lecturer and Researcher, and Lesley Gray, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, both of the University of Otago; and Todd Bishop, General Manager of Essential HelpCare.