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I am honoured to bring to you the words of Hon Tariana Turia, who has been representing the Government at the World Health Organisation in Moscow and I believe she may be in a plane right now heading home.

In these times of breaking news, it is indeed exciting to be gathered here today, on such a significant day.

And I am delighted that the students of St Pius the Tenth Primary School and Newlands College have been the ones who are literally helping us shape a new song for our future.

Good morning, and thank you for the invitation to speak today at this year’s forum.

Your theme is ‘What’s Working, What’s Not, What’s New?’ – and they are by any measure, three important questions.

I would like to help you address them here this morning, from my perspective as Associate Minister of Health, responsible for problem gambling.

Thinking about what is new, two things in particular come to mind, though for very different reasons.

I’m delighted that this joint Australian and New Zealand forestry conference is being held in New Zealand, and I’m equally pleased to see the emphasis on the broader Pacific region.

As you know, 2011 is the United Nations’ International Year of Forests, with the theme "Forests for People". This is clearly interwoven into your programme, as shown by your line-up of speakers – so my congratulations to the organisers.

When I opened the first Māori Economic Summit just over two years ago, I made two key points that are as relevant today as they were then.

First, the future we will make for ourselves in Aotearoa – Māori and Pākehā – is one where the citizenship rights guaranteed in Article 3 of the Treaty will have been honoured.

Second, ours is an exciting future; where we will live together as equals, in a socially just partnership, living in a land where we, our children and their children, will all share the benefits of prosperity.

Disability Forum;  Bowen State Building, Wellington
Delivered by Hon Georgina te Heuheu

This is an important day – indeed it marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to removing barriers for disabled people.

The Christchurch earthquake – while a poignant reminder of the fragility of human life – also highlighted how well a small country like ours can rally around to respond to such a catastrophic event.

Fonterra was quickly at the forefront of this response, contributing much-needed drinking water, as well as a very substantial donation to the relief and recovery effort.

As a Cantabrian, I want to personally thank you for that.

I move, That the Television New Zealand Amendment Bill be now read a second time.

 Purpose of the bill

 In brief this bill amends the Television New Zealand Act 2003, in line with this Government’s wish to replace the current TVNZ charter with a less prescriptive list of functions and to leave TVNZ to concentrate on being a successful television broadcaster without the shackle of an unrealistic dual mandate.

My acknowledgments, firstly, to Dr. Yasin El-Husban, Jordanian Minister of Health, in your role as Chair of this session.

In the proverbs of my people, tangata whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand, we have a saying

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi.  Engari taku toa he toa takitini

The essence of its meaning is that success is not the work of one but the work of many.

On August 8th 1915, New Zealand soldiers reached the summit of Chunuk Bair, where we stand today, and saw, for the first time, the waters of the Dardanelles.

Men of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and the Maori Contingent fought bravely in the advance to Chunuk Bair.

Daring night assaults under heavy fire prepared the way for the advance of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade towards the heights.

It was the Wellington Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone, that made the final push as the sun rose on August 8th.

Just before dawn, in the grey mist of the early morning, 96 years ago, the first ANZAC soldiers jumped into the cold waters here at what is now called ANZAC Cove.

Their orders were to seize part of the Sari Bair range behind you.

History records that this endeavour was misconceived and doomed to failure.

Yet from that failure, and the tragic loss of life it caused, was born a legend – the ANZAC legend.

That legend is today the foundation of the unique and inseparable bond between the peoples of Australia and New Zealand.

Today, on the eve of ANZAC Day, we mark the 60^th anniversary of the Battle of Kap’yong. This is part of an unbroken line of ANZAC commitment extending back to ANZAC Cove 96 years ago.  Our national spirit was forged together, most crucially in battle.

As Prime Minister Julia Gillard noted in her address to New Zealand Members of Parliament two months ago:

"Our ties were indelibly forged in hardship and mateship, from Gallipoli and the Somme to Tobruk, Korea and beyond.

Thank you, Martyn ('Bomber' Bradbury), for your introduction.

I was told that the Listener once described you as a political provocateur, a “stinger”, and possibly New Zealand’s most opinionated man. I’ve met quite a few men in my time that might have challenged you for that description so I must admit it was one of the reasons I’ve been looking forward to tonight.

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak at your workshop today.

I’d like to acknowledge my fellow MPs, and members of the judiciary, criminal bar, Government departments, NGOs, and the Law Commission for attending this workshop.

As you’ll be aware, I have decided to retire from politics at the election, so this will be one of the last times I speak to the sexual violence sector.

I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you over the past two-and-a-half years as Minister of Justice.

Today is the first day of the school holidays.

For my nine year old mokopuna, my decision to speak at this conference was perhaps not the positive intervention she considered most appropriate for the first day of her break. There were plenty of other options she thought far more attractive than coming to the Theatrette at Massey University.

Fortunately for her, our life revolves around our whanau, and so there were actually choices that we could make, which were far more appealing.

This is a fantastic initiative which I am so proud to be able to participate in.

There is nothing of greater urgency for our whanau than the call for healthy living. The wellbeing of our whanau is the number one issue for Maraenui; for te Ao Maori; indeed for Aotearoa as a nation.

When I think of ‘number one’ it reminds me of something my mokopuna said to me last Sunday, when our staff and whanau comprised four teams in the Real Women’s duathlon.

Acknowledgments 

•  Debbie Chin, Chief Executive
• Members of the Standards Council
• All those present who have contributed to New Zealand Standards - and especially those who will be receiving awards today

Introduction:  the Canterbury earthquakes and relevance of standards

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you this morning, and to present your annual Meritorious Service Awards. 

Associate Minister of Health, Hon Tariana Turia, reports that new figures show nearly 41,500 more women aged 50 to 69 have taken part in the Government’s free breast cancer screening programme in the 24 months to December 2010 than in the previous period.

“This increase is great news for women’s health. Not only are these women giving themselves the best chance for breast cancer to be found and treated early, but this is a sign women are prioritising their health” said the Associate Minister.

Thank you for inviting me to open your conference, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Driving Innovation and Productivity is the theme of the day, and that drive is also at the centre of the Government’s economic growth agenda.

Today, I want to talk about the value your sector adds to the economy. And I want to talk about what the Government’s doing to keep your businesses driving forward – so collectively, we can have the tradable sector of the economy performing substantially better.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this morning.  It’s always a pleasure to be amongst the people who create the wealth in this community. 

If New Zealand is going to close the income gap with Australia, we’re going to need a lot more of you!

My topic for today is regulation – why it matters, and what the Government is doing about it. 

Te whakamānu i te Pūrongo a Te Paepae Motuhake

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me to the Bradnams East Tamaki Builders Event. I welcome the opportunity to meet local representatives from the sector.

It is impossible to talk about building and construction without talking about the recent devastating earthquake that struck Christchurch, resulting in substantial loss of life, serious harm to people, and severe damage to buildings and property. 

Good morning.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about the topic you’ve given for me: "How can we move beyond the perception that older people are a burden on the health system?".

In this speech I will describe the challenge of health policy not being the over 65s but the over 80s, and then touch on the significant challenge that dementia, will present the public health service.

Good evening. I would like to extend a special welcome to our overseas guests to ‘Windy Wellington’.

I have heard New Zealand described as the ‘Saudi Arabia of wind’. It’s an apt description.

Our long narrow country lies in the middle of the ocean unprotected by other landforms, and across the path of prevailing westerly winds. We are smack bang in the part of the globe referred to by sailors as the ‘Roaring Forties’.

Wind is certainly one natural resource we have in spades.

Good afternoon and thank you to the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce for inviting me back to speak to you this year.

To say that a lot has happened since I spoke to you 12 months ago is something of an understatement.

Throughout 2010, aftershocks from the global financial crisis continued to ripple around the world.