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I am delighted to have been invited to address you on a sector that plays an increasingly significant role in our society and which is of particular importance to me.

 The success of the not for profit sector is something that I personally am deeply interested in, so when

I began to think about my remarks today I focused on two questions.

First, why exactly should the Government, through the tax system provide support for the not-for-profit sector? 

Good afternoon everyone, it is a pleasure to be here today.

Ohaaki Wetland is a great example of what can be achieved when a leading energy company like Contact - partners with trusts, government agencies and NGO’s – on a project that has so many environmental, recreational and other benefits.

Like most worthwhile projects – this has taken time to come to fruition. It’s been decades since the idea was first mooted but earthworks only began 2010 and took five months to complete.

Te Raukura – Te Wharewaka o Poneke – Wellington

“Working together to give a voice to whānau experiences”

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

I want to thank Community Research and in particular the tangata whenua committee, for inviting me to this special event today, to launch the Whanau Ora Research Website.

This is the third of three fabulous days that I have had, in which we have been immersed in the spirit of transformation we know to be Whanau Ora.

I’m very pleased to be invited to jointly open this very first six-star Best Home - thank you.

We’re all familiar with the expression “five-star” meaning excellent, top of the line, but you don’t hear “six-star” very often!

This fantastic house, New Zealand’s first under the Best Home trademark, demonstrates that a house earning six stars for its energy efficiency can be built for only about 5 per cent more than the standard cost and certainly not the 20 per cent or so more that people think. 

Te Raukura - Te Wharewaka o Pōneke, Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington

Thursday 22 November 2012; 10am

Tēnā tātou katoa. Talofa lava, kia orana, malo e lelei, fakaalofa lahi atu, bula vinaka, taloha ni, fakatalofa atu, tēnā tātou katoa.

It is great to have you here, Pa Ariki and I want to mihi to Ta Meihana (Durie) for his absolute vision and commitment to Whānau Ora. It is a dream that all of us have had that he was able to make a reality.

AXA Centre, Wellington

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Good evening everyone. Thank you for inviting me to join you in your end of year celebrations. It is a pleasure to be here today and to have the opportunity to address you as the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector.

Today we’re unveiling the Government’s business plan for this development, agreed with the Hobsonville Land Company.

In large part this is a continuation of the work that’s been going on here, and there is certainly no change to the vision of a high-quality, diverse urban community for all New Zealanders.

However, since the cessation of the Gateway programme, there have been questions raised about the role of affordable housing at Hobsonville Point.

Associate Minister of Health Jo Goodhew today officially opened a new Tairawhiti District Health Board facility to enhance access to training and development opportunities.

The facility, which is called Ko Matakerepo – Tairawhiti Health Learning Centre, will focus on programmes for graduate health professionals and provides a dedicated space for training programmes.

“This facility provides an excellent space to develop new ideas, techniques, and ways of collaboration between health professionals across the district and wider,” says Mrs Goodhew.

I move, that the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill be now read a second time.

Mr Speaker, local government is a crucial component of New Zealand’s economy. The 78 local authorities make up 4% of GDP, spend $7.5 billion per year of public money, and manage around $120 billion worth of public assets.

But behind these numbers the simple fact is that most New Zealanders are affected by the decisions and actions of their council on a daily basis, and are certainly affected when they receive their quarterly rates bills.

Novotel Hotel, Tutanekai Street, Rotorua

[Delivered on behalf of the Minister by Te Orohi Paul]

“Kia Takoto Te Manuka” – Is Whānau Ora Working for you?”

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā tini karangatanga ki runga i a koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Te tuatahi. E koro, e te matua, Rawiri Te Whare, kua takahia te ara whānui a Tāne. Haere, haere, haere atu rā e koro, okioki ai ki waenga i ngā matua tipuna.

E te hunga ora, tēnā anō koutou katoa.

Thursday 15 November 2012

Mr Speaker, I move that the Ngati Manuhiri Claims Settlement Bill, be now read for the third time.

Thank you to the New Zealand Forest Owner’s Association for inviting me to launch the Forest Road Engineering Manual. Congratulations for taking the lead in revising this manual.

I would also like to acknowledge Brian Pritchard, chair of the FOA Transportation Committee; Brett Gilmore as the principle editor who I understand has put a huge amount of work into this project; and all those who have contributed.

As everyone in the room tonight knows, forestry is an important industry to New Zealand. It accounts for:

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

Welcome to you all and thank you Mary and Wilf for inviting me here today. I would also like to acknowledge the Hospice New Zealand Board members and in particular extend a warm welcome to all your speakers, some having travelled from overseas to be here.

It hardly needs to be said that it’s a sad comment on our society that a service like Women’s Refuge is needed. 

But needed it is, and what a fantastic job you do. I’m in awe of the level of commitment and the depth of the work you do supporting women and children getting out of terrifying situations, the worst kind of crises. I’m proud that Housing is able to be a part of that.

The corporation worked closely with Te Whari Tiaki Wahine Refuge to find a replacement refuge around the Titahi Bay/Porirua/Whitby areas when it was needed.

Banquet Hall; Parliament, Wellington,
[delivered on her behalf by Skye Kimura]

Tena koutou katoa

I would like to welcome you all here to parliament. We have spent the day reflecting on the journey towards becoming a smoke free nation. Today, we have shared new ideas and fresh stories, we have brought in new perspectives and expertise, and we have recalled the work that each of us has done.

I have been greatly looking forward to this biennial tobacco control conference.

And I want to thank the Health Promotion Agency, and the National Tobacco Control Working Group, for holding us all to account in an issue of such significance.

It is a real pleasure, to also share the stage as we open this conference, with Professor Robert Beaglehole and Ben Youdan who have both contributed enormously to the wider gameplan for tobacco reform.

I can hardly believe the progress we have witnessed since we were last together in November 2010.

Konnichiwa. Good afternoon.

It’s a pleasure to be here at your conference.

I want to thank the members of the Japan New Zealand Business Council – on both sides of the Pacific – for all the good work you do in developing trade relations, and in helping our countries get to know each other even better.

In particular I want to acknowledge Ryu Yano, the Chair of the Japan side of the Council, and Chair of Sumitomo Forestry, who has done so much for New Zealand-Japan relations over many years.

Energy Events Centre, Rotorua

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

Thank you Michelle [A’Court] for the warm introduction. It is a great pleasure to be here addressing a group who are absolutely critical to the future provision of more efficient, better and safer health care.

I am very pleased to be here with you today to open the Community Action Youth and Drugs 2012 National Hui.

West Plaza Hotel, Wellington

“Going Forward”

[delivered on her behalf by Dr Jan Scown]

I want to firstly acknowledge your patron, Rob Hamill; your President, Peter Campbell, your Chief Executive Anne Wilkinson; your board and the membership represented at this forum today, or at home.

I am disappointed that I am unable to be with you at such an important event in your annual calendar.

I had one message in mind.

Firstly, I want to say I agree wholeheartedly with your theme this year - "Looking Forward to Sustainable Growth."

That is very much my focus, and the focus of this Government.

I want to begin today with the Government’s Business Growth Agenda and how important the primary industries are to achieving our ambitious economic growth goals.

Auckland District Court, 65-69 Albert Street, Auckland Central

Good morning and welcome to the official launch of New Zealand's first Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court pilot.

It's great to be here to mark the start of this exciting new initiative.

The AODT Court will have its first sitting in the Waitakere and Auckland District Courts next week.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice for their commitment to getting this pilot off the ground.

Welcome

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to open your 65th annual scientific meeting.

Since your first meeting when Mabel Howard was Minister of Health, there have been another 24 ministers serving on average two and a half years each.

During that time your specialty has changed a lot too… with new ways of treating and caring for patients: Smarter technology, smarter techniques and smarter use of the wider healthcare team. Even your specialty name has changed.

Believe it or not, there are some bonuses to flying into Wellington’s wind, as I do frequently.  It means that I get a bird’s-eye view of the degree of change Wellington City Council’s social housing has made to the cityscape in certain areas.

There are now large areas of Newtown – with Te Ara Hou, Regent Park and Hanson Court apartments, and here in at Central Park, that have been transformed, and the positive changes show, even from the air.