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Good morning ladies and gentlemen — it is a pleasure to be here. 

Our abundance of energy and minerals resources provides us with unique opportunities to build the New Zealand economy. 

Over the past three years the Government has made significant changes to how the sector is regulated.

We’ve done the groundwork necessary to attract investment and build our collective understanding of New Zealand’s potential. 

Thank you so much for inviting me here to Te Pūtahitanga o Te Wai Pounamu’s first Hothouse weekend.  And thank you to our fine MCs, Rā Dallas and Sheree Waitoa, for making us all so welcome.

I have to admit that ever since your launch in July, I have talked about little else than the fresh new face of innovation that Te Pūtahitanga o Te Wai Pounamu represents. And so I want to firstly mihi to your Chair, Norm Dewes and the Board, to Lisa Tumahai, the Chair of Te Taumata and your dedicated staff.  

I want to acknowledge Dr George Laking, your Chair and Te Rina Moke, your Chief Executive Officer for the opportunity to be here with you all.

I have been greatly looking forward to this hui – to celebrate our medical graduates, medical fellows, medical practitioners, health workers and health professionals.

By virtue of the career you have chosen you have opted for a life of passion, a life of selfless commitment to the greater good – the wellbeing of the people.   It is good to be in your company.

My thanks to BECA and IPENZ for the organising of this event, and the opportunity as Minister for Building and Construction to update progress on the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and to announce significant proposed changes to the regulation of professional engineering in New Zealand.

The timing is appropriate as it is the fourth anniversary today of the first of the series of earthquakes to hit this city.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, Ngai Tahu,  tēnā koutou katoa.

E ngā iwi e huihui nei i tēnei rā, tēnā hoki koutou.

This is such an amazing complex. 

I always love coming here – the beauty, the majesty, the awesome feeling of being in this wharenui.  I always think of the late great Monte Ohia and his passion for mātauranga Māori. 

Ua tū lafoga nei le tupe, ua fa’aifo foi le lupe, ma ua totō i upega, auā le paia ma le mamalu lea ua afifio i sui o Samoa, Siamani, Niu Sila fa’apea le mamalu potopoto.

A o le a’so, ua o tatou fesilafai ai nei i manū, ae le o le toto masa’a aua “e gase toa, ae ola pule.”

Introduction

Good morning everyone.   It’s a pleasure to be here for the 2014 AusIMM New Zealand Annual Conference – my second since becoming Energy and Resources Minister.

The minerals industry plays a major role in New Zealand’s economy, contributing more than $1 billion to our GDP, producing vital inputs for industry, and adding significantly to our exports.

Tūhoe whenua
Tūhoe tangata
Te mana motuhake o Tūhoe
Mihi mai, whakatau mai

(Tūhoe land
Tūhoe people
The special mana of Tūhoe
Greet(us) Welcome (us))

Te reo Maori has many wonderful sayings, for example:

"Whaia te iti kahurangi
ki te tuohu koe
Me he maunga teitei"

Translated, I believe it means:

"Persue the treasures of your heart
If you should stoop let it be to a lofty mountain."

Good afternoon.

I’d like to thank you for the invitation to be a part of the Midwinter Dialogues series here at the University of Otago in Christchurch.

It has been three years since I last spoke to you all, and much has happened since then.  In 2011, the Christchurch rebuild was forefront in our minds. 

Once more, I want to thank the health professionals and students in this room for your leadership and hard work during such a challenging time.  And the challenges are still ongoing.

Good Morning.

It is a pleasure to be here in Auckland this morning to launch this exciting new primary healthcare service. STAR (Specialist Treatment and Rehabilitation) demonstrates innovation that will deliver specialised health services for patients with chronic and long term conditions.

I would like to acknowledge:

Good evening, and welcome to Premier House.

It is a pleasure to be here to launch the Women’s Health Research Centre Trust.

This is a great opportunity to discuss the opportunities and challenges of women’s health in New Zealand, and to acknowledge the work of the Women’s Health Research Centre in meeting these challenges.

Acknowledgements

Tēnā koutou e te mana whenua o tēnei rohe, Tainui waka, Waikato iwi,  e Te Whare o Te Kāhui Ariki, ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa.

Tēnā hoki koutou e ngā tāngata o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. He mihi hoki ki te reo whakamoemiti i tenei ata, nā reira e te minita, tēnā koe.

Thank you to Fa’amatuainu Tino Pereira for introducing me - and to Leaupepe Peta Karalus, the Chief Executive of K’aute Pasifika Trust.

Wellington’s landmark Dominion Museum Building will be home to a temporary First World War commemorative museum exhibition, developed by Sir Peter Jackson, from April 2015 and through the duration of the centenary period.

The Commemorative Exhibition was announced today by Prime Minister John Key and Sir Peter, who is leading the creative team currently developing the exhibition.

It’s fantastic to be here this evening to celebrate the best of thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.

I want to extend my congratulations to all the finalists, and award winners tonight.

We’ve seen some fantastic performances from our horsemen, horsewomen, and your horses.

This includes: Dundeel in the top 20 world rankings; Silent Achiever and Rising Romance winning several top races in Australia; and Vespa, the tough two year old, trained by Jono in my home patch of Otaki winning the Karaka Million.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā koutou katoa,

Tēnei te mihi ki a koutou katoa ngā mana whenua o tēnei whenua me ngā rangatira o Te Tari o Te Ariki o Ngāti Tūwharetoa hoki, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa.

I acknowledge the iwi of Tūwharetoa, who have upheld the sacred expression of kaitiakitanga over your special landing places.

I am so pleased to be here with the Māori Reference Group of the Taskforce for Action on Family Violence and to be gathered in this place, to recognise such a significant – indeed a historic milestone.

There are many reasons why I am so pleased to be with you tonight.

First and foremost it is a great pleasure to have watched the progress of the New Zealand Disability Support Network since I officially launched it four years ago in 2010.

I launched the network having been in the job of Minister of Disability Issues just one short but frenetic year.  

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

Good afternoon everyone and thank-you Dennis for inviting me to be here today.

The National Government’s business growth agenda has six streams focusing on the inputs businesses need to succeed and grow: export markets, capital markets, innovation, skilled and safe workplaces, natural resources and infrastructure.

There are more than 350 BGA actions, of which more than half are complete or being implemented.

Today I want to say a few words about my portfolio, and on some of the big challenges and opportunities facing your industry.

The horticulture industry plays a major role in New Zealand’s economic growth, contributing $6.7b to the economy in the year to June 2013 and making up around 8 percent of New Zealand’s total merchandise exports.

Horticultural exports have more than doubled since 2000, to $3.6 billion in 2013, and are forecasted to surpass $4 billion in 2016, a major milestone for the sector.

Kia ora hei hui tātou katoa.

Can I acknowledge Gary Taylor and the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) for the first class discussion and engagement that goes with these annual EDS conferences.

It is a pleasure for me to be here to speak at the opening of Nikau House. This is an exciting time for you all, a new beginning and I’m glad to be able to share this with you.

I commend the management of Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital for the decision to invest in the future of your facility, thereby future-proofing the care that your residents will receive.

I am so glad to be able to join with you today in celebrating the success of the Disability Action Plan and your commitment to take it further.  

Ever since my valedictory speech last Thursday, I have been even more aware of the significance of certain achievements and experiences I have gathered during my eighteen years in Parliament.   It is absolutely clear to me that the progress that I have watched so keenly in the disability sector has been one of those ‘stand-out’ moments for me of my time here.

It’s great to be here tonight to launch this report on the economic contribution wine makes to New Zealand.

I believe it’s really important to celebrate your success as growers, producers and exporters. 

The wider primary industries are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, making up around 73% of all our exports. Viticulture is an important part of that and this report shows us just how far you’ve come.

I move, that this House recognise that on the 4^th of August 2014, we will mark the centenary of New Zealand entering the First World War.

A few hours after the declaration of war by the British Empire, of which New Zealand was a part, the Governor of New Zealand Lord Liverpool told a crowd of thousands outside Parliament that New Zealand was at war with Germany.

The New Zealand government’s offer to send an expeditionary force – a move endorsed by this Parliament – was hugely significant.

Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to address you all tonight.

Following some challenging years, there are strong indications of improved results for many companies in the sector this year.

This resilience is a reflection of the hard work of people throughout the red meat sector.

The meat and wool sectors make up 21 percent of total primary sector export revenue at an estimated export value of $8 billion for the year ending 30 June 2014, which is a record.