Search

Introduction

I am very pleased to be a part of today’s ceremony for the winners of the Flying Start Business Plan competition.

Latest demographics

As we all know,small businesses are vital to our economy.  They are the life‑blood of New Zealand.  Their success is our success.

As Minister of Statistics, I want to quickly share with you some of the very latest data we have on small businesses. 

Good evening and thank you for inviting me here to speak with you as we toast some of Waikato’s best buildings and building practitioners.

I would like to acknowledge Mayor Julie Hardaker, and Mr Colin Bertram, President of the Waikato Master Builders Association.

I also congratulate all those exceedingly talented professionals who are finalists in this year’s Waikato Registered Master Builders 2011 House of the Year Awards and the RMB Commercial Projects Awards.

Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me here to speak with you today and it is with pleasure I do so.

I know we share some common concerns in regard to increasing quality in the building industry, not just through practitioners but also in ensuring the quality of products used.

Like you, I support practical regulation of the industry through national and consistent application of the New Zealand Building Code and New Zealand standards.

The Canterbury Earthquakes

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me to talk with you today. 

I am sure that for you as for me, the topic at the forefront of your mind is the devastating aftershock that struck Christchurch on 22 February, resulting in substantial loss of life, serious harm to people, and severe damage to buildings and property. 

That event reminds us that New Zealand is susceptible to earthquake and enforces the vital importance of good design, quality construction, and a building controls system that focuses on safeguarding human life.

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me to open your 13th annual conference.

As qualified builders, matters that you’ll have on your mind at the moment are the ongoing economic and business challenges being confronted by the building and construction sector; and the opportunities that will emerge in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes as our second largest city starts to re-build, and in other main centres as the Government takes steps to help owners of leaky homes to get their houses fixed.

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me to speak with you tonight.  I appreciate the opportunity to personally acknowledge the significant contribution so many of you have made in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.

We are all still coming to terms with the fact that one of our largest cities has a devastated CBD, and a population where ‘business as usual’ ended almost four months ago. 

Greetings and thank you for inviting me to speak here today. 

The Government has worked hard this term to maintain forward momentum in the trade sector.

Border services that are not seamless cost industry money and impact on national economies. Evidence shows that inefficient border processes can be a significant barrier to trade.

Introduction

Thank you very much for inviting me to speak here today.

I am always pleased to attend business expos – I can sense the excitement in the air and the potential for great things from small beginnings.

It always amazes me how many vibrant and innovative small businesses we have in this country.

Today I want to give you an idea of:

Greetings and welcome

Today we are here to launch the online component of the Licensed Building Practitioner’s scheme. A component which will make it simple for our professional licensed building practitioners to comply with the requirements of the scheme and keep their details current.

LBPs are essential in bringing a qualified, professional workforce to the building and construction sector and ensuring quality buildings for the future.

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. 

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. 

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge Pieter Burghout, the Chair of the Construction Industry Council, and each of the Chief Executives and senior staff here today from key organisations in the building and construction industry.

Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to attend another of your strategic retreats.

Introduction

Acknowledgements:

Fiona Gavriel, Chief Executive, Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ

Introduction:

Good morning and thank you for inviting me here to speak at the 110^th Annual Conference of the Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Association.

The Association has had a long and colourful history and I applaud the association’s tenacity and determination in protecting the health and safety of the public and the integrity of the trade.

Introduction

Good morning to you all, and thank you for inviting me here to speak at the Association of Local Government Information Management GIS symposium.

Innovation and effective use of technology are areas that I am greatly interested by, and have been involved in one way or another for many years.

Geographic Information Systems have played a foundation role in the evolution of geospatial data. The first GIS systems were being used back when people were unsure of whether the internet would take off.

Acknowledgements

Gordon Buswell, Chief Executive, ITM

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me to speak at your ITM national event, and for providing me with an opportunity to talk with you informally afterwards.

I would especially like to acknowledge those of you who have travelled from Christchurch to be with us today. I appreciate and acknowledge your presence here.

Introduction

I am very pleased to talk to you today about technology.  As you might know, I’m very passionate about it.

The new technology out there right now is astounding.  As Arthur C Clarke said, “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

But are we using it to our full potential?