Displaying 1 - 24 of 70 results.

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. 

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Small Business

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.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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. 

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

 

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.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Customs

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:

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Small Business

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.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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. 

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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. 

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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 110th 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.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Land Information

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.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

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? 

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Small Business

Acknowledgements

  • Blair Cranston, President, Registered Master Builders Federation
  • WarwickQuinn, Chief Executive, Registered Master Builders Federation
  • All the companies who have sponsored awards, and all those who are here tonight to receive them.

Introduction

I am delighted to celebrate with you the 20th successful year of the Registered Master Builders House of the Year and Commercial Project Awards.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

Acknowledgements 

  • Alex Cutler, Chief Executive,  New Zealand Green Building Council
  • Pieter Burghout, Chief Executive, BRANZ
  • Nick Collins, General Manager, Beacon Pathway Ltd

Introduction

Thank you for the invitation to launch the Homestar residential rating tool. 

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

Acknowledgements:

  • Bob Taylor, Executive Director, Fire Protection Association of New Zealand
  • Ross Aitken, Vice President, Fire Protection Association of New Zealand
  • Mike Hall, National Commander, New Zealand Fire Service
  • Mitchell Brown, Master of Ceremonies

Introduction:

Thank you for inviting me to open your annual conference.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

Introduction

Good morning and welcome. It’s great to be back in Otara this morning for the opening of this Simple House.

Last time I was here, in March, I was driving a bob cat and turning the first sod. Many of you here today will have been at that event and I’m sure you’ll agree it’s great to be able to see, and walk around, the finished house.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

 

Acknowledgements

  • Mike Fox,  Chair of Master Builders
  • WarwickQuinn, CEO of Master Builders
  • Ruma Karaitiana, CEO of BCITO
  • Brent Waldron, CE, Carters

 

Thank you for inviting me to present the awards tonight.  It gives me the opportunity to congratulate Master Builders on their organisation of this competition.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction

Good morning everybody – it is my pleasure to be here this morning to open SmartGate at Christchurch Airport. This technology will improve the travel experience for millions of New Zealanders and Australians.

In fact in the last year, more than 2 million Australian and New Zealanders crossed the Tasman. In the year ended last August 530,000 New Zealand and Australian passport holders arrived at Christchurch Airport.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Customs

Over the last 170 years Customs has played a vital role in securing our borders and keeping New Zealand, and New Zealanders safe.

Customs also plays a significant role in New Zealand's global trade – making sure goods that enter New Zealand do so in accordance with our laws and that our exports do not pose a threat to other countries.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Customs

 

Acknowledgements:

Roseanne Meo, Chairperson of the Real Estate Industry of New Zealand

David Rankin, Director of the Real Estate Industry of New Zealand

Introduction:

Thank you for inviting me to address this seminar.

First, I would like to take the opportunity to express my deep sympathy for those people who have lost their home, business, church or community facility in the recent earthquake.

  • Maurice Williamson
  • Building and Construction