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Thank you Tony (Tony Nowell – Chair of New Zealand Food Innovation Auckland).

Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey, my colleague Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Councillors Arthur Anae and Alf Filipaina, members of the Board of New Zealand Food Innovation Auckland, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s great to be here today to celebrate the opening of this impressive centre.

Fifteen years ago, following the formation of the first National-led coalition under MMP, three members of Parliament were invited by Ngati Hine to Otiria Marae. Each member was presented with a gift. Two of the gifts were weapons of war, one was a waka huia. The three members were Rt Hon Winston Peters, Hon Tau Henare and myself. There is no prize for guessing who received the waka huia.

The kaumatua told me to fill this treasure box with those things I most valued from my Parliamentary life. So, what are they?

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.

Good morning and thank you all for coming along today, many from the other side of the world. It is humbling to look around the room and see so many ‘world class’ Kiwis assembled in one place.

As a small nation we have achieved some incredible things, and when I look at the collective talent represented here today, I’m confident that we can do much more.

Frankly we must do – the world does not owe New Zealand a living.

Community group support

Thank you for the opportunity to address this gathering, and thank you to Nigel Kirkpatrick, chair of EDANZ for your introduction. 

Aviation has always captured the imagination. Even non-aviation people can be excited by warbirds at an airshow, the drama of big jets, or the amazing performance of helicopters.

Good morning.

Thank you for the opportunity to address you.

The Economic Development Agencies are an important part of New Zealand's support for innovation and economic growth.

This government's goal is to deliver greater prosperity, security and opportunities to all New Zealanders through sustainable economic development.

Good evening. Thank you for inviting me here today for the launch of the Institute of Directors' initiative - Fresh Thinking: First Boards. 

Let me start by acknowledging all invited guests, members of the Waikato Aviation Cluster board, and all its associated businesses.

Today is a day of milestones for the Waikato Aviation Cluster, for its associated businesses, and for the Waikato region. 

Mayor Bob Simcock, Councillors, and representatives of key partners to the park - thank you for this invitation to open the new Tetra Pak building.

Thank you for the invitation to open the second annual PRINCE2 Managing Successful Programmes and Office of Government Commerce Gateway project and programme management conference.

Priorities for New Zealand in the current economic environment

Introduction: Weathering the downturn

Good Evening,

Thank you for the invitation to speak to the New Zealand Venture Capital Association.

Firstly can I thank Film NZ for the invitation to speak here this evening.

Can I start by acknowledging the presence of so many influential figures within our screen production industry.