Search

Welcome to an event where I promise I will only mention the Rugby World Cup a few times.

We are here today to celebrate another very important national game – and that is Lotto.

Many of you might remember watching that first Lotto draw on 1 August 1987. I certainly do. I brought a ticket and I was pretty excited when I thought I’d won the jackpot.

Instead it turned out I’d won division 5 and got $26, which wasn’t a bad sum of money back in those days.

Good morning. It's great to be here with so many ICT professionals from both the public and private sector.

I have apologies from the Minister of Finance Bill English, who is very interested in this subject and wanted to be here, but unfortunately has commitments in Auckland this morning.

It’s not often that we have the opportunity to get so many Chief Executives, Chief Information Officers, and ICT industry thought leaders in one room together.

Thank you for inviting me to speak at your Conference.  It’s a pleasure to be here in Dunedin.

Before I start, can I congratulate Dave Adamson, the Southland District Council Chief Executive, who has recently received a Queen's Service Medal for services to the New Zealand Fire Service.

Dave has been the local government representative on the National Rural Fire Advisory Committee for 11 years and led the establishment of the Southern Rural Fire Authority.

Good evening and welcome. Can I acknowledge all the dignitaries, local MPs and Mayors, and Fire Service senior staff with us tonight.

It was just over six months ago that many of us gathered in Ferrymead for a similar function, presenting certificates for your efforts after the 4th September last year.

None of us could have imagined that a far greater challenge was ahead.

The events of 22 February were something that you train and prepare for, but at the same time hope you never have to deal with – least of all in your home town.

Good afternoon and welcome to the Beehive.

It’s a real pleasure to host this event here in Parliament today, where we celebrate the achievements of two firefighters who have been recognised with New Zealand Bravery Awards – Mervyn Neil and Peter Hanne.

These awards are announced in April of every year and recognise people who place their own safety or life at risk to help others.

Tēnā koutou katoa, good evening.

Citizenship ceremonies are held regularly around New Zealand, but I think everyone realises that tonight’s event here in Christchurch is something special.

After what has been a hugely difficult and traumatic few months for Christchurch, I hope that tonight will show the commitment and spirit of this great city, and of our newest New Zealanders.

We’re here this evening to acknowledge the work of Firefighters in Canterbury during what so easily could have been a human tragedy.

It’s appropriate that I say a few words on what was a human tragedy, the Pike River Mine disaster.

Tragedies are part of the work a firefighter but nothing can prepare us for an event of this scale, particularly when our own are affected.

Thank you for the invitation to speak this morning.

To acknowledge:

Good morning and thank you for asking me to give the opening address at your conference.

Thank you for inviting me to open your annual conference. It's great to be here in the North.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak at this Special Conference of the Community Gaming Association. 

Hectors World is an innovative New Zealand charity doing great work both here and overseas.  

I think everyone here today is familiar with the tragic events of 5^th April 2008, as Dame Margaret has outlined.  

Kia ora tatou. Thank you for inviting me to Christchurch today to speak to your annual conference. It is good to be here.

Kia ora tatou. Conference organisers, fellow speakers, participants from around the world:

Mai i Maketu ki Tongariro, ngā Pumanawa e waru o Te Arawa, tēnā koutou katoa

Good afternoon, Thank you for inviting me to speak at your conference as the Minister responsible for the Gambling Act and for gambling policy in New Zealand.

It is a pleasure to be here tonight to celebrate a bumper year for the Lotteries Commission which has resulted in a record transfer of funding to the Lottery Grants Board. 

Greetings to you all.  As a relatively new Minister, I am still coming to grips with the complexity of the fire scene in New Zealand.  The diversity within your association's membership i

Thank you for inviting me to be here today.  As you know I am relatively new to the Internal Affairs portfolio of responsibilities, of which fire is one part.  I do have some k

Thank you for your introduction and for the opportunity to speak to you all today.  Licensing trusts have a long history in the hospitality industry.  I look forward to meeting with some

Good evening, tena koutou katoa.

I am very pleased to be here this evening on my first official engagement since becoming the Minister of Internal Affairs.

I am very pleased to be here today to speak at your association’s annual conference.  Any organisation operating for 109 years certainly has an achievement to be proud of, especially when it