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It is my great pleasure to welcome you all this morning to the Healthy Drug Law Parliamentary Symposium, and to our sponsor, the New Zealand Drug Foundation.

I thank Alison for her warm introduction.

Alison has taken a strong interest on drug issues for some time now, and she and I have spoken on it relatively frequently – I cannot think of a better Chair for this event.

Today we have come from all corners of the world to work together on shifting attitudes and responses to drug issues.

Good morning, it’s great to be here on a beautiful Wellington morning. I’d like to acknowledge Professor Alan Merry, Chair of the Health Quality & Safety Commission. I’d like to also thank the HQSC for hosting us all today.

As you’d expect it is a busy election year. With my Minister of Sport and Recreation hat on I’ve spent part of the Parliamentary recess at the World Masters Games – a pretty interesting and inspiring experience.

"It gives me great pleasure to be here today to welcome you all to this, the first national forum on advance care planning.

I appreciate the opening words of Dr Barry Snow and Leigh Manson and found Kirstin’s story inspiring – a story that has set the scene for the next couple of days.

As many of you know, advance care planning helps people prepare for the future and provides an opportunity to have a say about treatment planning.

"Kia ora koutou and good morning.

Thank you, Brendan for your introduction.

I do appreciate the invitation from Paramedics Australasia to open this year’s annual conference, not only as Associate Health Minister, but also as someone who has a close relationship with the ambulance and emergency services sector, through my primary portfolio responsibility as Minister of Internal Affairs.

Introduction

Thank you Dr Hein Stander for the introduction, it’s great to be here with you today. I’d like to acknowledge all the members of the ASMS.

General overview

Given recent international events, and that this is my final speech to ASMS before next year’s election, it’s appropriate to reflect on a few big picture observations.

We’ve seen some remarkable events and political turbulence around the world in recent months with Brexit in the UK and a divisive election in the US.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says progress continues to be made to reduce the wait time for a colonoscopy, as DHBs prepare for the roll-out of the national bowel screening programme.

“Delivering better cancer services is a priority. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in New Zealand,” says Dr Coleman.

“The latest data shows 3,850 patients received a colonoscopy in August 2016 – that’s an increase of 45 per cent compared to 2,649 colonoscopies carried out in July 2013.

Kia ora tātou, talofa lava and warm greetings to you all. Firstly, my thanks to Mr Mitch Cuevas and the NZSMI for your invitation to attend your annual conference once again. I would like to acknowledge Scott Milne, Executive Director of SMI, and all the distinguished guests here today. It is my pleasure to be able to address you on a few relevant topics to your conference. As a starting point, as with any government, a top priority for us is improving access to health care and delivering better health services.

Introduction

It’s a pleasure to be here to address the New Zealand Aged Care Association conference.

I’d like to acknowledge NZACA chair Simon O’Dowd, chief executive Simon Wallace, as well as the many members of the board of Association.

The theme of your conference ‘The pursuit of excellence, building on our strengths’ is timely. It’s an exciting time to be part of the aged care sector. I encourage you to take this opportunity to discuss and explore ways the sector can evolve to meet future demands.

Introduction

It’s great to be here today to open the New Zealand College of Midwives 14th biennial national conference.

I’d like to acknowledge the New Zealand College of Midwives Auckland region for hosting the conference, as well as the keynote speakers.

Midwifery contribution

The birth of a child is the most important event in life for most Kiwis. There are close to 60,000 new births annually in New Zealand.

Āta mārie, nau mai, haere mai, tēnā koutou katoa.

Good morning everyone and welcome to the final day of The Mental Health Services Conference 2016, or perhaps better known by many, as the Themes (ThMHS) conference. 

My greetings to you the service users, your whānau and families, and the mental health and addictions workforce in the various roles that you provide in delivering these much needed services.

A very warm welcome also to our Australian colleagues and all other international visitors participating in this annual conference. 

Good morning and kiaora koutou.

Thank you, Tony for your introduction.

I was honoured to receive the invitation from the Aeromedical Society of Australasia (ASA) and the College of Air & Surface Transport Nurses (COASTN) to open this year’s annual conference.

A very warm welcome to those visiting from overseas – I understand we have visitors here from Germany, the USA, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and of course a strong Australian contingent.

Good evening.

It is a privilege to be here tonight for this important event, launching Taking Action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: 2016-2019.

I would like to start by thanking you all for joining me here this evening.

The representation in this room is humbling.

It reflects not only how important this issue is, but the willingness across communities, sectors, industries and agencies to work together to make a difference.

Opening

Thanks Tim. It’s a pleasure to be here today.

I would like to acknowledge Dr Tim Malloy, the College’s President and Andrew Connolly from the Medical Council.

Your conference theme, Reflect, Renew, Replenish, is certainly timely given some of the significant developments in the wider health sector over the past year: the refresh of the Health Strategy, the Digital Health Work Programme 2020, the launch of the Pharmacy Action Plan, and new system performance measures.

Introduction

It’s great to be here for the sixth New Zealand Healthcare Congress.

I’d like to thank you all for the work that you do, there’s some impressive stuff happening.

While health systems across the world are facing a range of challenges - an ageing population, tough fiscal times, and while we can do more for patients that creates an affordability issue in itself.

I am delighted to be opening this conference on ‘Regulating Drug Use: Beyond Prohibition and Legalisation’.

I am well aware that I am speaking to a room full of experts of every stripe, who have devoted their careers, in one way or another, to the study of drugs and drug use.

Many of you have been kind enough to let me and my office know your position on various drug issues over the years, and I acknowledge that.

I would like to begin with a warm thank you to Dr Chris Wilkins for inviting me to speak.

In three days’ time, as we catch our trains and board our planes home, the world will ask what was achieved here in New York at this UNGASS meeting.

The question is the most important that could be asked of delegates - what will we have to show for our efforts?

The Outcome Document to be ratified at this meeting is broad, but New Zealand notes with strong regret the failure to achieve consensus on inclusion of reference to the death penalty.

Introduction

It’s great to be here today to open this Health Symposium.

This Symposium, Powering Up Our Future, focuses on building a people-powered, technology-enabled sector.

This is a key part of the updated New Zealand Health Strategy which I am launching today.

Government priority

Delivering better health services is a top priority for the Government. We’ve made health our number one funding priority.

Introduction

Thanks Haemish. It’s a pleasure to be here today to be part of the Association’s 68th Annual Meeting. I’d like to acknowledge Association President Dr Marlene De Maio.

I’d also like to acknowledge the important contribution the Association makes in advancing the knowledge and practice of orthopaedics.

Clinical leadership

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Parliamentary colleagues and visitors to Parliament Buildings.

I am delighted to host this launch of the New Zealand Drug Harm Index 2016.

I would like to begin by acknowledging that funding for this project to reproduce a Drug Harm Index for New Zealand was approved by the Prime Minister from the proceeds of crime.

We published the first drug harm index for New Zealand back in 2008, so it was somewhat timely to revise the methodology used to estimate the harm caused by illegal drugs.

Introduction

Thanks Sharon. It’s great to be here today at the National Rural Health Conference.

I’d like to thank the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network, the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand and the New Zealand Rural Hospital Network for organising this event.

The conference theme ‘Wai Ora – Healthy Environments’ focuses on providing quality primary healthcare services to rural communities.

Thanks Ian. It’s a pleasure to join you this afternoon. I know you’re all busy people and it’s great you’ve set aside these two days for this forum.

Your meeting is very timely with the work on the updated New Zealand Health Strategy and the draft Pharmacy Action Plan.

I know this forum will help to build on previous discussions on how to deliver more integrated, innovative pharmacy services with the patient at the centre. 

Overview

Thank you for your warm welcome.

It is a pleasure to be here today to officially launch the Bariatric Management Innovations Initiative. 

I would like to start by acknowledging those who have developed this initiative – Dr Caz Hales, Lecturer and Researcher, and Lesley Gray, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, both of the University of Otago; and Todd Bishop, General Manager of Essential HelpCare. 

Introduction

Thanks Peter. It’s great to officially open Wellington Southern Community Laboratory.

I want to acknowledge the people here today who’ve played a big role: Virginia Hope, Derek Milne, Debbie Chin, Ashley Bloomfield, and Adri Isbister; Chai Chuah; Dr Bev O’Keefe; Wayne Guppy, Glenda Hughes; and Dr Margaret Wilsher. It’s also great to have Robert Cooke from Healthscope here today.

Integrated laboratory services