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President Dr Hein Stander, members of the ASMS.

It’s great to be here today to address your conference.

The last six weeks have been the busiest of my ministerial career.

There’s been plenty of travel – many of you may be aware that I am trying to get around all the DHBs by Christmas.

Fifteen down - five more to go.

It’s been great reconnecting with old med school classmates and former colleagues.

Get your bingo cards ready…

I attended Auckland med school.

Thank you to Liz Schoff, HiNZ Board Chair, for the invitation to speak to you all today.

This conference has had a 30 percent increase in attendance since last year, which highlights the increasing importance of health informatics and the broader topic of eHealth.

It’s pleasing to see that Clinicians Challenge has attracted a record 79 entries. This shows clinicians recognise the importance of using technology to improve clinical practice and lift outcomes for patients.

Thank you for inviting me to open the New Zealand Blood Service’s new Christchurch Blood Centre.

I am pleased that one of my first acts as the new Minister of Health is to open a facility that will be part of Christchurch’s recovery from the devastation caused by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

The redevelopment of Christchurch remains a priority for the Government. 

In particular, the Government is committed to re-establishing high quality health facilities, such as this new Christchurch Blood Centre. 

Thank you for inviting me to speak with you at this conference.

I am really looking forward to the challenges of the health portfolio.

Prior to politics I worked in general practice and spent a bit of time in EDs earlier in my career.

I’m pleased to be here today to hear your views, and look at how together we can make the best use of resources, people, facilities and funding.

It is vital that patients are at the centre of our health system, and receive the healthcare they need.

Good morning and welcome to the New Zealand Medicines Strategy workshop. I am very pleased to open today’s workshop and to see so many familiar faces in the room.

This day will play a key role in the development of new areas for action under the Medicines Strategy. I would like to acknowledge the work of the Pharmaceutical Society, in particular Richard Townley, and the Ministry of Health in organising this event.

Good morning and welcome. It is a pleasure for me to be here this morning to open and welcome you to this year’s New Zealand Self Medication Industry Conference. This year’s conference will continue to promote self-care as a solution to some of challenges facing the health care system in New Zealand.

I would like to take this opportunity to quickly acknowledge and welcome my fellow speakers here today:

Good morning and thank you for the invitation to open the New Zealand Respiratory Conference for 2014, A breath of hope. I opened this conference two years ago, and I am very pleased to be here again in this 50^th anniversary year of the Asthma Foundation – a great achievement.  This year the conferencewelcomes over 200 attendees from across New Zealand and Australia.

I would like to acknowledge my colleagues, MPs and extend a particular welcome to those who have travelled from overseas for this conference, including: