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2014 marks the centenary of World War I, it’s the year of our triennial general elections and it’s the year of the Rio Football World Cup. The topic of this year’s Rotary speech is not about military, political or sporting battles but a little-known battle in our vast forests between pests and our native birds.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Your Excellency, British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell, Sir Jame and Lady Helen McNeish, Sir Roderick and Lady Anna Weir, members of the Trust Board, including chair Rachael Selby, Fellows and guests.

To begin, I would like to thank you your Excellency for hosting us in this beautiful setting.

I became Minister for the Community and Voluntary sector in 2011 and thus began my involvement with and understanding of the Winston Churchill Memorial trust.

Good morning. I hope you all had a good Christmas break and you’re starting 2014 eager and energised.

I know I am.

And I know the Government is, because there are a lot of things to get done this year.

Later in the year there’ll be an election, where I’ll seek the support of New Zealanders to continue the direction this country is going in.