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Good morning. It is my great pleasure to be here with you to officially launch New Zealand’s first Cyber Security Awareness Week.

The week is designed to raise awareness among New Zealanders and small businesses, particularly, of cyber security risks, and the simple steps they can take to protect their personal, financial and business information online.

The internet and e-commerce has become fundamental to the pursuit of commercial, personal, and governmental business.

I want to acknowledge Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare, and Regional Public Health for your initiative in holding this hui today and in particular to mihi to Bridget Robson, as Associate Dean, Māori and Director for your commitment to the kaupapa of primary health care and Peter Gush, Regional Public Health.

I want to thank Principal Andrew Shortcliffe, teachers and staff of Hastings Intermediate, Jeannette Mackenzie, the Chair of the Board of Trustees and board members; parents and members from the community, and of course the wonderful children of this school, for the privilege of being once more in your company.

There is a reason I keep returning to your midst and it has a lot to do with what you call the Virtues Project, or the four Cs.

Those fours Cs are :

• Courtesy Commitment Courage Co-operation

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I’m very pleased to be here today as the Associate Minister for Primary Industries, a portfolio of which the seafood industry is of course a very important part.

To acknowledge:

• Chairman of the Seafood Industry Council Dave Sharp
• Board members
• Chief Executive Peter Bodeker

Introduction

This morning I’d like to talk to you about the Government’s focus on economic growth and the contribution that your industry can make.

[delivered by Neil Porteous on behalf of the Minister]

I firstly want to acknowledge Neil Porteous, your Chief Executive; Tricia Fitzgerald, your Chair; Paul Stoneman – the Manager of Workforce Industries – and most of all the Workforce team members; the Elevator Group Board and staff and friends of whānau of all of the employees.

I am delighted to have been invited to launch two new brands – changing the name of Workforce Auckland to the Elevator Group and changing the name of Workforce Industries to Altus Enterprises.

Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I really appreciate this opportunity to address you today.

I thank the organisers, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Dr John Chipman, and our local hosts, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore, for the enormous efforts they have made to ensure the success of this Dialogue.

I was appointed to the New Zealand Defence portfolio towards the end of last year and this is my first Shangri-La Dialogue.

Thank you for your invitation to speak here today. I’d like to acknowledge:

Thank you for your invitation to speak here today. I want to acknowledge the 3,400 New Zealanders who served in Vietnam from 1964 to 1972. On behalf of the New Zealand Government, thank you for your sacrifice and your efforts.

I particularly want to pay tribute to the 37 who died in active service, the 187 who were wounded and many more who suffered long term effects.

Thank you, Dickie Farrar for your words of welcome. It is, indeed, a privilege to be invited to share in this milestone - the transformation of Te Ao Mārama Whānau Ora Collective.

I wish to acknowledge the tangata whenua located within this Whānau Ora region of Te Moana ā Toi: Ngai Tūhoe; Te Whakatōhea; Ngāitai; and Te Whānau-a-Apanui

Setting the scene: Improving results for our people

Tena tatou katoa

It is with the greatest pleasure that I am here today, to celebrate World Smokefree Day and in particular to encourage us all to embrace its theme – “Quit Now. It’s about Whānau”.

I am a firm believer in te hunga wairua. And so last night, as I sat at dinner opposite a smokefree advocate, I heard a story which I knew was meant for us all to hear.

Introduction

• Good evening, and thank you for inviting me here to speak at your Annual Meeting.

• I know we share a common goal in wanting to raise standards and productivity across the construction industry.

• Your own Board Chairman, Bill Smith, is also the Chair of the Building and Construction Sector’s Productivity Partnership. This forum was established as an active partnership between professionals like you, and a government committed to growing the sector.

Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland
31 May 2012

I would like start by congratulating the award winners from last night. The breadth and imagination in their winning programmes was very significant. We can all learn from the entrants – whether winning or not.  

This morning I've been asked to give you a Ministerial perspective of health and safety. It's something I take very seriously and we all must take very seriously.

Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland

30 May 2012

Can I start by saying how pleased I am to be back to address the Business Leaders' Health and Safety Forum once again. The idea of a health and safety leadership group for Chief Executives was floated back in May 2009 - so to stand in front of you in your third year is a real honour.

It's also exciting as there are some really big initiatives happening in the health and safety sector in terms of investment and strategy.

Good morning everyone and thank you for inviting me along today. This forum is a great opportunity to connect with representatives from the refugee community, and the key people involved in helping refugees settle in New Zealand.

International reputation

New Zealand has a good record in receiving refugees and our nation’s contribution is well recognised internationally.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

It is my pleasure to host the 90th birthday function of the Federation of Graduate Women today.

Special thanks to Helen Hughes for inviting me to host this event.
I would also like to acknowledge your Branch President Joy Dunsheath and Scholarships Officer Dr Sally Hasell; your National President Dr Dorothy Page; Victoria University Chancellor Ian McKinnon and Vice-Chancellor Pat Walsh; and scholarship winners, colleagues, members and supporters, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for the introduction and for inviting me to speak today. Based on the calibre of presenters and the agenda for the next two days, this year’s conference will no doubt provide some challenging and stimulating discussion around competition law, policy and regulation in New Zealand.

I would like to start by explaining the government’s key policy objectives, because these drive the reforms. 

At the broadest level, the government has four key policy objectives for the next three years.

These are:

I move that the Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.  At the appropriate time the Bill will be referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee.

I want to first of all mihi to those visionaries who began the journey of smokefree legislation almost two decades ago.   The Smokefree Environments Act in 1990 was one of the major turning points in New Zealand’s tobacco control history.

Thank you for hosting me again, for what has become my regular post-Budget speech.

Yesterday was Bill English’s fourth Budget and again he has done a remarkable job of managing the Government’s books while continuing to maintain the trust and support of New Zealanders in these difficult times.

I also want to acknowledge the support and constructive involvement of the ACT, United Future and Maori Parties, who are all supporting this Budget, as they have supported the previous three.

Discours au medef (The main French employers federation) paris, 25 mai 2012

Hon Tim Groser, Ministre du Commerce international

C’est enfoncer une porte ouverte que de dire que les gouvernements, partout à travers le monde, cherchent la croissance, et plus particulièrement, une croissance dans des emplois productifs et bien rémunérés.

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

It is a great privilege to be in the company of such distinguished mariners and lovers of the sea.

I would particularly like to acknowledge the work of Captain Bob McKillop and the Navy League in fostering maritime activities for young people through the support of the Sea Cadets.

Today, I would like to outline the Government’s vision for unlocking the economic potential of our vast ocean resources.

Distinguished Guests, including Assistant Secretary of State Dr Esther Brimmer and, our moderator today, Mr Ernie Bower from the Center of Strategic and International Studies.

It gives me great pleasure to be here this afternoon on this important occasion.

Ties between the United States and the Pacific region go back as far as there has been a United States of America.

It seems appropriate that today we should acknowledge the role of the Pacific War in reinforcing and strengthening our relationship.

Just before I start I’d like to congratulate Jeanette Fitzsimons on her Outstanding Contribution award. Jeanette, you’ve played a central part in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, and helped with important work that Governments can build on. This is very well deserved recognition and I’m glad I was here for it.

Jeanette and I obviously have different views on many things, but we do share a strong desire to see Kiwi families and businesses, and the wider economy, benefiting from greater uptake of energy efficiency and renewables.

It’s with great pleasure that I am launching the Northland region aeromagnetic survey data today.

The 2011 survey was a significant investment in the future of Northland by the Government, in partnership with the Far North District Council, the Northland Regional Council and Enterprise Northland.

I’m excited about the value of this investment for the people of Northland, and for New Zealand as a whole.

Good morning and thank you for the invitation to speak today at your national provider forum.

I would like to begin by acknowledging and thanking the Salvation Army’s National Co-ordination Service for organising this event.

I would also like to acknowledge Major Campbell Roberts personally.

I understand that he is to speak later in the programme on social justice and addictions.

This is one of several social policy areas in which he has worked for many years, and I am sure his presentation will be a thoughtful contribution.