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Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew departs tomorrow on a visit to Washington, DC and New York.  On Wednesday 18 July she will present New Zealand’s seventh report to the United Nations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

“The CEDAW report, prepared every four years, is a ‘report card’ on how well New Zealand women are doing according to international benchmarks,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew is delighted by a recent SuperGold recruitment drive which has seen 2,000 new businesses join the scheme in the past two months.

“This is a fantastic result that has surpassed my expectations. The target I set in May of doubling the size of the programme over the next few years has already been exceeded,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“There are now over 3,600 participating businesses, representing more than 7,900 outlets nationwide, who are offering discounts to older New Zealanders.”

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew today announced a reallocation of funding from the Community Internship Programme to the Support for Volunteering Fund.

“Two of the Government’s priorities for the community and voluntary sector are to build, acknowledge and celebrate the hard work of volunteers and to work with the volunteering sector to lift the support for volunteers,” Mrs Goodhew said.

“This reallocation of funding is a step towards achieving those goals.”

The first purpose-built health facility to be constructed post-earthquake, the new Canterbury DHB outpatients department, was opened today by Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew.

The new department will see 70,000 patients each year and its completion is a significant first step in increasing Christchurch Hospital’s capacity to meet the increased demands placed upon it.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew announced today the members of the newly established Charities Registration Board.

From 1 July, the functions of the former Charities Commission will be undertaken by the Department of Internal Affairs.

“The new Charities Registration Board will be established on 1 July and will make independent decisions on applications from organisations that wish to register for charitable status,” Mrs Goodhew says.

The ministerial responsibility and funding for the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW) is being transferred from Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson to Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew, the two Ministers announced today.

“NACEW is an important advocate for women in the workplace. Since its establishment in 1967, the council has had an instrumental role in influencing changes to legislation and policy to recognise and develop women’s employment in New Zealand,” Ms Wilkinson says.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Thank you very much for inviting me here to speak today.  It’s always great to get out and about and see different parts of the country. 

Thank you Angela for your kind introduction and all of you for the warm welcome.  I would also like to acknowledge Chief Executive Mike Tyrer, the Board and staff of Age Concern Tauranga and invited guests.

Civil Defence Minister Chris Tremain and Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew have responded to concerns raised by volunteers about the challenges they faced providing assistance during the Canterbury earthquakes.

A range of organisations attended a Civil Defence Volunteers Forum in Christchurch, including the Farmy Army, the Student Volunteer Army and the Grace Vineyard Church. Officials from government agencies also attended.

Board members of the new Health Promotion Agency have been announced today by Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew.

“The new agency will be established on 1 July and it will lead and deliver innovative, high quality and cost effective health promotion programmes,” says Mrs Goodhew.

The Health Promotion Agency brings the functions of ALAC, the Health Sponsorship Council and some health promotion work of the Ministry of Health into one agency.

Civil Defence Minister Chris Tremain and Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew have announced they will be hosting a volunteers’ forum in Christchurch on 25 June. This will enable volunteers to discuss the challenges they faced providing assistance during the earthquakes.

“Some volunteers have expressed concern about the way in which they were dealt with by authorities involved in emergency management,” says Mr Tremain.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew is encouraging New Zealanders to celebrate the contribution volunteers make in their communities.

Volunteer Awareness Week is 17-23 June and celebrates all those people who make their communities better and stronger. The theme for Volunteer Awareness Week this year is ‘Building communities through volunteering’.

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

Thank you for inviting me here today for the unveiling of a brand new piece of artwork to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and Papatoetoe’s 150th Anniversary.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew is calling for communities to speak out about elder abuse.

Friday 15 June marks the seventh World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

“Today is about raising awareness so that friends, neighbours, family members and professionals all know the signs to look out for,” says Mrs Goodhew.

The creation of the 25 Percent Group and its commitment to increase the number of women in leadership roles has been applauded by Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew.

“Diversity in leadership is vital for building and sustaining New Zealand’s competitive edge in an increasingly challenging and volatile global market,” Mrs Goodhew said.

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.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says the Government will carefully consider the Human Rights Commission’s report on their inquiry into equal employment opportunities in aged care.

The report focuses on the terms and conditions of employment of the thousands of workers who provide care for older people in New Zealand, as well as the quality of aged care generally.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew today announced a new goal to double the number of businesses in the SuperGold scheme to 3,000 by the end of 2014.

“We have seen good progress with 100 new businesses joining the scheme in the last few months and I’m ambitious to see it expand further,” said Mrs Goodhew.

“The ability for cardholders to access discounts when visiting in Australia has been well received. Queensland Rail has also recently come on board offering up to a 15 per cent discount for SuperGold Card holders.”

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says the Government’s serious about improving the health care which older people receive at home and in the community.

Today Mrs Goodhew told attendees at the opening of the Better At Home Expo today in Tauranga that changes stemming from a review of services should be in place by July next year.

“My aim is to assist in building a society where older people are included and have access to quality services that maintain and build on their health and wellbeing,” she said.

Thank you for inviting me to dine with you and to speak this evening, it is a pleasure to be back with you on the mainland. 

I’d firstly like to acknowledge Roy and your board members for the work they do for your organisation.  I’d like to also like to thank all of you here representing your communities for the advocacy work you do on behalf of older New Zealanders.

Sexual violence can have widespread and long-lasting adverse effects on health, relationships, employment and the well-being of our families and communities says Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew.

“For some women, these effects begin in childhood or adolescence and continue throughout their lives.”

Rape Awareness Week is May 1-7 and this year’s theme “Consent is Sexy” aims to engage young people in discussions on preventing sexual violence.

More local Mid Canterbury people suffering from dementia will be cared for in their local community following an extension and refurbishment to an aged care hospital unit officially opened today by Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew.

“This community investment adds another 10 bed dementia unit to the existing 12 psychogeriatric and 15 long stay hospital beds already in the Tuarangi resthome and hospital,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“We are living longer and sadly that also means that the number of older New Zealanders with dementia is increasing.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew visited a Wellington Plunket playgroup today, one of many community events occurring across the country to mark Immunisation Week.

“I want to thank Plunket providers for their support for immunisation. Parents tell us that one of the biggest factors in their decision to immunise their child is the conversation that they have with trusted health professionals about vaccination. Plunket nurses and WellChild/Tamariki Ora providers play a key role in that,” Mrs Goodhew says.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew is today visiting a new Canterbury DHB service aiming to keep older Cantabrians well at home and spending less time in hospital.

CREST (Community Rehabilitation, Enablement and Support Team) had already been planned by the DHB but was launched under urgency in April 2011 to assist with pressure from the loss of 106 hospital and 635 aged residential care beds damaged in the February earthquake.

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew is seeing first-hand today the work being done in the fight against health care-acquired infections.

A national programme is being run by the Health Quality and Safety Commission to reduce central line blood-stream infections as part of its focus on infection prevention and control. These infections can lead to longer hospital stays and associated costs.