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Minister of Whanau Ora Tariana Turia said today that a decision on the commissioning agencies for Whanau Ora will be announced in the new year.

Earlier this year the Minister announced the new model for the future delivery of Whanau Ora which will see the establishment of three Non-Government Organisation (NGOs) commissioning agencies, one based in the North Island, one in the South Island and a Pacific focused agency.

I want to thank Nikora Lanifole and the roopu from Hato Petera who have welcomed us here today who provided a perfect foundation from which to launch this report.

Thank you also to Stevie Davis-Tana, for your fine work in hosting this hui today.

I would like to acknowledge all the dignitaries from your communities tonight. I would also like to mihi to Ben Makisi and to my friend Arthur Anae and to Carmel Sepuloni. To the Director of Health from Fiji, Hilda Fa’asalele and to Cathy O’Malley. Also to the wonderful band.

Thank you to Fuimaono Karl for your warm welcome tonight.   I have to say, I have always liked your style. I am not really known for my style. Style is what tonight is all about.

Associate Minister of Health Tariana Turia announced today that the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Products and Packaging) Amendment Bill has been lodged with the Clerk of the House, ready for a first reading soon after Parliament resumes in the new year.

“I look forward to taking the legislation through its Parliamentary stages in 2014.  That will include a select committee phase and the opportunity for people to make submissions on the bill,” says Minister Turia.

Associate Minister of Housing Tariana Turia today announced the opening of a new infrastructure grant fund for developing Maori land as well as changes to an existing proposal development programme to better support Maori housing initiatives.

“Both programmes are designed to enable the development of social and affordable housing projects on Maori land and to prepare Maori organisations to play a bigger role in providing social and affordable housing for their people,” says Minister Turia.

Associate Minister of Health Tariana Turia is extremely pleased at the 2013 Census results that show that the number of smokers in New Zealand has dropped by nearly a quarter since the 2006 Census. Statistics New Zealand released the results today which also show that smoking prevalence amongst Maori has dropped from 42.2% in 2006 to 32.7% in 2013.

The total number of adults smokers in New Zealand numbers 463,000 representing a drop of 23% from 598,000 at Census 2006. There are now 702,000 people who say they have given up smoking.

I want to thank Dr Debbie Ryan for extending the welcome for me to be here - and acknowledge Hilda Fa’asalele for her kind introduction.

It is a pleasure to be here with you all on the verges of the rippling waters of Te Whanganui-a-Tara.   It was an inspired choice to hold this event at Te Wharewaka o Poneke.

Firstly, we acknowledge the significance of this place, once the harbour frontage of Te Aro Pa, kainga of one of the largest Maori communities in Wellington up until the 1880s.

I want to firstly acknowledge my colleague Mojo Mathers and also Rose Wall, Health and Disability Commissioner, Paul Gibson, Disability Rights Commissioner with the Human Rights Commission and Dame Beverley Wakem, our Ombudsman.

It feels good to be amongst friends. I want to recognise those in this room who have played such a key role in bringing this report to fruition.

I welcome representation from right across the disability community, disability sector organisations, government officials and families and friends.

The Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia says International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an important day for recognising the rights of disabled people and the need to change attitudes and behaviours towards those who live with disability.

Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all is the theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2013.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia today announced terms of reference and timeframes have been set for a review into building access for disabled people.

The review will look at how the Building Act and Building Code’s provisions relating to access for people with disabilities are being implemented when buildings are first constructed or altered.

The Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia has reiterated her call for all public transport companies to review their policies and provide staff training immediately following further reports of incidents of discriminatory treatment of disabled people and those with pushchairs.

“I was very alarmed at news reports that disabled passengers and those with children and pushchairs are experiencing discrimination while trying to board buses in the Hutt Valley and Wellington,” says Minister Turia.

Associate Minister of Health Tariana Turia has congratulated the five recipients of the 2013 John McLeod Scholarships and Te Apa Mareikura Awards held at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington last night.

“These awards recognise the work and absolute commitment by our emerging talent to reduce the disparities that still exist in our community between Maori and non-Maori.  While the recipients have achieved academic success and medical qualifications, they are also grounded in the issues that affect whanau, hapu and iwi,” says Minister Turia.

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga karangatanga maha, tena koutou katoa.

Tenei te mihi ki a koutou katoa nga mana whenua o tenei whenua Tauranga Moana, me nga rangatira o Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga hoki.   Tena koutou, tena tatou katoa.

I acknowledge the iwi of Tauranga Moana, who have upheld the sacred expression of kaitiakitanga over your special landing places.   

I am delighted to say a few words of welcome and of acknowledgment of this very significant day for you all in your study journey.

I want to formally extend a welcome to Gary Banks, the Dean of the Australia New Zealand School of Government  and lecturers on the programme Michael Di Francesco, Zina O’Leary and Claudia Scott. I am also delighted to acknowledge Michael Mintrom, the Course Director of the Executive Master of Public Administration, Tim Wigg and Rosie Colosimo - the programme managers.  

Thank you to Clive Lansink – the National President, Jonathan Godfrey – your vice president – and all the board members of Blind Citizens New Zealand for your invitation to be with you today.

I am delighted to be with you today, to take part in this very exciting conference hosted by Imagine Better and Parent to Parent.

And I take this opportunity to mihi to Lorna Sullivan who has been a leading light, an icon in this field. 

Your organisations have earned a cutting edge reputation for making a tangible difference – a difference that can be seen – in improving the quality of life for disabled people, children and families.  

A Ministry of Health report focusing on health literacy and its relationship to the prevalence of skin infections particularly for Maori children under the age of 15 has identified a number of barriers preventing the effective treatment and management of skin infections. New Zealand has one of the highest rates for childhood skin infections in the western world, with Maori children more than one and a half times more likely than non-Maori to be hospitalised due to skin infections.

A research report released today by the Ministry of Health shows that Maori women experience inequalities in access to maternity care and report lower levels of satisfaction with maternity services than most other women from other ethnic groups. The report Hapu Ora:Well-being in the Early Stages of Life aims to identify research priorities for the life course of Maori with a specific focus on wellbeing at the early stage of life.

More Maori will now have the opportunity to build on ancestral land after the government agreed to changes to the Kainga Whenua Loan and Kainga Whenua Infrastructure Grants this week.

Associate Minister for Housing Tariana Turia says the changes allow a wider group of Maori to access loans and is another important step in advancing housing aspirations for whanau, hapu and Maori land trusts.

Talofa lava.  Malo e lelei.   Fakaalofa lahi atu.   Ni sa bula vinaka.   Kia orana.   Ia Orana.  Taloha ni.   Kia ora tatou katoa.

I mihi to all of you who have come today. Whether you are a public servant or from the community sector - we are of one mind.

I want to thank Dr Virginia Hope - the Joint Chair of Capital and Coast Health and Hutt Valley DHB - and Bob Francis - the Chair of the Wairarapa DHB for the opportunity to be with you today.

When I received the invitation from your Project Director, A’asa Sanerivi to attend this event, I was pleased to accept.  

Wherever I am with Pasefika communities, it feels as if we are riding the crest of a wave.  It is as if the pride, the passion and the potential of being Pasefika is at an all-time high.

I am talking about the coming together of like minds - the spirit of co-operation and collaboration that I am witnessing in so many Pasefika communities, as they determine the best pathways forward, for your people.

The idea of an early morning ceremony derives of course from our traditional, well-loved and time-honoured rituals.

Te Ta i te Kawa – to literally strike the pillars of the house with a branch of leaves – or Te Hiki i te Tapu – the lifting of the tapu – is a sacred process we follow in opening our whare – to free it of restrictions and make the pathway safe for all those who follow.

And so it is entirely appropriate that we launch this new pathway in the new light of the day.

It is with real pleasure that I join you at the opening of the Biennial Oceania hui.  I am pleased to see so many here who are doing such important work in tobacco control.

Your conference theme says it all:  "A Smokefree Oceania: getting there together".

As a region we are making great progress in tobacco control.  I was extremely heartened to hear that the Pacific Health Ministers supported the adoption of the Tobacco-Free Pacific Goal by 2025 at the Tenth Pacific Health Ministers Meeting held in July. 

\I am so happy to be with you today, to celebrate the opening of your new stand-alone office in Porirua.

I want to acknowledge the dignitaries and leaders of our Pasefika communities living here in the greater Wellington region.   I pay my first respects to our officiating minister, Reverend Perema Leasi for your leadership in our hui.

I acknowledge the tautoko of Ngati Toa Rangatira, tena koe e Taku.

Greetings to our newly returned Mayor Nick Leggett, and to local MP Kris Faafoi.