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A leading health organisation devoted to improving the health of Pasifika peoples has been selected to establish a Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency, that will be known as Pasifika Futures announced Minister for Whanau Ora Tariana Turia and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Peseta Sam Lotu-liga today.

Ni sa bula vinaka, Talofa lava, Kia orana, Taloha ni, Malo e lelei, Fakalofa lahi atu, Talofa, Tena koutou katoa.  

Thank you Reverend Uesifili Unasa for the opening prayer and helping to set the scene for such an important fono.  

As we gather here today, at this national conference in Growing Pacific solutions, I want to acknowledge some of the shakers and movers who have helped to shape the agenda of these two days, including:  

Associate Minister of Health Tariana Turia has praised a group of smokers who are trying to quit the habit with the use of nicotine replacement therapy.

The University of Otago Wellington nicotine replace therapy trial has been underway for a month at Queensgate mall in Lower Hutt and has seen 256 smokers trial the product. The trial offers smokers the chance to sample a range of nicotine replacement therapies under the guidance of an expert coach at shopping malls and other public spaces.

E nga mana, e nga reo, tena koutou. Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Raukawa, Te Atiawa, tena koutou katoa.

Tena hoki koutou nga whanaunga aku tuakana o te puku o te wheke ara o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa.

E nga kaiwhakahaere o tenei hui, tena hoki koutou.

I want to acknowledge the nations that you call home and the birth waters of the Pacific Ocean that is the umbilical cord that connects us and creates our whakapapa ties.

It is a particular honour for us all to have the Niue High Commissioner her Excellency, Mrs O’Love Jacobson with us tonight.

Minister for Whanau Ora Tariana Turia has congratulated the Taumarunui Community Kokiri Trust for its delivery of Whanau Ora initiatives. The Taumarunui Community Kokiri Trust has just celebrated 25 years of service to the community. The organisation has been operating since 1989 delivering a range of services with a focus on the holistic development and wellbeing of whanau, hapu and iwi including an early childhood centre, smoking cessation, aged care, mental health and tamariki ora.

[Delivered by George Ngatai, on her behalf, as a result of travel disruptions]

Tena koutou katoa

Ka mihi atu au ki te tangata whenua, te hau kainga, nau te reo i karanga mai ki a matou, i mihi mai ki a matou tenei ope.

Ki te ope kua huihui mai i te ra nei, mo tenei hui whakahirahira – tena koutou, tena koutou, aa tena tatou katoa.

I want to thank

· Geraint Martin – the Chief Executive of Counties Manukau District Health Board,

Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia has congratulated Attitude Pictures who have been awarded the online broadcast rights for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Attitude Pictures is collaborating with NZ On Air, ACC and TVNZ to make coverage of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games possible.

“Attitude Pictures has continually produced high quality television. Programmes made by the disability community about issues that are important to them,” says Minister Turia.

Mr Speaker, I move, that the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.  I nominate the Health Select Committee to consider the Bill. 

It is a great honour to be in the presence of our Governor General, His Excellency Lieutenant General the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae.

I acknowledge our kaumatua Te Ariki Morehu, Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru and Des Ripia and thank you for the guidance you bring to this hui.

Our distinguished manuhiri, Dr Eduardo Duran, Associate Professor Jacque Gray, Professor Judi Atkinson, Mr Normand D’Aragon.

Our wise and wonderful scholars and philosophers including Moana Jackson, Moe Milne, Associate Professor Luamanuvao Winnie Laban and Dr Keri Lawson-Te Aho.

The Government today announced the first seven groups selected for the expansion of the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative.

The joint initiative between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Tertiary Education Commission was announced in Budget 2013 and provides $43 million in funding over four years to encourage Māori and Pasifika people aged 18 to 34 to gain qualifications, New Zealand apprenticeships and employment.

Hon Tariana Turia, the Associate Minister of Health has released ‘Wharekauri, Rēkohu, Chatham Islands Health and Social Needs’ at a community hui on the Chatham Islands. The report provides an overview of the health and social needs of the Chatham Islanders and the services that are available to meet them. It identifies gaps in the services and discusses options to address these.

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.