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There are many reasons why I am so pleased to be with you tonight.

First and foremost it is a great pleasure to have watched the progress of the New Zealand Disability Support Network since I officially launched it four years ago in 2010.

I launched the network having been in the job of Minister of Disability Issues just one short but frenetic year.  

I am so glad to be able to join with you today in celebrating the success of the Disability Action Plan and your commitment to take it further.  

Ever since my valedictory speech last Thursday, I have been even more aware of the significance of certain achievements and experiences I have gathered during my eighteen years in Parliament.   It is absolutely clear to me that the progress that I have watched so keenly in the disability sector has been one of those ‘stand-out’ moments for me of my time here.

Tēnā koutou. Ka mihi au ki te kaupapa o Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. He taonga motuhake tēnei nō tātau, nō te motu. Kia kaha tātau ki te ako i te kupu o te wiki. Kia ora.

My acknowledgments firstly to:

I am so very pleased to have the opportunity to join you again.  

Thank you, Henare Mason and Ngāti Whatua, for the warmth of your welcome to us all.

I congratulate the Deputy Commissioner Disability, Rose Wall and the Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill for this excellent initiative. From the look of your programme there are some fabulous features of this day ahead.

Ka nui te mihi rawa atu ki a koutou kua tae mai nei ki te tautoko i te kaupapa o te hunga hauā.  Tēnā koutou.

I am really pleased to be here at this breakfast this year to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.  

And I want to mihi to all our parliamentary colleagues.  It is so wonderful to see that you have all come today because this is such a significant issue and one that we should be really aware of to understand and to be sure that we progress the issues on behalf of people living with autism.

Disability Commissioner, Paul Gibson - Your President, Shelley Waters, National Executive Officer, Zandra Vaccarino,  members and supporters of the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association.

My parliamentary colleagues, distinguished guests, friends, family and people with Down Syndrome.

When I think about the ritual of high tea images of tiered cake stands - fine-bone china, dainty sandwiches, lace doilies and fancy pastries come to mind.

But the other day I read a quote about a simple cup of tea - and I just have to share it:

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.

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.  

I am delighted to welcome here today, to your House - our Special Olympic graduates, your friends, supporters, sponsors and of course your families who make it all possible.

I want to thank Ian McKelvie, MP for Rangitikei; and the Chairperson of Special Olympics for the honour of addressing you at this very important event.

I acknowledge two very important people with us today - Kathy Gibson, your Chief Executive and Grant Quinn, the Founder of Special Olympics New Zealand.

I want to thank Cindy Johns, your National Manager and Hamish Taverner, your National Chairperson for the opportunity to speak at this event. I also thank Lee Rutene for opening this event.

I can’t help but think that flying free like the butterfly is a wonderful image for your logo. For 30 years you have been speaking up and giving voice to the voiceless to say what was important to disabled people.

It is with great pleasure that I follow in the footsteps of your esteemed life member, Robert Martin, in this very important milestone event.

I want to acknowledge the importance of the Disabled Persons Assembly who for over thirty years have been working to promote the wellbeing of disabled people in New Zealand.

I want to congratulate and commend Bev Grammer the President, Brendon Murray the President Elect and the ever-energetic Rachel Nobel who is doubling as both our MC and of course the Chief Executive of DPA; for hosting this event today.

Ka rere atu nga mihi ki te hau kainga, te tangata whenua, tena koutou katoa. 

Ki aku hoa, Te Kahui Tumuaki - ki a koe e Kimiora, tae noa ki a koutou katoa kua tae mai i nga kokona e wha o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

I want to thank Dr Nigel Christie - your General Manager and Trenton Martin - your cultural advisor for the opportunity to be with you today - and to share some time thinking about the difference you make in working alongside the families whom you support.

And it is great that at this conference you have been able to bring together clients, support workers, board members and staff of Te Hauora Pou Heretanga to focus on how to achieve your mission - To Value Wellbeing.

This is such a wonderful occasion to come together, to celebrate a new era; an era in which the language of the hands is being recognised as the key to communication and opportunity.

I want to firstly acknowledge our Human Rights Commissioner for Disability Issues; Paul Gibson; who is such a bold advocate; a passionate champion for people with disabilities.

Rau rangatira ma e tau mai nei ki tenei hui, nau mai whakatau mai ki Te Whare Paremata. I would like to acknowledge our MC for this evening, Sally Wenley for doing a sterling job running our hui tonight. Tena koe Sally. I would also like to acknowledge Disability Rights Commissioner Paul Gibson, Ombudsman Dame Beverley Wakem, Chair of the Convention Coalition of Disabled Peoples’ Organisations, Rachel Noble and the authors of this media report, Pam MacNeill and Chris Ford.

My parliamentary colleagues; Paul Gibson our Disability Commissioner; Riripeti Paine, the Chair of Parents of Vision Impaired; Paul Manning, your Executive Officer; family, friends and tamariki/mokopuna.

Once upon a time…those magical words have captivated our children and given joy to both storyteller and listener for ever and a day.

E te iwi e tau mai nei mo tenei huihuinga, tena koutou. Ngati Ranginui iwi, Ngai Tamarawaho hapu, nga kaumatua me nga kuia, tae atu ki te hunga rangatahi, koutou katoa nga uri o Tamatea Pokai Whenua e whakatuwhera nei i to koutou marae mo tenei hui, tena hoki koutou katoa.

What a great day this is to come together to share the work of Maori providers of disability services. I always look forward to these hui taumata and would like to acknowledge Te Piringa for bringing us together once again with a great theme for this year – Kia piri ai tatou. I agree!

E te iwi o Ōtautahi kua pāngia nei e te āhuatanga o te rū whenua, kua whai huarahi anō hei oranga mā koutou i tēnei wā taumaha, tēnei te mihi ki a koutou katoa.

Thank you for inviting me here today to the opening of your new premises.

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

His Excellency, The Governor- General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, tena koe. Paul Gibson, Commissioner for Disability Issues - tena hoki koe.

Tena koutou katoa. Ki te mana whenua, ara ki a Ngati Whatua, tena ra koutou katoa.

I am delighted to open this International Initiative for Disability Leadership Network meeting. I want to thank Fran Silvestri, President and Chief Executive for the honour in being asked to join you at this forum.

It is my very great pleasure to welcome to Aotearoa, international leaders who are making a difference for disabled persons and their families right across the globe.

I want to thank Helen Melrose, your chairperson - and Chris Higgins, your chief executive for the invitation to visit these wonderful accessible premises - premises by which I predict the Muscular Dystrophy Association will be known by.

The open plan environment - the spacious floor area- the bright atmosphere will soon become the benchmark, I hope, for accessible buildings.

It is a living demonstration of the campaign that you have promoted as an association, ‘Living life with less boundaries.’

I want to firstly acknowledge our impressive MCs - Ruth Jones, Kanohi ki te Kanohi Consultancy and Duncan Armstrong, from People First. There are also some key movers and shakers who should be recognised upfront on this important day:

• Paul Gibson, our Disability Rights Commissioner
• Dame Beverley Wakem, Ombudsman
• and Rachel Noble, Chair, Convention Coalition of Disabled People’s Organisations.

I was delighted to receive the invitation from David Matthews, your Chief Executive; and Kim Willetts, your National President to attend ‘the Gathering’ with I was told over 150 people from right across the disability sector.

The concept of the Gathering has a particularly unique meaning for Aotearoa.