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As I was driving into town today I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be great to see a ‘Welcome to Te Kuiti’ sign based on the statement on the inside cover of the Te Kuiti Action Plan.

Just imagine if every bus, every car, every motorbike, every truck that roared into town was greeted by the words; “Welcome to a vibrant, inclusive, unifed community that young people are proud to be part of and contribute to”.

Your Excellencies, the Governor General of New Zealand, the Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand, and Lady Susan Satyanand, members of the Trust Board, Chief Executive Brendan Boyle, Fellows and welcomed guests.

This is a very special event for us all today – to acknowledge and honour the achievements of the twenty-three Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellows, who completed their Fellowships in 2009 and 2010.

I want to firstly acknowledge the presence of

• Heitia Hiha (Ngati Matepu); 
• Her honour the Mayor of Napier, Barbara Arnott; 
• members and tenants of the Napier Community House Trust;
• and the wider community who are so central to this place.

When I opened my diary and saw that I was going to a fifth birthday celebration I had to say I was quite excited.

I was even more pleased when I saw that the celebration was in Ikaroa Rawhiti – specifically the Hawkes Bay. 

Rangitane o Manawatu, tena koutou.
E nga mana o tenei whenua, mihi mai, mihi mai.
Ko te awa o Whanganui tenei e mihi atu
No reira, e nga iwi, e nga reo, tena koutou katoa

I want to acknowledge and pay tribute to
• Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor;
• Manawatu District Mayor Ian McKelvie,
• present and past city councillors and former Mayor Jill White

All of you have played a significant role in supporting this very distinctive development - this wonderful building in front of us.

I am so thrilled to be here, in heartland Nelson, within the warmth of Te Tau Ihu.

And I want to thank the Forum Steering Group – Victory Village, Inspiring Communities and the Families Commission – for making this day possible.

It is wonderful to see you all, and I want to particularly acknowledge the mana whenua; Carl Davidson, the Chief Families Commissioner; my fellow member of parliament, Hon Maryan Street; my former Parliamentary colleague Judy Turner, and all of those here today from my home town of Whanganui!

I want to thank Chris Worsley, your School Principal, and members of the Board of Trustees whom we have been told have been supportive of the programme.

It is, most appropriate, that we are here today, in Maori Language Week, considering the theme of manaakitanga.

Manaakitanga – literally the mana of the people – is a concept which is just as applicable to Computers in Homes as any event in our life, in that it relates to the concept of working together, sharing and learning from one another.

I was delighted to accept the invitation of Di Das from Computers in Homes and your school principal, Philip Benson, and to join with the community of Tui Glen in celebrating this very important event.

It is particularly pleasing to have the support of Te Turuma Koraunui marae, and the representation of Hutt City councilors, Gwen McDonald and Angus Finlayson.

I have to admit to an ulterior motive for coming here today.

It is my first trip to a Dream Centre.

Lately I’ve been having a lot of dreams about flying.

Apparently, according to one interpretation that means I have gained a new and different perspective on life – I have risen above a challenge - bringing with it a sense of exhilaration, a new energy.

Your Excellencies, Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, Governor-General of New Zealand and Lady Susan Satyanand;

The Trustees and staff of Wellington Community Trust; our wonderful community leaders, and their equally remarkable families and friends.

I have the great honour of speaking on behalf of the judging panel.

And before I do so, I want to warmly acknowledge my fellow judges;

Thank you, Martyn ('Bomber' Bradbury), for your introduction.

I was told that the Listener once described you as a political provocateur, a “stinger”, and possibly New Zealand’s most opinionated man. I’ve met quite a few men in my time that might have challenged you for that description so I must admit it was one of the reasons I’ve been looking forward to tonight.

It is with the greatest of pleasure that I greet Nga Tamariki o te Kohu, the children of the mist, here in the inner sanctum of Te Urewera.

It is only fitting that I bring with me the greetings of Nga Wairiki/Ngati Apa from within the Whangaehu Valley to greet your valleys of Ahikereru and Ruatahuna. And from the heights of Ruapehu we greet your sacred mountain, Maungapohatu. From the depths of the Whanganui River we pay our respects to Te Tamāhine-a-Hine-mataroa.

Thank you, Kevin (Haunui) for your kind introduction.

I want to welcome:

• my colleagues, Members of Parliament; Ministers and parliamentary staff;

• Dutch Ambassador; Arie van der Wiel

• the diverse range of voices gathered here today, all of you driven by your commitment to supporting communities to support themselves.

I am delighted to host this event and in doing so, to contribute to the discussion on the rights of vulnerable groups in our society.

Tena koutou katoa

Ki te maunga o Maungawhau, ki te waka o Maahuhu-ki-te-Rangi, ki te iwi o Ngati Whatua me nga mataawaka maha o roto o Tamaki Makaurau. Kei te rere te mihi.

Tena koutou i runga i tenei kaupapa whakahirahira, he kaupapa ataahua.

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

The Mayor of Auckland Council; Len Brown; the Right Honourable Jim Bolger; Naida Glavish; my parliamentary colleagues, both past and present.

Distinguished guests, whanau, and nominees of the New Zealander of the Year Awards.

It gives me great pleasure to be here tonight to recognise all of you as nominees in the New Zealander of the Year Awards 2011.

As Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector I am very proud to support these awards and to acknowledge the incredible difference each of you make in so many different ways.

I often think I have the best job in the world, to be in the company of people who make every day special through their selfless dedication and commitment to their communities.

Delivered by Louise Cole, DIA Regional Manager; on behalf of the Minister

Tena koutou nga mana whenua, nga iwi kainga, Ngati Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Rakaipaaka, Tuhoe Potiki ki Waikaremoana, Ngati Pahauwera; tena koutou katoa. Na koutou te whakaruruhau mo tenei hui.

Your honour the Mayor, Les Probert.

My parliamentary colleague, Chris Tremain.

E nga rangatira whakahaere i te hui, tena koutou.

I acknowledge the significance of this location in the rohe of Ngati Ruanui; and recognise also the peoples of Tangahoe and Pakakohi.

Your honour the Mayor, Ross Dunlop, Trustees of Taranaki E-learning; Graduates, tutors and whanau.

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There is a by-line on the South Taranaki District Council website which brands South Taranaki as being ‘alive with opportunity’.

This week is an absolute demonstration of the veracity of this claim.

(delivered on behalf of Minister Turia by Hannah O'Donnell)

I want to thank Sid Ashton, the Chair of the Board of the Commission and Trevor Garrett, the Chief Executive Officer, for organising today’s forum.

I am genuinely pleased to be invited to speak to your Annual General Meeting for 2010.

Bula Vinaka; Namaste; tena koutou katoa.

Tulou! Tulou! Tulou lava! 

Your Worship, Mayor of Manukau Len Brown

Your Worship, North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams.

There is probably none better than the words of the late Hone Tuwhare to remind us of the purpose for which we are gathered today.

Last year, at the festival of world music and Dance, WOMAD, local Taranaki health providers, Manaaki Oranga in collaboration with local Taranaki weavers, Maata Wharehoka and Edith Tito, showcased t

a wonderful synergy of fate, today while we gather to launch this very significant strategy, some of our most outstanding young people are gathering at parliament for the Aspiring Leaders Forum.

There are many reasons why Maraenui is the perfect location in which to celebrate the strength of community spirit and collective will.