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Good morning. As Minister Smith has just outlined, we have made a lot of progress over the last few years in improving how we manage our freshwater. But there is more to do.

We are an ambitious Government and we believe we can do better, economically and environmentally.

The consultation document we are releasing today sets out the next steps in this goal, with 23 initiatives.

Good afternoon everyone, it’s great to be with you all at my first Bluegreen conference!

I want to start by first acknowledging my predecessor Tim Groser. 

He’s someone I know our party and in fact all New Zealanders should be immensely proud of, from global leadership in Climate Change and trade, right through to his unique and encyclopedic knowledge of 18th Century Prussian military leaders.

I’d also like to acknowledge my Bluegreen colleagues, many of whom you have or will hear from this weekend. 

INTRODUCTION

Good afternoon.

It is a pleasure to speak with you again, for what I make as my eighth time as Finance Minister.

One of the best parts of my job is the number of public servants and services providers I get to meet.

Overwhelmingly I find we’re all driven by the same thing - getting better results for New Zealanders, and doing our best for the most vulnerable.

Whether it’s social housing, health, education, welfare or justice, the goal is the same.

Introduction

Thanks Peter. It’s great to officially open Wellington Southern Community Laboratory.

I want to acknowledge the people here today who’ve played a big role: Virginia Hope, Derek Milne, Debbie Chin, Ashley Bloomfield, and Adri Isbister; Chai Chuah; Dr Bev O’Keefe; Wayne Guppy, Glenda Hughes; and Dr Margaret Wilsher. It’s also great to have Robert Cooke from Healthscope here today.

Integrated laboratory services

Kia ora tātau, good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you Virginia and Bee Healthy Dental Service for inviting me to open the Selby House dental clinic, I am delighted to be able to join you.

The opening of Selby House marks the completion of the capital development component of the improved model of care for the oral health of children across the Wellington, Kapiti and Hutt Valley regions.

Tena koutou katoa, good morning and thank you for the invitation to speak today at the opening of the Sixth International Gambling Conference.

This is an important event in the national and international gambling calendar and I am pleased to note that it is my first official speaking engagement in New Zealand for 2016.

The theme of the conference is Preventing harm in a shifting gambling environment: Challenges, Policies and Strategies.

Once again, this year the conference is host to a wide range of international delegates.

Honourable Members.

The Government is continuing to implement its plan to build a faster-growing economy with more jobs and rising incomes, and to support New Zealanders and their families.

Over the next year, we have a comprehensive policy agenda, and a substantial legislative programme to put before the House.

Our policy agenda and legislative programme will reflect the Government’s four priorities:

Your Excellency Minister Hoang, Excellencies, distinguished guests, members of the Vietnamese business community, ladies and gentlemen.

It is an honour to be here today. I’ve recently commenced in this role as New Zealand’s Minister of Trade and it is great to have the opportunity to celebrate trade success so early in my tenure.

There are of course two successes to celebrate this morning. Firstly, there is cause to celebrate what has brought us all together in Auckland - the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, set to take place tomorrow.

Good evening.

Thank you for the invitation and opportunity to share some thoughts about New Zealand’s experience in transforming the way we provide government services to our citizens in the digital age.

New Zealand’s digital journey is a story about better public services.

It is about how our government is reshaping our relationships and interactions with our citizens to meet their changing expectations.

The word “journey” implies a known destination.

Tihe mauri ora!

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e rau rangatira mā

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

It’s my great privilege on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand to welcome you to your new home here in New Zealand. 

Each one of you arrives here from different places and different experiences. I cannot begin to imagine the horrors you have experienced and the personal sacrifices you have made to make the journey to New Zealand. Many of you will have left behind family members as well as jobs, friends and a way of life.

Good afternoon. It’s great to see so many of you here today.

I want to start by acknowledging Mayor Len Brown, the Auckland Council and the Chamber of Commerce – all strong advocates for this city.

And I want to thank the Chamber for hosting this event.

Finally, can I acknowledge my ministerial colleagues Steven Joyce and Nikki Kaye. Unfortunately, Transport Minister Simon Bridges cannot be here today as he’s visiting Antarctica.

It’s good to kick off the New Year here in Auckland - New Zealand’s gateway city.

Good morning.  It’s my pleasure to host you in Parliament for this morning’s Block Offer awards for 2015.

It is clear that this has been a challenging year for the sector.  New Zealand has, along with the rest of the world, felt the ramifications of the global commodity price, which has been lower for longer as a result of increased supply and decreased demand.

Good evening,

You are here because we share a common belief – that cyber security is a critical issue for New Zealand.

I want to start out by saying that the Government is as committed to a secure, resilient and prosperous online New Zealand as you are.

And I’m here tonight to announce a step-change in the way we combat cyber threats.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

It’s my pleasure to address this year’s New Zealand Law Foundation awards dinner.

At the risk of offending those I don’t name, I would like to acknowledge some of the dignitaries here this evening:

Mr President,

Let me begin by again conveying my condolences to the victims of the attacks here in Paris, to the people of Paris and the French Republic.

The people of New Zealand stand with you and New Zealand remains committed to global efforts to counter terrorism.

Against that backdrop I would like to acknowledge what a significant moment this is.

Over 150 countries working together to address climate change.

Good morning, thank you for the opportunity to talk with so many of you from your outstanding organisation.

As the words, Habitat, and, Humanity, in your name rightly proclaim, you provide a range of solutions from affordable housing and rental subsidies to budgeting advice and home repair programmes for low income families.

You understand, wherever it’s possible, the importance of keeping the dream of home ownership alive.

To wherever possible help the hardest-pressed people in our society from dependency to independency.

Kia ora tātou!

I am delighted to welcome you all here to the Banquet Hall of Parliament to celebrate the Honourable Dame Tariana Turia, and to launch her biography, as written by Helen Leahy.  It is a mark of the high esteem in which she is held that there are so many of you gathered here – from her school day friends; health workers; treaty activists; politicians right across the House; and everywhere there is whānau.

Acknowledgements

• Linda Grennell, MWDI Chair
• Areta Koopu, Previous Chair
• Teresa Tepania Ashton, CEO
• Rachel Petero, #Rise 2025 Founder
   
• Teresa [Te Pania-Ashton] thank you for the introduction

Key messages:

Ko Hikurangi kei runga

Ko Ōtātara kei raro

Tutaekurī te awa e rere mai nei

Ngāti Paarau hapū

Ngāti Kahungunu iwi

Tēnā koutou katoa

E ngā uri o ngā maunga tiketike o te motu,

E ngā awa, e ngā moana,

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha,

Tēnei te reo maioha e rere hāro nei ki a koutou.

Good morning everyone. It is always a pleasure to attend the New Zealand Racing Board’s AGM and to be with the people who have committed so much to this great industry.

I would like to acknowledge your Chair, Glenda Hughes, and your Chief Executive Officer, John Allen. Thank you for inviting me to speak. John, I’m sure you have found your first eight months at the helm of the New Zealand Racing Board exciting and challenging.

I would also like to acknowledge the chairs and chief executives of the three racing bodies:

Introduction

President Dr Hein Stander, members of the ASMS - thank you for inviting me here today to address your conference.

Clinical engagement

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your contribution to improving health outcomes for New Zealanders.

I know it’s not an easy job, and everyone works extremely hard.

I appreciate your engagement on the most important issues in our health system.

Good morning.

Thank you for inviting me to join you once again. Over the last few years it has always been my great pleasure to come and speak to you. 

Your role as payroll professionals and mine as Revenue Minister have a common interest in the smooth running of the tax system.  If it works well for you, then it’s working for me.

We all use the tax system at one time or another, whether it is paying income tax, child support, paying off a student loan or receiving tax credits, it all goes through the tax system.

It’s great to be here with you again.

First I want to say thank you. We have had an extremely busy year in the tax community. It has been a year of heavy lifting.

In just this year we’ve put out 14 consultation papers on policy, seen the introduction or passing of seven bills, and have been involved in the development of other legislation.

There has also been significant progress on the Business Transformation (BT) front from a tax administration point of view.  

That is huge. 

Raising the potential for digital technology to transform learning in New Zealand schools

Introduction - the Government’s vision for the future of digital education

New Zealand’s education system has long provided the foundation for the social and economic success of our country.  We know that differences in education and skills between countries explain the difference in rates of economic growth more than any other single factor.