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Tonight’s event is one of the best demonstrations possible of farmers caring for their land and wanting to leave it in a better state for future generations.

It’s an event I’m proud to support and champion loudly to as many New Zealanders as possible.

This year has seen tensions rise between farmers and your critics and this is likely to continue as we get closer to the election. Tonight I want to say a few words about how we can tackle this divide and tell our story.

It’s great to be here tonight celebrating two important milestones for the Orange Roughy fishery.

The first is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for several key orange roughy fisheries, and secondly to launch the book ‘Roughy on the Rise’ by Tim Pankhurst.

MSC certification is a great success and recognition for a fishery that was in real trouble in the early 1990s.

Thank you for the invitation to speak at today's forum in the great city of Brussels. What a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas on the role agriculture plays in global sustainability.

It was a pleasure to hear from the previous speaker, Kofi Annan, given the wealth his experience brings to the conversation. I also look forward to hearing from my fellow speakers in the panel discussion on this vital issue. 

Mr Chairman – thank you for this opportunity and for Peru’s excellent hosting of this important event.

New Zealand has a formidable delegation here of business and Government representatives.

As a small economy in the South Pacific, engaging with the other 20 APEC economies is vitally important for us.

We take our role very seriously, and see it as an opportunity to engage and influence food security policies.

Introduction

Thank you for the invitation to be here today in the great state of Nebraska and to say a few words.

It’s very appropriate that we should be holding the 100th anniversary conference of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in a state where agriculture is so important, just as it is in my country of New Zealand. As a farmer myself, it makes me feel right at home.

This is my third visit to the USA in the last 12 months.

As you know, I’ve always said that biosecurity is my number one priority as Minister.

That’s because it underpins all of our other goals. We want to double the value of our primary sector exports by 2025, but we can’t do that unless we protect ourselves from pests and diseases.

Today I want to give a bit of context on what we’ve achieved over the last few years, the challenges ahead of us, and the importance of all sectors working together.

What we’ve done in recent years

Da jia hao

I would like to begin by saying how great it is to be back in China on my fourth visit, and what an honour it is to come to Harbin and the Heilongjian Province that has a proud history as an agricultural producer.

I have brought with me a strong dairy delegation, including John Wilson from Fonterra, Malcolm Bailey from DCANZ, Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Mike Petersen, and MPI Deputy Director General Roger Smith. 

Today’s event is about acknowledging the tough season dairy farmers are facing, bringing together all the support from different sectors into one place, and focussing on the broader outlook for the dairy sector.

There is no shortage of advice, guidance and support out there – from both Government and the wider industry.

So today we’re here releasing this new brochure on combining support for dairy farmers.

Outlook

I want to start by saying a few words on the wider outlook for the dairy sector.

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 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:

Distinguished guests,

It is my pleasure to speak here today. I want to thank the Development Research Centre (DRC) for inviting me here to participate at this Summit.

Today I will discuss the role that New Zealand, as a regional partner in the Asia Pacific, can play with China in meeting the challenges of food security and food safety.

As China liberalises its economy and raises living standards, its demand for raw materials and food for its 1.3 billion population will have a significant impact on global agricultural markets.

Thank you for the invitation to open the 2015 New Zealand Seafood Industry Conference.

Your industry is vital to the economy, especially regional economies, directly providing 8000 jobs and earning more than $1.5 billion in export revenue each year.

This year’s conference has a great theme. “Sustainable Seafood – Adding Value” is a perfect summary of where the wider primary sector - not just seafood - needs to head, and matches with our priorities as a Government.

It’s an exciting time for your industry which is having a really strong year. Let me give you a few highlights worth mentioning:

• Apple & Pear export revenue exceeded $570 million last year.
• Fruit exports are worth $2 billion
• Horticulture exports are now worth just over $4 billion, and have grown 17 percent growth over three years.

Overall, I believe your industry’s success doesn’t get the coverage or kudos it deserves.

The New Zealand Pipfruit industry is world leading. It produces the safest and tastiest fruit for the world’s most discerning customers.

Good evening. Thank you Julian Raine, Horticulture New Zealand President, for that introduction. It is a pleasure to join you this evening in recognising excellence and future leaders of the horticulture industry.

I would particularly like to acknowledge outgoing Chief Executive Peter Silcock for all his contribution to the industry over the past 30 years.

Tonight I want to talk to you briefly about the long-term value that can be created by recognising talent and growing leaders.

A growing industry

Good morning and thank you all for the opportunity to speak to your annual conference here this morning.

I would like to begin by acknowledging your President, Dr William Rolleston; Chief Executive, Graham Smith; members of your National Board; and all other members here today.

My congratulations go to Dr Rolleston who has just been elected as the Vice-President of the World Farmers Organisation.

I met with newly elected WFO President Evelyn Nguleka and Executive Director Marco Marzano in Europe recently.

The title of my speech today is "Managing Through Tough Times".

I came up with the idea of this function when I was out running about six weeks ago and felt the time was right for the Government to communicate two very important messages to our farming families and communities.
 
Firstly, I want to acknowledge that these are challenging times for many farmers and the wider rural community, particularly in the dairy sector, but that we expect much improved conditions in the longer term.
 

It is great to have the opportunity to address this 39th session of FAO.

I'd first like to acknowledge Samoan Minister Le Mamea Ropati who is doing a great job chairing the conference.

I attended a wonderful dinner on Saturday night with the South Pacific countries. This proved to be a valuable opportunity to share ideas and engage socially over some lovely Italian food.

I acknowledge that FAO is increasing its focus on small island states and the unique challenges they all face. New Zealand endorses this approach.

Greetings and welcome. Obviously this week has been a fairly busy one as we deal with an appalling threat to sabotage our food products.

The Government has been well-prepared for this and we believe any risk is low. It could well be a hoax, but we are taking it seriously.

We now have a comprehensive new 1080 testing regime for dairy products that gives us a high degree of confidence. MPI has also analysed the supply chain in detail and worked with manufacturers to put in place additional security measures

It’s great to be here at the Roxy Cinema in Miramar, in the heart of New Zealand’s film industry. It’s a hugely successful industry with lessons the primary sector can learn from. 

It’s also great to be able to speak in front of so many primary sector leaders. The Primary Sector Bootcamp for me is about sharing ideas, global awareness, and building connectivity between industry and the government.

Good morning, it’s great to be here this morning with you, the people who are the powerhouse behind New Zealand racing.

I’d like to acknowledge your Chair, Glenda Hughes, and your acting Chief Executive, Stewart McRobie. Thank you Glenda for inviting me to address your annual general meeting today.

I’d also like to acknowledge the chairs of your constituent code bodies and their chief executives:

This is my first visit to India, and it is clear the opportunity and potential here is abundant.

My time here has been very successful. I have just come from a meeting with my counterpart, the Indian Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.

I took the opportunity to note that New Zealand is sharing its expertise in the fields of agribusiness, IT, hospitality and tourism with India.

It’s great to be here today at the official opening of Fonterra’s new UHT milk processing plant.

This is a $126 million project which has been completed in just 12 months, and has created 100 new local jobs.

It’s a real vote of confidence in New Zealand’s dairy industry, which continues to be a major contributor to our economy. Dairy is our biggest single export earner.

It was a great honour to be re-elected for a third term in Government, and to be reappointed as Primary Industries Minister.

Over the last two years as Minister I’ve strongly advocated irrigation and I see the election result as a mandate for our approach.

The need for new irrigation and water storage has been highlighted by severe droughts over the previous two summers.

In fact it is wasteful that we only capture around 2 per cent of rainfall in New Zealand, with the rest roaring out to sea.

Thank you for the invite.

I want to start by saying that as Minister I’m committed to a vibrant, profitable and sustainable aquaculture industry for New Zealand.

Your industry is a priority for us as a Government and we have a strategy to support this.

Your goal of reaching $1 billion in annual sales fits in with our goal of doubling the value of primary sector exports by 2025.

Challenges ahead