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When I asked Helen Gatonyi who I should acknowledge today she specifically asked that I acknowledge each and every one of you.

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.

Mr Chairman, Secretary-General, distinguished delegates.

Firstly, I would like to convey New Zealand’s warmest congratulations to José Graziano da Silva for his successful election to Director-General. New Zealand looks forward to working closely and constructively with him.

The election of a new Director-General could not have come at a more important time for FAO.

Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me here to speak with you today and it is with pleasure I do so.

I know we share some common concerns in regard to increasing quality in the building industry, not just through practitioners but also in ensuring the quality of products used.

Like you, I support practical regulation of the industry through national and consistent application of the New Zealand Building Code and New Zealand standards.

The Canterbury Earthquakes

Thank you for the opportunity to make some introductory remarks at the commencement of this annual foreign policy school.

I want to make a number of comments about the role of science in the conduct of New Zealand’s foreign policy relationships, and about the importance of science in the Government’s ambition to lift foreign exchange earnings from 30% of our GDP to over 40%.

That objective, in my view, is critical if New Zealand is to become a significantly wealthier nation in the decades ahead.

Mihi ki a Ngati Hinekura, Ngati Pikiao, Iwi kainga, Te Rau Matatini.

I want to firstly acknowledge Te Ariki Morehu and Moehau Kutia, who have blessed our hui by being here, and in doing so, have brought a special dimension to the hui.

We might call that dimension kaumatuatanga.

There are thousands of New Zealand children growing up in state care.

Around four and a half thousand at any one time.

But thankfully, there are also thousands of people in this country who care enough to

care for and foster these children.

About 4,200 children were in the care of caregivers and foster parents in 2010.

Without these outstanding New Zealanders, Child Youth and Family residences would be the only option for our children in care.

I move, that the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill be now read a second time. 

I want to start by acknowledging the work of the Health Committee for its dedicated efforts in considering the Bill, for its report on the Bill and the helpful amendments. 

If I could be so bold as to make a preliminary comment about the political support for this legislation, it would be to acknowledge the widespread and sincere attitude of support for smokefree initiatives which I believe is both heartening and responsible.

Tuatahi me mihi ki te tangata whenua, ki a Ngai Tahu.

Me mihi ki nga mate o te wa

Me mihi hoki ki nga iwi maha o Nga Pakihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha, o Otautahi, e hemanawa nei, e whakamomori nei i nga ru whenua, e ngaueue nei o koutou kainga, e koropupu nei te wai i te whenua. Ka nui te aroha ki nga whanau e raruraru ana, ka nui te mihi hoki ki to koutou maia.

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to speak at your conference today.  It’s great to be here today. 

I believe the best education systems are those where parents have a genuine choice of schools.  And a diverse range to choose from.  

High quality integrated schools make an important contribution to this diversity.

Parents value the range of educational programmes on offer at your schools – particularly the religious or philosophical values and aspirations that underpin them.

Kia ora, good morning. It's a pleasure to be here to open this year's local government New Zealand tourism symposium.

Lawrence Yule, thank you for the introduction. I would like to acknowledge Local Government New Zealand, Regional Tourism Organisations of New Zealand and the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) for organising the event.

I have been greatly looking forward to this event – to celebrate the wonder of Matariki in the best of company.  For who could be better than nurses, midwives, kaimahi hauora, and healthcare workers to treasure the health and wellbeing of our whanau?

It is with great pleasure that I also welcome Members of Parliament from across the House to this special night.

Good evening and thank you for asking me to say a few words tonight.

It’s great to be here to celebrate an important milestone for New Zealand aviation training.

Importance of the aviation industry

I’m sure most people in the room tonight know just how important the aviation industry is to New Zealand.

If you were to ask me to say in a few words why financial literacy is important to me, it would be something like: "Because it contributes to the financial wellbeing of New Zealanders".

That's because it does what it says – the more financially literate we are, the better placed we are to make decisions that enhance our wellbeing. No matter who we are. That’s why summits such as this are so important.

I am honoured to be here at the invitation of Michael Barnett, Chief Executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce; and John Allen, Chair of the Employer’s Disability Network.

I want to particularly thank the Chamber for hosting tonight’s event; and all of the board members of the Employers Disability Network
who have walked alongside employers and members of the disability community in this journey to drive social change.

Mr Harry Jenkins, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator the Honourable John Hogg, President of the Senate.

The Honourable Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia.

The Honourable Tony Abbott, Leader of the Opposition.

Honourable Members of the Australian Parliament.

Distinguished guests.

It is a great privilege to address you in this esteemed chamber.

I address you as Prime Minister of New Zealand, as a proud member of the trans-Tasman family, and as a former resident of this great country.

When I accepted the invitation to speak at this forum, I did so on the understanding that this was an ideal opportunity for a conversation to take place about how we support our communities to stimulate effective policy and reform outcomes?

It seemed to me the ultimate question - how do we re-orient our thinking to focus on the resilience of our communities for a better future?   These questions challenge me every single day. 

Welfare reform is a controversial subject.

I think we can all agree on that.

Often controversy stems from emotive arguments from different sides of the debate.

So let’s meet in the middle with the facts.

The fact is that the current welfare system was designed in the 1930s.

It’s been tinkered and toyed with and is now a conglomeration of add-ons.

It’s a mess quite frankly and it’s time we had a really good look at tidying it up.

Hon David Carter, Mayor Julie Hardaker, distinguished guests

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me to talk with you today. 

I am sure that for you as for me, the topic at the forefront of your mind is the devastating aftershock that struck Christchurch on 22 February, resulting in substantial loss of life, serious harm to people, and severe damage to buildings and property. 

That event reminds us that New Zealand is susceptible to earthquake and enforces the vital importance of good design, quality construction, and a building controls system that focuses on safeguarding human life.

Good evening and welcome to Parliament tonight.

Tonight I’d like to say a quick few words about the importance of airports to New Zealand, and update you on a few important issues.

Volcanic ash

Obviously it’s been a disruptive week for air travel in New Zealand with the volcanic ash from Chile affecting flights.

The Civil Aviation Authority is keeping close eye on conditions and doing a good job of monitoring the situation.

Good afternoon and thank you for this opportunity to do a stock take of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. I am not going to do a technical appraisal. For one thing, I deeply believe it is not in New Zealand’s interests ever to negotiate any trade agreement through the media and this is a public speech.

Rather, I will give you a political evaluation of the strategy. And the first question I wish to address is: how does this fit into a New Zealand agenda of economic reform?

In response to some of the supporting comments from the audience let me begin by saying how very proud I am, and every kiwi should be, of New Zealand’s Quota Management System. 

It’s not perfect, but it has resulted in one of the best of two expansive fisheries in the world, Alaska being the other. It is a source of pride to me that, when overseas, so many foreign officials ask me if it is possible to work with the Ministry to develop a similar system in their countries. Argentina is a case in point.