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Welcome to Christchurch.

For many of you, this is probably the first time you have been here since the two earthquakes. I’m sure you have seen for yourselves some of the damage to our city as you made your way here today.

Being Christchurch born and bred, this has been a distressing and challenging time. But the way all New Zealanders have joined together to help Canterbury through these tough times has been truly humbling.

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me to open your 13th annual conference.

As qualified builders, matters that you’ll have on your mind at the moment are the ongoing economic and business challenges being confronted by the building and construction sector; and the opportunities that will emerge in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes as our second largest city starts to re-build, and in other main centres as the Government takes steps to help owners of leaky homes to get their houses fixed.

His Worship the Mayor Tony Bonne; Fellow MPs, distinguished guests.

I am thrilled to be here today, at the invitation of Te Ika Whenua Hauora, to be talking about an issue which is of such national significance.

I understand that officials and advisors have been searching for many months to find just the right place to be addressing the issues around rheumatic fever.

Rotorua

The New Zealand Medical Association is the country’s largest medical organisation. Your members come from all disciplines within the medical profession, and include specialists, general practitioners, doctors-in-training and medical students.

So it’s a real pleasure for me to be here today, the fifth time I’ve joined you at this conference.

Today I am going to cover:

• Our recent budget and the international context

Good morning all.

Thank you Rob for inviting me to speak at your annual general meeting.  I welcome the opportunity to meet with you again and to address your members. 

It is now 20 years since English New Zealand was formed by a group of young entrepreneurs wanting to market New Zealand internationally as a preferred destination for English language students. 

Good afternoon.

Much has happened recently on the tax front which is of direct relevance to you and I would like to take this opportunity to talk about this afternoon.

But first, let me say that I am very pleased to be here today.

Pleased to be invited to the KPMG Tax briefing, but especially pleased to be back in Christchurch.

The fact that you have organised a conference and are holding it here in Christchurch, tells me that you are getting back to business as usual.

And that is precisely what Christchurch needs.

Matariki 2011 will leave an enduring memory in the minds of all New Zealanders.

At the dawning of this day, over one hundred rangatahi gathered to issue a unique challenge to the peoples of Aotearoa.

It was a challenge in many forms – in haka, waiata and performance from the students of Te Aute; Hato Paora; Turakina; Wellington High; Nga Mokopuna and Rongotai College.

Tēnā koutou, ngā mihi ki a koutou.

Pacific greetings to you all, and good morning.

I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the opening of this new dental clinic at your new school.

But before I talk about this new clinic, I wish to acknowledge the people who have brought us here today. 

I thank Mr John Paterson, Kaumatua of Ngati Whatua and the Auckland DHB, for his warm welcome.

Today, I especially thank Mr Colin Davis who served as an advisor to the DHB during the consultation and construction stage of this clinic.

I have been so excited about the opportunity to open Te Roopu Huihuinga Hauora Trust Whanau Wellness Centre.

What a fabulous name to wear with pride – this is the centre at which 'whanau wellness' is the norm.    This is the centre which sets a new expectation – that the greatest wealth is health.

The only thing you will catch walking through these doors is the infectious spirit, people who are driven by the exuberance of living.

It is time for establishing a new norm, an agenda of transformation.

Thank you for the opportunity to give this keynote address.

I commend the Environment Defence Society on this conference, this year, focusing on coasts and the sea.  It has become the premier annual think tank on how New Zealand can improve its environmental management. I acknowledge Garry, Raewyn and the executive team for your leadership, but also the dynamic speakers that contribute to this conference’s success.

Good afternoon everyone.

It’s a pleasure to be here and thank you for inviting me to speak at this year’s National Refugee Resettlement Forum. It’s the third year that I’ve spoken at the Forum and I know how informative and rewarding this session is for the various groups and organisations represented here.

Firstly I’d like to acknowledge Rick Towle, Regional Representative, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.  

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you again at your conference. 

Export education is an industry that has the potential for major growth, and has been identified as such by the Prime Minister. As a Government, we are working across portfolios to identify ways to better support the industry.

This morning the Government is releasing a discussion document on increasing choice in workplace accident compensation.

I want to put the case and need for reform.

I want to put it into historical context of New Zealand's unique system of Accident compensation.

I want to give you the detail of how this reform can deliver safer workplaces, better rehabilitation and lower costs.

Can I acknowledge Chris Blake, Chief Executive, Department of Labour and the team from the Department that has supported this important policy work. 

Hello and welcome to Tauranga Hospital's Ward 3A.

Thank you for inviting me along to celebrate this special moment with you – you've worked through all the modules in the 'Releasing Time to Care – Productive Ward programme.

We won't say completed – because this is quality improvement and the quest for better care is never ending.

Last time I visited this ward you had just begun 'tidying up' as part of Releasing Time to Care -The Productive Ward.

Good afternoon.

It's a pleasure to be here to help you mark the final stage of Tauranga Hospital's multi-million dollar campus building and refurbishment programme.

Your hospital redevelopment will make significant improvements to the delivery of care to patients.

"Building 50" houses an extended and upgraded Medical Day Stay Unit on the ground floor - and the new ICU and Coronary Care Units on the first floor have now doubled in size.

The price tag is $25 million.

On 4 September 2010 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch, causing widespread damage.

Fortunately on that occasion there were no casualties.

Then on 22 February this year, a violent aftershock struck the city centre at lunchtime.

Among the 181 victims were many students from the Asia-Pacific region, the largest number coming from Japan. 

I take this opportunity on Japanese soil to express our deepest sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones.

Introduction

Thank you for inviting me to speak with you tonight.  I appreciate the opportunity to personally acknowledge the significant contribution so many of you have made in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.

We are all still coming to terms with the fact that one of our largest cities has a devastated CBD, and a population where ‘business as usual’ ended almost four months ago. 

"Awatea" stands for the Aotearoa Wave and Tidal Energy Association. As you may know, the word Awatea in Maori means "new dawn". 

It is hard to think of a more appropriate abbreviation for this exciting area of renewable energy generation.

Like most Auckland politicians, I spend a lot of time flying into Wellington airport.

Thank you for inviting me here today to the opening of Mind and Body’s new buildings.  This is an exciting time for your organisation, and you should be very proud of your achievements to date.

Tēnā koutou katoa, good evening.

Citizenship ceremonies are held regularly around New Zealand, but I think everyone realises that tonight’s event here in Christchurch is something special.

After what has been a hugely difficult and traumatic few months for Christchurch, I hope that tonight will show the commitment and spirit of this great city, and of our newest New Zealanders.

If you were to explain the concept of ‘care’ to someone who had English as a second language, it would no doubt create confusion.

It could imply the practice of care as a noun – such as healthcare, or childcare.

It might denote that sense of responsibility associated with the duty of care – like a child in the care of the state; or in your care.

Or it might be care as in the verb to care, to look after, to be concerned about someone’s wellbeing.

E nga waka, e nga mana, e nga reo, tena koutou katoa

Thank you for asking me to open your conference. I’d like to thank the Treaty Tribes Coalition and tangata whenua Te Tau Ihu.

I’d also like to thank Ngai Tahu and recognise the conference was originally scheduled for Christchurch. I know many of you have been, and continue to be,  directly affected by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Good morning everyone. It’s a pleasure to be here at this year’s annual conference and thank you to the conference organisers for inviting me to speak.

Firstly I would like to acknowledge NZMSA president Oliver Hansby and the NZMSA executive and delegates from New Zealand’s four medical schools and overseas guests

Thank you for inviting me to help you celebrate the official launch of the Kawerau Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme.

It is always a pleasure to be a part of an event on my own home ground.

I'm pleased to be able to officially acknowledge the good work the Kawerau community has put in already to protect its children from the impact of rheumatic fever.

Rheumatic fever is a serious and largely preventable third world disease that is highly prevalent in some of our communities.