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Tēnā koutou katoa

Thank you all for being here today to witness and support these three taonga on their journey from Archives New Zealand to their new home here at the National Library.

Many of you have travelled a long way to be here, and I think that this illustrates the significance of these documents to New Zealanders.

This ceremony properly acknowledges the mana of these taonga and the people who created them.

For many of us, today is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Good Morning.

Thank you to the Otago and Queenstown Chambers of Commerce for hosting this event.

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. It’s a pleasure to be here.

It’s a fitting place to be talking about immigration. This region has been a rich part of New Zealand’s immigration story since the gold mining days of the 1860’s and remains one of the country’s premium destinations for overseas visitors, working holiday makers and other visa holders. 

As Veterans’ Affairs Minister, I am fortunate enough to meet veterans who have served our country in one of the most selfless and brave ways a person can. Thank you for your service to New Zealand. It is a pleasure and privilege to be in your company.

Tena koutou katoa

We Must Remember.

Today we stand together to recognise the sacrifice made by men and woman of your district, who served their country with honour and bravery.  Today is made even more special by remembering that exactly 100 years ago John Herbert Cock, a prominent member of the Nelson district was killed in action while serving in the Royal Flying Corp.

It is a great privilege to honour the sacrifice of our veterans and serving people and their contribution to the freedom, peace and security we at home are able to enjoy.

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.

I move that the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill be now read a third time.

This Bill is a critical part of the Government's programme to increase the supply and affordability of housing, to grow the economy with more jobs and higher incomes, and to also improve our environmental management.

Introduction

It’s a privilege to be here on what is the 30th anniversary of this annual conference.

A milestone such as this is both an opportunity to look back and celebrate where we’ve come from, and also to look ahead to where we’re going.

We live in exciting times. The pace of change and the new horizons being opened up to us are unprecedented.

Education is an integral part of this changing world.

Thank you for the opportunity to make this address this evening.

In one month from now I will have tendered my resignation as New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, having served in this capacity for nearly eight-and-a-half years.

At the outset, I want to acknowledge - and I have said this many times to my staff and to the Ministry - that the real foreign minister is always the Prime Minister.

An effective Prime Minister / Foreign Minister team need to present a seamless face to both the outside world, and to the New Zealand public.

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. 

Good morning.

Can I start by thanking the International Business Forum and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event.

And can I acknowledge your guests and my ministerial colleagues.

In particular I want to acknowledge Trade Minister Todd McClay, who along with Foreign Minister Murray McCully is doing an excellent job of promoting our interests overseas.

I think Todd and Murray would admit that some parts of that job are not too difficult.

After all, we have an enviable reputation around the world.

It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to New Plymouth in the Taranaki province, the heart of oil and gas production in New Zealand.

Although I’m relatively new as Energy and Resources Minister, I’m very enthusiastic about the future of this dynamic and extremely productive industry.

I’d particularly like to acknowledge PEPANZ for organising the conference, and our international guests for showing their interest this year. I hope you enjoy your time in New Zealand.

Industry downturn

Thank you Lawrence for the invitation to speak today and to you all for the very warm welcome. Can I also acknowledge Brian Hanna, Chair of the Rural Sector, Jan Barnes, Chair of the Provincial Sector, and the many Mayors, Councillors and Chief Executives here this afternoon.

I have been asking for the local government portfolio for quite some time so I am really enjoying the role and the opportunity to attend events like this where I can talk with local government representatives from around the country.

Introduction

Good morning.

First of all, I’d like to thank Mr Lawrey for the introduction and Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand for the opportunity to speak today.

I’m thrilled to be here for my first formal speaking engagement as the Associate Minister of Tourism. What an incredible time it is right now for tourism in New Zealand. I’m excited to get involved and be a champion for the sector.

Tourism in New Zealand

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to your 20th Annual Payroll Conference. It is a pleasure to be here.

You’ve asked me to talk about how Inland Revenue’s ‘Making Tax Simpler’ is progressing and how advice and feedback from payroll professionals like yourselves shaped the proposals in the forthcoming Bill.

I’ll talk to you about the current PAYE proposals- what they cover, how they’ll be implemented and how we used your feedback in their development.

Good afternoon, and thank you for coming along today. I’d like to acknowledge Chris Till and the Human Resources Institute for hosting me. 

This is my first major speech as Minister for Women and that seems quite appropriate given that tomorrow is International Women’s Day. 

Good morning and welcome everyone. Thank you for inviting me to your Downstream 2017 conference.

Having an affordable and secure supply of energy underpins everything we do- from the economic viability of our businesses, to the well-being of our households, to our individual quality of life.

At the same time, it is striking, coming into this industry, to see the amount and the rate of change you are experiencing now, and are likely to experience in the coming years.

Technological and consumer changes

Thank you for inviting me to open your conference.

It is a pleasure to be here.

I haven’t been in the Revenue portfolio very long but I have learned very quickly how important this grouping of professionals is to the success of our tax system.

Your professional advice provided in analysing policy proposals and suggesting improvements makes your contribution invaluable.

I take over the Revenue portfolio at a significant point for our economy and for the tax system.

Good afternoon everyone.

Thank you John and IPANZ for hosting this event today.

Special guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Today I’m going to talk about a renewed focus on improving productivity across the public service.

Economic Outlook

At a time when many parts of the world face significant political and economic risks, the outlook for New Zealand is positive. Businesses are investing, job growth is solid and wages are rising faster than inflation.

Good afternoon.

Thank you Michael and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and new Vice Chancellor Jan Thomas and Massey University for hosting this event.

Special guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Today I’m going to offer some views on the current state of the New Zealand economy and our infrastructure.

Economic Outlook

Honourable Members.

The National-led Government’s busy and ambitious policy agenda and legislative programme in 2017 will continue to back New Zealanders to succeed.

This is a Government focused on delivering more opportunities for people to get ahead.

It is a Government that backs New Zealanders who take risks to create new jobs and new businesses.

It backs New Zealanders who work hard so they can raise their families.

And it backs New Zealanders who need the Government’s support to improve their lives.

Kia ora koutou katoa

What a wonderful, diverse group of people we have here, reflecting the fact that Tamaki Makaurau is one of the most diverse cities in the world.

It’s great to be here with Ngati Whatua on Waitangi Day celebrating the achievement of so many iwi, and so many communities who have come to see that a treaty settlement, that an iwi that is part of their community, is a recipe for success for the future.

Honour and glory to God
Peace to the land
Goodwill to all people
Greetings to us all acknowledging Waitangi day
Here with our hosts Ngati Whatua of Orakei
At Bastion Point,
In Tamaki (Auckland)
I sincerely thank you Ngati Whatua for your warm and generous hospitality
And Invite us all to enjoy Waitangi Day.

Can I acknowledge Ngati Whatua, and thank them for their invitation to come here today.

Good afternoon,

My thanks to the Rotary Club of Auckland, and in particular President Andrew Aitken and the Rotary team for hosting this event.

I also want to acknowledge Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett and Finance Minister Steven Joyce, who are here today. Both of them are doing great work on behalf of New Zealanders.

Special guests, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming today.

The start of the year is the time to stand back and look at how we’re doing as a country.

A big worry in this Trump era of modern politics is that complex issues are dumbed down to 140 character tweets. The beauty of this annual opportunity you give me as Nelson’s MP is to give a far more considered and thorough account of a topical issue. The focus of this 22nd Rotary address is the steps we are taking to improve New Zealand’s management of earthquake risks.