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Good morning and welcome. It is a pleasure for me to be here this morning to open and welcome you to this year’s New Zealand Self Medication Industry Conference. This year’s conference will continue to promote self-care as a solution to some of challenges facing the health care system in New Zealand.

I would like to take this opportunity to quickly acknowledge and welcome my fellow speakers here today:

Auckland Queen’s Counsel Matthew Muir has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Muir graduated with an LLB (Hons) from Auckland University in 1981 and became a staff solicitor with Holmden Horrocks & Co in Auckland.  In 1984 he took leave from Holmden Horrocks for postgraduate studies at the University of Virginia, graduating with an LLM.

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges has today welcomed the launch of New Zealand’s first region-wide wood energy heat hub that will help fuel the Southland economy.

Wood Energy South is a joint initiative between the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and Venture Southland that will partner with local businesses, schools and healthcare facilities to help them convert to cleaner, renewable wood burning technology. 

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today welcomed the findings of the second National Construction Pipeline report, which confirms building and construction activity in New Zealand is expected to reach unprecedented levels by 2017.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Trade Minister Tim Groser today welcomed the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) decision on the terms for New Zealand’s accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) in Geneva.

“A positive decision on the terms of New Zealand’s accession has been reached with GPA parties in Geneva overnight (NZ time), following two years of negotiations,” Mr Joyce says.

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.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced the formation of a new steering group to explore optimising the role pharmacists play in community health care.

“Pharmacists are highly skilled and I want to ensure we are realising their potential as we move towards a more integrated health service,” says Dr Coleman.

The Pharmacy Steering Group will help develop clear priorities for pharmacy and provide advice to the Ministry of Health on how the role of pharmacists can be maximised.

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith today outlined his commitment to completing and bedding in a suite of legislative and regulatory reforms to make it easier for consumers, investors and businesses to transact with confidence.

“In the coming months I will focus on progressing several key pieces of work which will help support fair, efficient and transparent markets and promote competition, consumer choice and protection.

An Innovation Hub to support new and emerging businesses is the latest addition to the Christchurch Innovation Precinct, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says.

A joint partnership between Canterbury Development Corporation and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Hub will support early stage entrepreneurs by providing the necessary technological and social infrastructure required by start-up and early-stage firms to grow.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew today announced that Massey University will host the new Food Safety Science and Research Centre.

The Centre will promote, co-ordinate, and deliver food safety science and research for New Zealand. It was a key recommendation from the Government Inquiry into the Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Contamination Incident.

Auckland Council are welcome to have a debate about future transport infrastructure investment plans, but the Government remains sceptical about the options being presented, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said today in response to the release of ‘Funding Auckland’s Transport Future’, a report commissioned by the Auckland Council.

“We agree that Auckland must have a transport system that meets the demands of its growing population and we are committed to working with the Auckland Council to help make sure Auckland succeeds. 

Revenue Minister Todd McClay today announced New Zealand’s timetable for participation in a global automatic exchange of information aimed at cracking down on tax evasion.

G20 leaders announced the initiative in September 2013 -  and in May 2014, New Zealand, along with all OECD countries, joined in the general declaration of support for the move. Australia, holding the G20 Presidency this year, announced their implementation timetable last month.

Cabinet has agreed on the details of the flag referendum process and every political party represented in Parliament has been invited to take part, say Prime Minister John Key and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English.

“Our flag is the most important symbol of our national identity and I believe that this is the right time for New Zealanders to consider changing the design to one that better reflects our status as a modern, independent nation,” Mr Key says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has today acknowledged the enormous contribution teachers across the country are making every day to ensure all children are successful in education.

Ms Parata says New Zealand Teachers’ Day, which is marked today, is an opportunity to thank teachers for the work they do to raise the educational achievement of students.

“Teachers do an incredible job helping our children and young people to be the very best they can be in life – it’s important to celebrate the magic that they create across our country every day.

Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga hosted the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and representatives of the Indian community this evening in Parliament’s Grand Hall to celebrate Diwali.

“Diwali is a time of festivity and goodwill and is the most important festival of the year for many Hindus around the world.  Tonight’s event demonstrates how New Zealand embraces our wider Indian community and culture,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the National Depression Initiative has won two major advertising awards at the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) Effectiveness awards in London.

“It is great to see New Zealand’s National Depression Initiative gain international recognition at the IPA awards,” says Dr Coleman.

“It is a tribute to the work of Sir John Kirwan, FCB New Zealand, the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Agency who co-manage the programme. The National Depression initiative has been highly successful.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says three people entering New Zealand were identified for self-monitoring as healthcare workers helping in the response in West Africa, and all have now been cleared.

“Since border screening for Ebola was introduced in New Zealand on 10 August, 74 people have been flagged,” says Dr Coleman.

“A traveller is flagged if they have been in an Ebola affected country within the last 30 days.

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced applications are open for the third round of funding in the Tourism Growth Partnership.

The $32 million contestable Government fund aims to boost innovation and productivity in the tourism sector. For each project approved for investment, the Government provides up to 50 per cent of the required funding.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley says the Government’s 3K to Christchurch scheme is a winner with 633 unemployed people taking up the offer.

“Since the scheme began in July a total of 523 men and 110 women have received the $3,000 payment as an incentive to move off benefit to Christchurch for a fulltime job.  204 of these are aged between 16 and 24 years.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley today announced that Jo-anne Wilkinson has been appointed as interim Families Commissioner and Chair of the Families Commission Board.

“I’m delighted that Ms Wilkinson has agreed to take on the role while we look for a permanent appointment. 

“As co-founder and former Chief Executive of the Foundation for Youth Development (previously known as the Project K Trust), Ms Wilkinson brings a wealth of experience of the youth and NGO sectors.

Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman welcomes the ICC Cricket World Cup’s decision to appoint the Cancer Society as its official NZ charity partner.

“It is great to see the Cancer Society join up with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015,” says Dr Coleman.

“The Cricket World Cup is one of the biggest international sporting events, and the ICC’s partnership in New Zealand with the Cancer Society is an excellent opportunity to promote the work of the Cancer Society to a large audience.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy today announced the Government will invest more than $15 million over a maximum of seven years to support four research partnerships that will benefit New Zealand’s primary industries. 

“These investments will enhance industry involvement and collaboration on strategic research, and improve the performance of key parts of our primary industries leading to increased exports,” Mr Joyce says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today launched the 2015 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards.

Ms Parata says the awards recognise and celebrate excellence in teaching, leadership, community engagement and governance.

“The inaugural awards were held this year and were a great celebration of work being done across our education system.

“They give us an opportunity to acknowledge some remarkable people and the work being done to deliver better educational outcomes for our children and young people.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has appointed diplomat James Kember as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to France.

“New Zealand’s relationship with France is one of our most long-standing and vibrant, and it remains an important partner within the European Union,” Mr McCully says.

“The next four years will see us jointly commemorating both the 100^th anniversary of the First World War, and the death of thousands of New Zealand soldiers on French soil.