Jigsaw Family Services 2009 Conference

I am sorry I am unable to be with you all for this special Jigsaw Family Services Conference and Annual General meeting.

I want to commend Jigsaw for your vision in the campaign, Spark the Dream Within.

Since I was a small girl, being raised by my nan and aunties at Putiki Marae, I was told, whakarongo ki oku moemoea - listen to your dreams.

There was always this belief, if you can dream it, you can do it.  Our dreams provide the pathway to the future we desire.

You're probably familiar with the concept left by George Bernard Shaw - some people see things as they are and say why?  Others dream things that never were and say why not?

Today is a day to say why not?

It is a day to dream big, to explore our imagination, to discover our collective potential.

Your campaign is a wonderfully positive approach to encourage parents, families and communities to spark their children's dreams.

I believe that the very first ingredient of success is the spark in our children's eyes when they see a range of possibilities ahead of them.

I understand that the tamariki from Berhampore Primary School were going to be here today sharing their love of kapa haka with you all. 

For some of them today may signal the start of their journey to be a top performer; for others it might signal the day they decided to be a great historian - it's about exciting the imagination, the spark to succeed.

But there's another aspect to the power of the dream - and that is the responsibility to nurture it.

Another thing we say, is Me moemoea e tatou, ka awatea.

When we dream together, we can achieve.

I believe it is our collective responsibility to care for our whanau, to look after each other - and that includes each others' dreams.

I was really pleased to see that when you launched your ‘spark the dream' poster campaign, you put together our young people with those who are already champions in the field.

Judge Peter Boshier - the Principal Family Court Judge was there to celebrate 13 year old Daniel from Otahuhu in his aspirations to help families who are in trouble.

Dr Pat Tuohy, New Zealand's Chief advisor for child and youth health, launched the poster of 7 year old Jessie-Leigh from Manurewa whose dream is to help sick people get better.

Today, the spotlight moves to the Hawkes Bay, to Ngati Kahungunu territory into the home of Warren, his partner Nichola and their two year old son, Jaedyn.

Now Warren Ropiha is already a superstar  - he recently won the title of Apprentice Forestry worker of the year.

But from today he will have a national profile for arguably the greatest achievement any father could aspire towards - today Warren becomes the latest poster-boy as an Extraordinary Dad.

I want to congratulate Warren for the commitment you have made to be an extraordinary father; a loving partner; and a role model for us all.

You are willing to put it out there - that you will put the work in, to be an extraordinary parent - to be the very best you can.  It is an awesome responsibility.

Some of you may be aware of the priority this Government is according whanau ora.

I believe this is the most exciting opportunity to refocus the work that Government and agencies are doing to actively place whanau at the centre.

Instead of focusing on addressing deficits, we want to support whanau to realize their strengths and to build their capacity to care for our children in ways that nourish and treasure them.

Finally, I want to leave the inspiration of Te Puea Herangi with us.

Te Puea, of course, has a unique place in the history of this nation.  After the devastation of the 1918 influenza epidemic she gathered up 100 orphaned children and established the community now known as Turangawaewae. 

While developing the land, she provided an environment for the children to flourish.  And so the concept to spark the dream is something we trace back to her, and her words:

Mehemea ka moemoea ahau, ko ahau anake

Mehemea ka moemoea a tatou, ka taea tatou.

In essence, together great things are possible.

At Jigsaw you know that concept well - as your 37 partner agencies would attest to.

I want to see that concept come alive for all of our whanau  - so that those groups who are working with whanau, are focused on the aspirations and the outcomes that whanau are seeking for themselves.

I wish you all a wonderful conference, and I wish us all great heart in the most important challenge we have ahead of us  - the pursuit of whanau ora.