Hon Heather Roy speech to the TrustPower National Community Awards; World of Wearable Arts & Classic Cars Museum, Quarantine Road, Nelson; Saturday, March 13 2010.

I am delighted to be here on behalf of the Government this evening to assist in presenting the 2009 TrustPower National Community Awards.

I would like to begin by passing on apologies from Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Hon Tariana Turia. Minister Turia unfortunately could not be here this weekend to take part in the judging and presentation of the awards. I was very pleased to be able to volunteer take her place, so thank you for your very warm welcome.

There are many people her tonight that I'd like to acknowledge:

Most importantly the 25 regional finalists at this National final – the volunteers, the community representatives and their mayors, deputy mayors and council officials. Thank you for your support.

TrustPower representatives including Board Chair Bruce Harker, board members Sam Knowles and Michael Cooney and CEO of TrustPower Chris O'Hara. Your recognition of the Voluntary Sector is now well established and I congratulate you on your continued support.

Members of the independent judging panel – I don't envy your job today – including:

* Heather Clark, board member of Volunteering New Zealand
* Community Trust of Wellington Chair, Dick Fernyhough
* Mike Lander from the Wairoa Community Development Trust (Supreme Winners at the 2008 National Awards)
* Alasdair Finnie, Director of the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector
* Kerre Woodham and Jim Mora, media presenters.

These are among the most prestigious awards in the community and voluntary sector. I am looking forward to meeting the 25 participating regional finalists and hearing about your work achievements.

It is no easy feat to make the finals of this event. I understand that this year in particular the entries were of a very high calibre. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of all contestants in the regions for their positive contributions to their communities.

For over 15 years TrustPower has been running the TrustPower Community Awards to grow them into one of the country's largest community-based awards programmes.

Thanks to TrustPower Community Awards thousands of volunteers have had their work recognised and more than a quarter of a million dollars has been injected into community groups up and down the country.

The non-profit sector contributes over $6.95 billion – that's almost five percent of GDP to the New Zealand economy. To put this in perspective this is equivalent to the contribution made by entire construction industry.

There are over 97,000 non-profit organisations in New Zealand and more than 1.2 million New Zealanders volunteer annually.

Volunteering is hugely important to New Zealand and New Zealanders. Donating time and skills to help community groups and volunteer organisations is not only rewarding to the group receiving help, but also to the individual volunteer.

I know from my own volunteering efforts – although not a patch on those we see tonight – with kindergarten and schools, community organisations and the army, the value and satisfaction gained from donating time and money cannot be easily measured. For many, their voluntary work is much more rewarding than their paid work.

Despite what we sometimes hear through the media New Zealanders give generously of their time and money.

Volunteers and donors spread their support wider in 2008 than 2007 according to 'How New Zealanders Give?' research done for the Generosity Hub. Although the numbers of volunteers remains stable, it appears that people who volunteer are volunteering for a wider number of projects.

Not only do people give of their time, but they also make direct monetary contributions or purchase goods. Nearly half of all New Zealanders aged over 10 years made an ad hoc donation to support a non-profit group in 2008.

Approximately 794,000 New Zealanders in employment are committed givers of time or money. That means they have made planned, regular giving, to a specific organisation or cause. Overall, 75.8 percent of people aged 10 years and over supported the non-profit sector.

So what has the Government done to make it easier to volunteer and give? It is important that we lead by example. In recent years, the threshold for donation tax credits increased. Individuals can now claim a tax credit of 33 percent of cash donations they make to a non-profit organisation up to the level of their taxable income.

Companies and Maori authorities can now claim a deduction for donations they make to non-profits up to the level of their net income before taking into account the deduction.

This donation deduction has also been extended to companies with five or fewer shareholders whereas previously these companies couldn't claim at all.

In 2009, the Government also clarified the rules for taxing payments to volunteers. A reimbursement payment for expenses incurred during volunteering is now tax exempt. It is only an honorarium which is taxed.

The Government has also made it easier for people to give as they earn through Payroll Giving, a new scheme that went live in January this year. With Payroll giving, an employee can donate directly to a charity with donee status from their pay and receive a tax credit back in the same pay period.

This option makes it easy for an employee to donate to a charity of their choice and it offers non-profit organisations a steady stream of income.

Just like Payroll giving, the TrustPower National Community Awards showcase the best that can happen when business, local government and community organisations work together.

The judging is based upon volunteer input, utilisation of resources, creativity and initiative, effectiveness of activities and the impact on its district. The 25 projects that have reached the National Awards cover all sub-sectors of volunteering:

* the beginnings of a tourist and heritage project
* protecting the environment
* developing the arts in a district
* teaching new arrivals English or
* keeping people safe on our beaches in their homes and in their communities.

These are all truly impressive finalists.

Congratulations again to you all. The time you give and the contribution you make to your communities is an example to all New Zealanders. It is your work that keeps our country going and for that I thank you sincerely.

ENDS

Local Botany MP Hon Pansy Wong and Associate Education Minister Hon Heather Roy today met with local Primary and Secondary school principals as part of the Government’s review of Special Education in New Zealand.

The open and frank consultation was part of a nationwide review of our country’s special education services to ensure all New Zealand students gain the education, resources and skills they need to reach their full potential.

Mrs Wong - who is also the Associate Minister for Disability Issues - says the meetings held at Willowbank Primary School and Sancta Maria College were an important step in voicing the local schools’ concerns, issues and ideas about how to best ensure children requiring special education are given the schooling they deserve.

"When I visit our schools, Special Education is often discussed and as the local MP I was glad that our education providers had an opportunity to raise the issue directly with Minister Roy," Mrs Wong says.

"Ensuring that all children have the skills they need for the future is essential and it is something our Botany community feels very strongly about and our Botany school principals did our community proud," she says.

"They not only gave Minister Roy a no-holds-barred account of what is needed to look after children with special education needs, but they also provided thoughtful insight into how we can ensure these students get a good quality education.

A variety of issues were raised at the meetings, including; funding, evaluation assessment, transition within and between education providers, and a whole of government approach to Special Education.

Mrs Roy - who has the delegation of Special Needs under her Associate Education portfolio - says the Botany school principals had provided her with some valuable advice and insight which would be used as part of the Government’s review of Special Education in New Zealand.

"All students - including those with disabilities - have aspirations and rights, which means that everyone should have the same opportunities to participate and to succeed at school," she says.

"While many parts of the education system work very well to support students with special education needs, there is still more to do including working on attitudes. I believe we can do better and that is why I am undertaking this review.

"Whatever changes may come from the review, I want parents to have choices. I want schools and the dedicated people who are part of special education to work together in the most effective and efficient ways possible," Mrs Roy says.

Consultation is ongoing and the Government’s review of Special Education in New Zealand is open to submissions from the public. Both Ministers are urging the Botany community to make submissions and to provide feedback to the review.

"I urge the Botany community to stand up and tell us what they think about the current Special Education system by visiting the Ministry of Education website for a copy of the discussion document and to provide their feedback before Friday March 19 2010," Mrs Wong says.

For more information about the Special Education review and access to the discussion document, visit

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/theMinistry/Consultation/ReviewOfSpecialEducat...

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou, katoa.

Wellington Central MP - Grant Robertson
Wellington City Council Representative - Rob Goulden
Deputy Chief of Army - Brigadier Tim Keating
Commandant, New Zealand Cadet Forces - Wing Commander Guy Bendall
President of the Wellington Cadet Centre Trust - Anne McLellan
Unit Commander, Wellington City Cadet Unit - Lieutenant Paul Greenaway
Visiting dignitaries
NZDF and NZCF representatives, and especially parents, whanau and cadets of the Wellington City Cadet Unit.

Thank you for the invitation to this re-opening ceremony. It’s always a great pleasure to attend NZCF events and tonight is particularly special because the re-opening of a unit represents growth in one of the best investments that the Government can make in our young people.

Developing good citizens hasn't changed in thousands of years - it requires leadership by example from parents, whanau and the wider community. That begins with our responsibility to arm our children with the courage and confidence to resist the less desirable pressures they face and to march to the beat of their own drum.

Here, tonight, is a group of Kiwi families who, with support from both the Defence Force and the wider Wellington community, are doing just that. One of my sons was a cadet and I know just how hard it is for all of you to meet your unit training commitments. I know that, for many parents, the logistics of getting family members to their chosen extra-curricular activities, week after week, is easier said than done.

Long before I became involved in politics, I noted with dismay the considerable resources directed in an ad hoc manner at programmes that are loosely referred to as being for ‘youth at risk’. I believe that one of the greatest risks to youth is actually the pervasive use of that term.

I suspect that mums and dads here tonight, like me, may recall aspects of their own high school years as being ‘at-risk activities’. However, while hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into providing ‘ambulances at the bottom of the cliff’, very little has been put into resourcing the vast majority of teenagers, like those on parade tonight, who are doing OK on their own. This sends teenagers and parents alike all the wrong signals.

The New Zealand Cadet Force is an organisation that I am proud to be the Minister for. We have a long history of developing young men and women as leaders. As life has become more challenging for teenagers, the NZCF has adapted in order to maintain its goal of providing youth development and leadership training with a service flavour. I congratulate the Defence Force staff, Cadet Force officers, instructors and unit support committees both past and present for their role in achieving this continued relevance.

The New Zealand Cadet Corps has a long history in the city. The original Wellington City Cadet Unit was formed from the renaming in 1994 of the longstanding Rongotai College Cadet Unit. I have no doubt that the decision to place this unit in recess in 2004 was a tough one. However, like our local football team and my own Army unit, you have risen, like a phoenix, from the ashes of the old unit to march on bolder and stronger. All the cadets here tonight, whatever unit you come from, can take this on board as an important life lesson.

There is an old Africa proverb : "It takes a village to raise a child". That is still true today and cadet units could not thrive without the ongoing contribution of the Unit Support Committee made up of parents, families and supporters. The help of many other organisations, ranging from the city council, community groups like the RSA, local businesses, charitable trusts and more is essential in providing the resources needed to keep a unit operating. To you all, I offer my thanks on behalf of a grateful nation.

The fact that we now have the Sea Cadet Corps, New Zealand Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps all parading in this fantastic new facility is a great achievement and is a model for how the NZCF can develop around the country.

To the cadets here tonight - the calibre of young Kiwis, like you, that I meet on parades, camps and courses never fails to impress me. It fills me with confidence that we have a generation of teenagers, led by great families, preparing themselves to meet the challenges of succeeding in the world that they will inherit. I hope that, in time, more commentators will choose to focus on the achievements of your generation rather than the actions of the few who cast a shadow on what I believe is a talented, inspiring group of young New Zealanders.

You are all part of something special. You have chosen the path less travelled. It is one of choice and personal responsibility. It is a path that will enable you to serve your community and to put the needs of others above your own. No matter how long you remain part of the Cadet Force family, you will be challenged. You will grow as individuals, you will hone your skills as a team player, you will learn to pass on your knowledge to others. You have chosen the path of leadership. Well done to each one of you.

Hold your heads high, be proud and stand up for what you believe in.

Kia Kaha

Tertiary Education Reforms Long Overdue
Like thousands of other parents around the country I've delivered my university aged children to their respective universities in the past couple of weeks. With 'O Week' over for another year, and everyone settling in to new halls of residence or flats, the academic year is well underway. Students beginning or returning to tertiary education have done so with a warning from the Government to take their studies seriously, or risk losing their student loan.

New Zealand makes a significant investment into ensuring that students are able to access tertiary education - 41.5 percent of the tertiary education budget goes into student loans and allowances, compared to the average 17.6 percent spent by other nations in the OECD.

This investment has seen the number of students at universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, wananga and Private Training Establishments skyrocket. Ministry of Education figures show that the number of 'Domestic' students - New Zealand citizens, permanent residents or refugees - enrolled in tertiary education grew more than 380,000 in just 10 years, from around 57,000 in 1998 to 439,867 in 2008.

The Government, however, has identified "increasingly urgent problems" within the sector and hinted at looming reforms. One of these problems is that of performance. According to media reports, only half the country's domestic students who began a bachelor's degree in 2004 actually completed their studies within five years. Another problem identified is that many courses - especially those below degree level - display similarly high dropout rates or do not provide students with the skills they need to gain paid employment.

It is, of course, taxpayers' money that funds the government component of tertiary education. This means that the Government has an obligation to ensure it gets value for the investment put in. With many courses not delivering on expectations, and some students not achieving adequately, this is clearly not happening.

Indications of how these problems will be addressed were outlined in the Government's Tertiary Education Strategy 2010-15, released at the end of last year. Each university is funded by the Government for a specific number of students. The Strategy made it clear that there is no extra money to go round - while universities will be able to take more students, they will not be funded for them. 'Extras' will have to pay full fees, rather than the current approximate 30 percent contribution from the State. The Strategy also states that funding will be linked to performance and there was something of a media furore at the beginning to the year around this issue.

In my opinion these moves not only make sense - they are long overdue. For instance: while the majority of students are hard-working and diligent, there are those who don't reach the required standard to pass their course (for whatever reason) or who remain in tertiary education for many years rather than entering the workforce.

New Zealand is not alone in this debate. A government-commissioned review of post-graduate education is currently underway in the UK. Recent commentary around who should and shouldn't be able to provide UK post-graduate courses - some, for example, are calling for the funding of PhDs to be focussed on research-intensive institutions - has been criticised by opponents as trying to engineer a 'two-tier system' of tertiary education. Like here, the debate revolves around performance and value for taxpayer investment.

Here in New Zealand, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has made it clear that the details of the looming reforms are yet to be worked out. But the Government has already indicated that a first step to creating greater efficiency within our tertiary education institutions will be to look into students' academic performance when they apply for student loans and/or allowances. By targeting students in this way, the Government is attempting to ensure value for money of the investment of taxpayers' generosity.

Some universities have claimed that they will have to turn thousands of students away due to under-performance, because of under-funding by Government. My response to that is: "how fair is it that tertiary providers have, for some time, allowed failing students to stay on?" Failing individual papers, perhaps, but entire courses?

Like schools, tertiary education providers should be striving for excellence. If students are failing, it could be for a number of reasons - for example: academic thresholds for entry may be too low, some students may not be capable of achieving the necessary grades, or courses may not be well taught. Whatever the reason, the issue of performance standards needs to be addressed. It would seem obvious that tertiary institutions have an ethical obligation to assess students' ability and provide quality education. If they are not meeting this ethical obligation why should the taxpayer foot the bill?

Ultimately, the Government seeks to ensure that more New Zealanders are achieving at higher levels of tertiary education - a goal that cannot be achieved without taking positive action to create better outcomes for students through quality, relevant courses.

This approach, coupled with ensuring that Government funding is directed towards those who will utilise it most appropriately, will benefit taxpayers and society in general as the job market will ultimately benefit from people with relevant and appropriate skills.

Lest We Forget - The (So-Called) Girls War (March 5 1830)
In 1830 at the Bay of Islands an incident led to Nga Puhi expeditions against the southern iwi. Known as the 'Girls War', it all began when Captain WD Brind of a whaling vessel anchored off Kororareka (later Russell) took two Maori girls as wives. He tired of them after a while and took two other, younger girls - sisters - and discarded the first pair.

Soon afterwards the four girls were bathing on the beach at Kororareka, and began fighting amongst themselves while their mothers looked on. The mother of the first two girls rushed into the water and nearly drowned the other two.

This relatively minor incident led to an exchange of threats between the girls' iwi. Northern Nga Puhi (under the leadership of Ururoa) clashed with southern Nga Puhi (led by Kiwikiwi) on March 5, 1830. The following day an accidental discharge of a musket left a woman of the invading party dead and fighting erupted in which many were killed and wounded. Missionaries Samuel Marsden and Henry Williams became involved as intermediaries, trying to avert conflict, and played a role in the peace negotiations that left Kororareka in the control of northern Nga Puhi. Control of the town continued to be contested over the next seven years.

ENDS

Hon Heather Roy presentation to the Employers and Manufacturers' Association (EMA) Northern Members Policy Forum on 'One Law - One Door'; EMA Boardroom, Khyber Pass Road, Grafton, Auckland; Monday, March 1 2010.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm delighted to be here to speak to you today, and thank you John [King, EMA Board Vice President and Policy Forum Co-Chair] for the introduction.

Your group is part of an organisation that promotes business success by trying to create the most desirable environment for business and adding value through representation, knowledge and support, and I congratulate you for your success in this. As both industry representatives and consumers you are well-placed to provide constructive and informed feedback on the issues I'm going to address. I welcome the chance to provide you with a progress report on my 'One Law - One Door' initiative.

At the beginning of last year I met with my Ministry of Consumer Affairs officials and outlined my priorities for 2009 and through to the next election. It was at this planning session that I first spoke of my 'One Law - One Door' plans.

Over the past year there has been much work done by the Government in the area of Regulatory Responsibility. This work has its roots in ACT's Regulatory Responsibility Bill. This Private Members' Bill included provisions to reduce the amount of legislation and ensure that bad laws don't get passed, the emphasis being on quality legislation.

I have used the principles of this Bill as a guide in my governance of Consumer Affairs. Provisions included a regular review of all legislation to ensure it is still relevant, and a test for new laws being proposed through such questions as: what is this law for? What will the cost of implementing this law be? And what are the unintended consequences likely to be?

It is often mistakenly thought that consumers are just people purchasing goods or services. While it shouldn't be forgotten that businesses are consumers as well, there has been a trend toward an 'us and them' approach to legislation where the customer must somehow be 'protected' from potentially bad business. There are, of course, as many customers deceiving businesses about their credit-worthiness, or intent to actually purchase, as there are businesses withholding information about goods or services.

References about consumer confidence are easily found. In my view this means that the consumer is confident they have access to enough information to make their purchase decision, and that suitable remedies are available if things go wrong. It is possible, however, for a consumer to be over-confident and make inappropriate choices - for example: the raft of prospectuses, ratings and analyst reports did not help those who have lost out in recent years in the collapse of finance companies.

Effective consumer laws help create a competitive business environment in which consumers can transact with confidence and honest businesses compete on a level playing field. However, like other business regulation where consumer laws do not achieve their objective or are no longer relevant to the way the market operates, they can be a drag on the innovative potential of businesses.

A useful tool that we have to help educate consumers and business, and raise awareness of consumer legislation is the Ministry of Consumer Affairs website (www. consumeraffairs.govt.nz), which has recently been updated to better reflect the needs of both consumers and businesses. Providing information on dealing with consumers and how consumer legislation works, the site now features dedicated areas - titled 'For Consumers' and 'For Business' - with tailored information to audience needs. The website is now easier to navigate for all users and includes a problem-solver tool to get to the right information more quickly.

With this in mind, my planning began from the premise that simplicity is the key to effective market activity. I proposed that Ministry staff explore a simplification programme, which I called 'One Law - One Door'. The 'One Law' refers to a goal of a principle-based piece of consumer-supplier legislation similar to the approach found in the Privacy Act. My instructions were to review the 11 consumer-related laws for their relevance to today, as well as their ability to be relevant into the future as many seem to have been overtaken by time or technology. Then, how could these be merged to cover what is a relatively simple process of transaction with a buyer, a seller and a guiding set of principles to cover any trading scenario?

'One Door' refers to a simplified complaints apparatus rather than a system that leaves the consumer to negotiate the host of complaints and disputes tribunals, ombudsmen and so on that currently serve to confuse the applicant while sometimes adding cost to the taxpayer.

Both projects are making good progress and it is 'One Law' that I'd like to discuss today.

Before I delve into the detail of this, however, I'd like to share with you some of the results from the Ministry's National Consumer Survey 2009 (www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/consumersurvey-2009.pdf). This survey was carried out between June and August last year to gain insight into consumer issues including New Zealanders understanding of their rights, awareness and use of information sources when in a dispute, how to seek redress, and action taken to resolve problems, issues and disputes. A similar survey was conducted in 2005. The comparative data was useful, and also very instructional on many of the issues being examined in the 'One Law' work programme.

The survey showed that New Zealanders in general have a fairly good understanding of their consumer rights, in particular: consumers know they are entitled to have faulty goods repaired, replaced or refunded. Two-thirds of the 1,000 New Zealanders interviewed could name at least one piece of consumer legislation.

The survey also indicated that confidence in New Zealand law amongst consumers is strong. Most believe that current law will protect them if problems with transactions arise.

New Zealanders are generally aware too of services and organisations providing consumer advice, in particular the Citizens Advice Bureau (41 percent, up from 33 percent in 2005) and Consumer NZ (24 percent). A notable shift since the previous survey in 2005 is that 14 percent of consumers surveyed cited television programmes as a source of information or advice. This has increased from just six percent in 2005 and reflects the popularity of prime time television shows like 'Fair Go' and 'Target'.

What consumers didn't know has provided insight into areas where work must be focussed. It is clear from the survey that consumers don't fully understand the protection provided by the Consumer Guarantees Act. Another area of confusion is that of extended warranties. In general these do not give any additional rights to those provided under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

The survey also highlighted a number of knowledge gaps. Those with least knowledge are more likely to be female, under 30 or over 65, employed in a labouring role, and identify with an ethnic group other than NZ European.

So, in summary, issues that should be addressed include increasing the awareness of consumer laws and rights; providing greater levels of information for consumers through consumer advocacy or word-of-mouth as family and friends were cited as an important source of advice; the development of the 'One Door' complaints procedure to facilitate advice and assistance to consumers; and increasing awareness about the sale of extended warranties.

Overall, results of the survey were encouraging but also served to further support a 'One Law - One Door' policy. We know from the National Consumer Awareness Survey 2009 that consumers make a wide variety of transactions - ranging from the traditional retail experience, to using more modern purchase platforms such as the internet and buying from TV infomercials. With a variety of transaction options now taking place it is important that consumers and businesses are aware and protected through comprehensive and consolidated legislation, rather than the current piece-meal approach.

There are 11 laws that the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is responsible for. Each is being reviewed looking at its history and original purpose, its ongoing relevance and if still relevant, whether it is sufficiently up to date for consumer transactions of today. Each is also being examined to determine its overall effectiveness and its enforceability.

The 'One Law' work covers the: Fair Trading, Consumer Guarantees, Door to Door Sales, Lay-by Sales, Unsolicited Goods and Services, Weights and Measures, and Auctioneers Acts.

One example of why the review is necessary is the Auctioneers Act which has an interesting background, namely the reasoning behind the licensing fee. It is a quirky piece of legislation which came about in the late 1920's when livestock auctions were held frequently. The pure volume of livestock auctions created costs to local authorities in cleaning the "mess" from the streets following outdoor proceedings. It is this cost that provides the reasoning behind the licensing fee.

Obviously things have moved on since 1928 and the question of licensing of auctioneers needs to be reviewed. Certainly the current fee, and how it is distributed, should be reassessed to better suit a different time and age. On-line auctions, for example, are currently causing some concern - something not even imaginable in 1928.

Three other laws sit within the Commerce portfolio but are significant pieces of legislation affecting consumer transactions. They are the Carriage of Goods, Sales of Goods, and Sale of Goods (United Nations Convention) Acts. The decision has been made to also include them in the review.

A separate review occurring in parallel covers the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act and the Credit (Repossession) Act.

Consumer law not included in the review are the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 - which has only just recently been reviewed - and Part 3 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008.

The objectives of the review are two-fold: to define the principles underpinning New Zealand Consumer laws which will assist in the second objective of simplifying and consolidating existing consumer law.

To make the simplified 'One Law' a reality, initial thinking is to consolidate much of the current legislation into one strong, clear piece of law; in essence creating an enhanced Fair Trading Act. Under consideration is the purpose statement:

"To promote consumer well being by fostering effective competition and enabling the confident participation of consumers in markets in which both consumers and suppliers trade fairly and in good faith."

This statement places a responsibility on both the supplier and the consumer to undertake fair and honest transactions.
An enhanced Fair Trading Act would therefore aim to encompass legislation covering the following five areas, into 'One Law': unfair commercial practices, selling and duress, product safety, information to assist consumer decision-making, and trader obligations.

The enhanced Fair Trading Act would be complemented by the Consumer Guarantees Act. Sitting alongside these two laws could be an enhanced Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) - incorporating the Credit (Repossession) Act - and the Motor Vehicle Sales Act.

The Weights and Measures Act could also sit alongside or potentially be a separate part of an enhanced Fair Trading Act.

Good legislation is clear, enforceable, and routinely enforced. As part of the 'One Law' policy process, a range of enforcement options - with responsibility held by the Commerce Commission, the courts, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and trader obligations - are being considered.

The ongoing work towards a Single Economic Market (SEM) with Australia is playing an increasing role in the development of our legislation here. I am mindful of the six operational objectives the Ministerial Council of Consumer Affairs has agreed to in regard to consumer policy. These principles are:

1. To ensure that consumers are sufficiently well-informed to benefit from and stimulate effective competition;
2. To ensure that goods and services are safe and fit for the purposes for which they were sold;
3. To prevent practices that are unfair;
4. To meet the needs of those consumers who are most vulnerable or are at the greatest disadvantage;
5. To provide accessible and timely redress where consumer detriment has occurred; and
6. To promote proportionate, risk-based enforcement.

These principles could be used to underpin any changes to New Zealand's consumer laws.
To complete the picture I'll also speak briefly about progress with the 'One Door' policy. What I envisage is the 'One Door' acting as a portal - one place to go to seek advice when a consumer transaction doesn't progress as expected. We have a Disputes Tribunal, disputes resolution schemes, ombudsmen as well as many organisations doing a great job in assisting those who know where to find them. However many consumers remain confused about their options. Too many, and most often those least able to absorb a financial loss just give up and do nothing. 'One Door' aims to be the one place to go first to access the advice on "where to from here".

Again simplicity is the key, and we will soon be in a position to progress 'One Door' further in the next few months.
Achieving a 'One Law - One Door' policy will be a significant positive step forward for consumer law in New Zealand. Providing effective consumer law will help to further foster a competitive business environment in which consumers can transact with confidence and honest businesses compete on a level playing field.

We still have many steps to take before 'One Law - One Door' is achieved, but with the work plan in place my goal is to have this new legislation to rationalise consumer laws within the Parliamentary process before the next election.

Thank you.

ENDS

Hon Heather Roy speech to launch Fraud Awareness Week 2010; Vodafone, Viaduct Harbour Avenue; Auckland; Monday March 1 2010.

Thank you, Tom, for your introduction - and my thanks to Vodafone for hosting the launch of Fraud Awareness Week 2010.

It's a pleasure to launch New Zealand's fifth - and my second - Fraud Awareness campaign. Thank you all for being here. It's great to see the support from across the public, private and community sectors.

I would rather be standing here today to tell you we're beating the scammers but that - sadly - isn't the case. Despite best efforts here and internationally, we may never completely get rid of the scammers. After all: they spend their time honing their skills and bombarding the globe with dodgy emails and fake lottery letters. But positive initiatives, such as this globally co-ordinated Fraud Awareness Week, help to combat much of their destructive work.

New Zealand is not immune to scams, and education is our best defence. By educating people to recognise the signs and hallmarks of a scam, we can reduce their likelihood of becoming victims.

That's where Fraud Awareness Week comes in; to raise awareness of scams and encourage people to visit the Scamwatch website - where they'll find out how to spot a scam, and report a scam to us. And we promote Scamwatch and Fraud Awareness Week through partner agencies such as yourselves. So thank you.

Scamwatch is an online service provided by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. It is hosted on the Ministry website at www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/scamwatch/ and warns New Zealand consumers about specific types of scams.

In the past year, Scamwatch has received more than 2,500 scam reports; this is probably the tip of the iceberg. For every scam reported to Scamwatch, there are likely to be many more that go unreported - either, for example, because people automatically hit the delete key to a phishing email (which is great; they've learnt to spot a scam) or sadly in the cases of a large financial loss, people may be reluctant to share their story for fear of admitting they've been scammed.

Recent research commissioned by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs asked consumers if they believed they had been scammed or tricked out of money ... either from someone tricking them into giving money for something that does not exist, or giving money for something that does not happen. Fifteen percent of those adults interviewed answered yes to this question.

The research also suggests that the likelihood of being scammed or tricked out of money does not differ substantially by education, income or age.

Scamwatch receives a wide variety of reports. By far, the most heavily reported are the fantastical lottery wins from overseas - closely followed by advance-fee-fraud scams, or the 'Nigerian letter' scam. These scams ask you to send money overseas to, for example, unlock an inheritance from a previously unknown second-cousin who died in a plane crash; or to help a banker transfer a few million dollars from a foreign bank account. All they need is for you to send a few hundred dollars for administration costs - and then a few thousand in taxes. You'll never hear from them again ... unless they want more money.

Behind these reports are real victims who have lost money - sometimes their life-savings - to scammers.

One tragic story was reported to Scamwatch just weeks ago: a man approached a Wellington woman on a social networking website, and they began talking online. Over time, they formed a romantic relationship. He seemed compassionate and friendly, telling her about his role as Project Manager for an aid company building a hospital in West Africa.

Over the two months they communicated, the man said nothing untoward - so when he requested a brief loan to ensure his project could be completed on time, the woman obliged. She ended up losing $50,000 and now - broke and heartbroken - must sell her home.

A sad story. But even sadder is that it's not as uncommon as one may think.

Inevitably, we ask: "why do people fall for scams?" Surely everyone knows you can't win a lottery if you haven't bought a ticket. Or that a legitimate dog breeder in Christchurch is unlikely to ask you to pay in advance for a puppy via money transfer to Cameroon.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs' British counterpart is the Office of Fair Trading. Last year it commissioned research from the University of Exeter to determine the psychology behind the statistics and stories.

The researchers concluded that a mixture of thought-processes and motivations is at work when someone responds to a scam.

Motivationally, people respond because they feel the scam is an unusually good offer. They can envisage what it would be like to have that money and may be more easily persuaded than most people.

Cognitively, those who respond to a scam are often more likely to know the subject the scam is about. The research suggested that people with experience of playing legitimate prize draws and lotteries may be more likely to fall for a lottery scam than those with less knowledge and experience. Feeling they have experience in this area can actually increase their risk of becoming a victim.

Education is the key to preventing people from becoming scam victims. People need to know how to recognise a scam for what it is, and to move away from the attitude that scams happen to 'other people'. Most people know that scams occur, but few believe that they will be the target.

But they can be. There were more than 56,000 visitors to Scamwatch last year - and increase of over 9,000 from the year before. While it is difficult to measure, I'm sure we have stopped some people falling victim to the scammers by consumers being able to recognise the signs of a scam and doing the right thing: not responding. By ignoring them, you fool them into believing you don't exist; then they can't take your money.

Thanks to NetSafe, we have a new important tool in the war on scams - the 'Scam Machine'. NetSafe is an independent non-profit organisation that aims to educate all New Zealanders about safe, secure and responsible use of information and communication technology. You will soon hear more from NetSafe Executive Director Martin Cocker about the new 'Scam Machine'.

I want to finish by thanking all the partner agencies - private, public and community - that help to promote Fraud Awareness Week and Scamwatch:

The Office of the Banking Ombudsman; Consumer NZ; Crimestoppers NZ; the Department of Internal Affairs; IAG New Zealand; Inland Revenue; Microsoft; the Ministry of Economic Development; Netsafe; the New Zealand Bankers Association; TSB; ASB; BNZ; Kiwibank; the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation; New Zealand Police; the Office of the Privacy Commissioner; Securities Commission; Sella; the Serious Fraud Office; Symantec; Telecom; Telstra Clear; TradeMe; Visa New Zealand; Western Union; and, of course, Vodafone New Zealand.

You are all helping to raise New Zealanders' awareness about scams and how they operate.

The best test, in my view, is this: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Thank you.

ENDS

Hon Heather Roy speech to the 150th Anniversary Celebrations of the 4TH Otago and Southland Battalion Group; Saturday, February 27 2010.

Land Component Commander, Brigadier David Gawn; Director Army Reserves, Brigadier Anthony Howie, Commander 3rd Land Force Group, Colonel Phil McKee; Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Roger McElwain; Honorary Colonel, Colonel Stuart McLachlan; Chair of the organising committee, Major Lance Nicholas; distinguished guests, members of the Regiment, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for the invitation to join you tonight in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the establishment of one of New Zealand's oldest and proudest military regiments. It is a great pleasure, as the Defence Minister responsible for Reserves, to attend events such as this. It is made more special by my family links with the region and this unit. Tonight, I intend to focus my speech on the personal rather than the political aspects of our Defence Force.

I was born and raised in Palmerston. Both my Grandfathers were involved in the First World War. I'm too young to remember the rare occasions when 'Granddad Jack' would reveal some small, fireside snippet of his First World War experiences. It was said that there was a tear in his eye as he reminisced. Granddad Jack was a Sergeant in the Otago Mounted Rifles and I recall a photo of him, in uniform and riding breeches, standing next to his horse as he prepared for deployment in 1914.

He was trained for Gallipoli but at the last minute diverted to fierce trench warfare in France. Though he suffered, like so many others, the ravages of muddy trenches, shrapnel and gas - he believed that he was one of the lucky ones.

Once, while occupying cold, damp trenches, they got extra food rations that were not intended for them. Everyone was hungry and most wanted the double rations, but Jack said that was not fair. He personally delivered the extra tins of bully beef to the rightful owners. When he returned, his companions had received a direct artillery hit, with several dead and many others injured. The battlefield, however, has no favourites and his errand could just have easily cost him his life instead of sparing it.

The 'luck', or lack thereof that every soldier is acutely aware of was highlighted by Major General Sir A.H. Russell, in his tribute to this unit in the Official History of the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. in the Great War 1914-1918. He noted:

"It must be said that fate, especially in the earlier years, seemed to take a sinister pleasure in placing the Otago Regiment in the hottest corners of the fight. Pope's Hill, May 2nd, 1915; the raid at Armentieres on July 13th-14th, 1916; and Goose Alley on September 27th of the same year, were hard days."

It is no surprise then, that this unit is acknowledged by so many battle honours and personal gallantry awards - the pinnacle of which are the Victoria Crosses awarded to Sergeants Donald Brown and Clive Hulme. My own Army unit, the 5th Wellington, West Coast and Taranaki Battalion Group also shares a special relationship with this Regiment. It was on the night of 8/9 August 1915 on Chunuk Bair, that the Wellington Regiment, having lost its CO, Lieutenant Colonel William Malone and most of its officers, was relieved by the Otago Regiment and the Wellington Mounted Rifles. Our roots run deep and wide and, tonight, I feel very much at home here amongst you.

In 1860, Dunedin and Invercargill were small coastal towns around which there were thriving settler communities working to support themselves, their local community and the region. However, across New Zealand, fears were held for the security of this burgeoning colony and the call went out for the establishment of a citizen militia. Otago and Southland followed on from New Plymouth and Christchurch, and formed their own Militia Districts in February, 1860. So began your formal military contribution to the nation.

Your sacrifices over 150 years have also formed strong international bonds and, because of that, you enjoy regimental alliances with The Highlanders, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and The Royal South Australia Regiment. Since the 1990's, members of the Otago Southland Battalion Group have served in a variety of places across the world, including Timor Leste, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and the Sinai. Currently there are 15 members of the Battalion on deployment to the Solomon Islands, one more is in the Sinai, two are in Timor Leste and another is in Antarctica. You represent the timeless bond between New Zealand society and its protectors and, for the sacrifices that you have made and will continue to make; I wish to offer the thanks of a grateful nation.

I know that it can be demoralising to work so hard at recruiting and training soldiers only to have them leave for other parts of the country. No doubt, similar discussions are held often at the Highlander's rugby franchise headquarters. However, I am amazed at the number of 4 O South personnel, past and present, that I meet in my travels around the country.

The parade that I reviewed at the Officer Cadet School in Waiouru last Friday was no exception. You are, without doubt, a major source of quality personnel for the New Zealand Defence Force and I would much rather have smaller units like yours producing high quality servicemen and women than large, fully-manned organisations populated with unfit, under-trained or un-deployable soldiers.

You will be aware that a review of New Zealand's defence is underway. Tonight is not for politics but I wish to give you a 'soldier's five' on this process. Being a professional soldier, in my view, is more about heart, attitude and spirit than the nature of one's employment contract. I am committed to the ongoing redevelopment of a strong, vibrant and relevant Reserve focus for the Defence Force. This will not be achieved by turning our backs on history. The Colours of the 6 Reserve Regiments are a major part of the whakapapa of the New Zealand Army and they will not be laid up on my watch as Minister.

I also wish to acknowledge, tonight, the Army's debt to your families - who also serve our nation every day - your parents who imbued the values that enabled you to choose to serve; your whanau who have and will continue to speak proudly of their Mum, Dad, brother, sister or cousin in the Army; your partners and your children. Your employers, who are a vital, but often forgotten part of the formula of success for modern Reserve Forces.

Young Kiwis have unhesitatingly put their lives on the line decade after decade. So too have our Australian neighbours and the best young people of every country in the free world. Those who have served the cause of freedom, in any way whatsoever, can look into their own hearts and draw deductions, with confidence, about what the fallen would want us to remember. Amid the chaos and discomfort, the exhaustion and the boredom - one desire rises above all others - to leave our children a legacy of peace and freedom.

And, lest we forget, the price of peace and freedom is eternal vigilance. As the old Scottish saying goes ... "whas like us? Damn few and they're mostly daid!"

Kia mate toa.

ENDS

Hon Heather Roy speech to ACT New Zealand National Conference 2010; Wellington College, Dufferin Street, Wellington; Saturday, February 27 2010.

ACT President Michael Crozier, Board members, Parliamentary colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

All people are created equal and possess certain inalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
One of the best-known quotes in the English language is that found in the United States Declaration of Independence that says “We hold these truths to be self-evident”. The document goes on to say that all people are created equal and possess certain inalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without doubt, this could be the ethos of the ACT Party and reminds us that we embrace a tradition that is over 200 years old.

Discussions about vision, strategy, goals and brand have dominated ACT Party fora for as long as we have existed. They are all important debates to be had but, at the mid-point in this electoral cycle it is far more important, in order to prepare ourselves for the 2011 election and beyond, to go back to first principles – to self-evident truths.

We need a constructive campaign separation strategy
Today, I intend to do just that, with the intent that this will provoke wide and healthy debate and form the basis for a constructive campaign separation strategy from the other parties in Government. I wish to start with three fundamental questions – Who are we? Why do we do what we do? Where are we headed?

To many of you, these may seem like rhetorical questions and as self-evident as my earlier quote from the US Declaration of Independence. However, being part of Government for the first time has brought about many compromises; some pragmatic and some profound but all inclined to obscure our unique role in the political landscape.

Who are we? What is our identity as a group?

It is usual for commentators and public alike to cite the formation, in 1993, of the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers or the opportunity provided, in 1996, by MMP as the answer to these questions. Our early by-line ‘freedom, choice and personal responsibility’ would be the response of many. Some will quote the doyens of classical liberalism in the 19th & 20th centuries, in explaining what ACT stands for. However, our whakapapa can be traced back many more centuries. In understanding ACT’s identity – in understanding ourselves - we must recognise that we represent, politically, the fundamental and constitutional principles established in documents that transformed the world, such as the Magna Carta – The Great Charter of Freedoms - in the 13th century.
ACT’s principles align with those found in documents, like the Magna Carta, that transformed the world.

We are a Party that is focussed on the legacy we leave our children, rather than short-term tactical gains
Why do we do what we do? The answer to this can be found in those same founding documents. Our political ethos is based on the passionate defence of economic and social freedoms. In the case of the Magna Carta, these include personal freedom and safety, due legal process, property rights, fair trade and protection from corruption. We aspire to minimise the role of Government in people’s lives. The gains that ACT has made in areas ranging from school choice, law and order, and reducing red tape are the sorts of outcomes that we ultimately wish to see extended to all Kiwis. We are a party that is focussed on the legacy we leave our children, rather than short-term tactical gains.

Where are we headed? There is no doubt in my mind that being part of the Government has benefitted us. We have transitioned from being simply a ‘Party of Ideas’ to seeing many of our political aspirations either implemented or in train. However, this has not come without cost. Our poll ratings remain low at a time when our media profile is high. Minor parties traditionally bear the electoral consequences of unpopular decisions by Government and their achievements are often claimed by the major Party. We can and have been caught up in negative public sentiment over the actions of other MPs and other Parties. As Owen McShane says, “New Zealanders love government but also hate politicians and political parties”.

We risk being portrayed as L.I.N.O. – Liberal In Name Only.
As part of a conservative-led Government, we in ACT want to see bolder economic reform. Of equal or greater concern, however, is the difficulty of maintaining our socially liberal perspective under a supply and confidence agreement with the National Party. We risk being portrayed, to amend the American journalistic acronym, as L.I.N.O. – ‘Liberal in Name Only’. Each and every one of us has to face the challenge daily of ensuring that we are not cast as representing something other than the founding principles on which ACT was formed.

I am pleased to have entered Parliament 8 years ago as an Opposition MP. It was a hard apprenticeship but one which prepared me well for my time as a Government Minister. I acknowledge, as I did at last October’s Auckland South Regional Conference, that some of you may feel frustrated that you have not seen as much of your Parliamentary team as you have in the past. However, I also know that you appreciate seeing implementation of, or progress on, many of the initiatives that we have campaigned tirelessly for over the years. These include the Aspire Scholarships for Independent Schools, an Inter-Party Working Group Report for School Choice, a Special Education Review, a Defence Review and a consolidation of consumer law to mention just those within my portfolio areas. I am confident that these initiatives will result in improvements in efficiency and productivity.

I am proud of the efforts of the entire ACT caucus
Given the increased Ministerial workload, I was delighted when David Garrett accepted the vital but time-consuming role of Party Whip late last year. It is a core role of leadership to ensure that a succession plan is put in place and I’m sure that he has the ability to serve the Party effectively in this job.

I am particularly proud of belonging to the ACT Caucus. Roger, John and David have borne the brunt of house duty when Ministerial and other duties have resulted in Rodney and me being away from Parliament.

Roger has kept the pressure on the Government regarding economic reform and willingly took on my Voluntary Student Membership Private Member’s Bill. He now also has his Bill on Minimum Youth Wages drawn for consideration.

John has been the stalwart of ACT’s position on the electoral finance, anti-smacking and emissions trading legislation.

David has been the Party’s voice for the 3 strikes legislation which we know will make a huge difference to the safety of all Kiwis.

Rodney’s work in local Government, the subject of much current and no doubt future scrutiny, is an essential but time-consuming undertaking that will benefit all New Zealanders for generations to come.

But no matter how much patient, hard work we put in ACT remains vulnerable to unexpected events beyond our control. These are sometimes called “black swans” after Nassim Taleb’s bestseller ‘The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable’.

A ‘Black Swan’ is the occurrence of high-impact, hard-to-predict and rare events beyond normal expectations
A ‘Black Swan’ is the occurrence of high-impact, hard-to-predict and rare events that are beyond the realm of normal expectations. Despite our hard work and successes, we have already seen the black swans overhead. We will see them again before the next election.

Now I’m sure that Lech Beltowski won’t mind me pointing out that, as appealing as it seems, a 12 gauge shotgun is not going to help with this type of swan. Taleb offers 10 principles for building resilience to black swan events. My favourite is “People who were driving a school bus blindfolded (and crashed it) should never be given a new bus”.

ACT must focus on Party Vote – rather than simply holding Epsom and wallowing at current poll ratings.
What does that mean in practical terms? Holding an electorate seat and a couple of percentage points of Party Vote is not good enough. If all that our message is worth, in electoral terms, is drifting around between 1% and 4% and that, in order to achieve our aims we are reliant on Rodney holding Epsom, then we are not free to choose very much at all! No company would base its future on such a premise. We must stamp out our electoral space in the same way that the Greens have on the other side of the political spectrum. That means at least 8% of the vote. If we can hold one or more electorates, that should be a bonus – not a raison d’être.

So what is our way forward?
Leslie Householder, in her book "The Jackrabbit Factor!" offered this parable -
‘A man was on a journey and came to a field. In this field he observed a dog, jumping around, darting to and fro, disappearing in the long, long grass each time he landed. The man stayed back, fearing that the dog had a terrible disease that caused him to jerk wildly and bark incessantly. Cautiously, he passed alongside the field on the well-paved path, keeping an eye on the ravenous dog to be sure it did not harm him. Coming to the end of the field, suddenly the dog appeared in front of him, holding a jackrabbit in its jaws. Placidly, the dog glanced at the man, and walked away.
Mimicking the actions of others or following a well worn path will not bring about success.
This man was hungry. Thinking about the dog, he decided it would be nice if he could have a rabbit to eat, too. So he turned around, retraced his steps along the path for a time, and entered the grassy field. "Well, here I go," he said, and he began to jump and dart, growl and bark. Up and down, back and forth, trying to duplicate all of the dog’s crazy movements, believing this would somehow produce a rabbit. All day long he did this, and at the end of the day, he was still hungry, and very, very tired.
Disappointed, he returned to the well-paved path. He said to himself, "This is a well-paved path; many people have traveled this way before. I guess I just need to stay on it, and eat whatever I find along the way." ‘.
If we consider recent political history then the New Zealand voters are most unkind to the minority parties in government. Since the beginning of MMP they have suffered disproportionately from any discontent with the governing coalition. Winston Peters and the Alliance both suffered this fate. Jim Anderton then invented the Progressive Party but it has now been quietly put to sleep.

So how can ACT avoid the mistake of the hungry man in the Parable of the Jackrabbit? We start with some advantages.

Firstly, we are an ideological party. The Alliance, United Future and especially New Zealand First were simply vehicles for their leaders’ ambition. None of them could survive a change in leadership. The Greens and ACT are a different species. We agree on very little but we are both ideological and are founded on principles.

Our second advantage is that there are now fewer third parties around. The Alliance and New Zealand First have gone and Peter Dunne holds his seat at National’s pleasure. The Maori Party has recently emerged but I can safely say that they do not hunt in our territory. Furthermore the Maori Party are, surprisingly, often our allies. Past experience has told us that the New Zealand voter loves to split their vote and that is to our advantage.

Third, there is a slow but profound change in how people get their news. The “old media” of newspapers and television face increasing competition from the internet. The impact is greatest on the young. In online polls ACT does surprisingly well.

ACT is the only Party that thinks people do better in control of their own lives.
There are also of course many challenges. Many people cannot see the difference between the National Party and ACT. The differences are large because ACT is alone in thinking that people do better when they are largely in control of their own lives. Virtually every other party feels that they have greater wisdom than the general populace but differ as to what direction they should be pushed.

Most governments try to organise tax to maximise the tax take, although the last Labour government organised the tax regime to maximise the Labour vote. Only ACT wants a tax rate that would maximise economic growth.

But our problem as being seen as an adjunct to National isn’t going to go away easily.

Our problem is to differentiate ourselves from National without destabilizing Government.
We have, of course, reserved the right to criticise the government by taking posts out of Cabinet. This allows us to criticise policy outside of our portfolio areas. So our problem becomes one of differentiating ourselves from National without destabilising government - hence my earlier reference to a constructive campaign separation strategy.

But the National Party is naturally cautious and reform tends to be slow. The political problem with this is that the government doesn’t dictate the agenda. In this vacuum, credit card indiscretions by National Ministers’ dominate the headlines whilst government spending spirals out of control to the tune of billions of dollars.

My own feeling is that we should stick to our principled policy positions and shout about them when all other parties have lost sight of New Zealanders core values. The anti-smacking and emission trading policies are examples of where this has happened already.

ACT has a number of policy positions which are unique and we will continue to articulate them but that doesn't mean the government will fall. It won’t be ACT versus National but ACT versus all other parties. If that equates to being seen as radical, then yes I guess we are. To me that simply means principled.

ACT must maintain its vision, stick to its principles if it is to leave a worthy legacy for the generations that follow.
ACT won the support of over 86,000 people at the last election on a campaign theme of ‘Bring Our Children Home’. To me, this still provides a powerful vision for the creation of a New Zealand - in terms of economic strength, safety, education, health and lifestyle - that would be irresistible to our young people as a first choice for where they wanted to live and raise their children. It would not only offer more than any overseas choice, but would tempt the nearly half a million who had already become expatriate Kiwis, to return - and to bring their families and collective ability and wealth with them.
I believe, like you, that this is a compelling vision and its achievement will be a legacy worthy of our children and grandchildren. By working together, we can make it happen.
Thank You.

Hon Heather Roy speech at the Launch and Signing of the Contract for Provision of Special Education Specialist Qualifications; Tea Gardens, Museum Building, Massey University, Wellington; Thursday, February 25 2010.

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

Good afternoon, and thank you for your warm welcome.

I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the signing of the contract between the Ministry of Education, Massey University and the University of Canterbury to develop and deliver the Post-graduate Qualifications in Specialist Teaching. It's very encouraging to see universities, the Ministry of Education and the special education sector coming together to make a difference for young people with special education needs.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the work done by Massey and Canterbury Universities to make the development of these new and exciting qualifications possible. Thank you to Massey University Vice-Chancellor Hon Steve Maharey and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor James Chapman of Massey University; and to Canterbury University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Gail Gillon.

Thank you also to Secretary for Education Karen Sewell, Deputy Secretary Nicholas Pole and their colleagues for their efforts in establishing the new qualification framework to address the skills and competencies required for the future workforce in special education.

Education expert Professor John Hattie from the University of Auckland identified in his research that the thing that can make the greatest difference to a student's achievement is the teacher. He said: "It is what teachers know, do, and care about which is very powerful in this learning equation." This is every bit as true in special education as it is for all students' education.

Young people with special education needs deserve to receive the best support we can provide, to ensure that they are able to participate and achieve - both within the education system and in the wider community.

As Associate Minister of Education with responsibility for special education, I have visited many schools and organisations that provide education and services for children with special needs. Wherever I go, I hear of the need for teacher training in special education - of how important it is for families to have access to specialist teachers who know how to work in partnership with them and support a child with a disability to learn.

The Post Graduate Qualifications in Specialist Teaching are an important step toward ensuring the provision of high-quality services to the students who need the most support to learn - no matter where they live in New Zealand. The new post-graduate qualification framework will make it easier for teachers to specialise in special education - meaning that more schools will be able to successfully address their students' special education needs.

Thanks to Massey University's expertise in delivering distance education, teachers throughout the country will be able to take advantage of flexible delivery modes - such as e-learning and face-to-face meetings - making it easier for them to study part-time while still working.

Multiple exit points will allow teachers to study towards a certificate, postgraduate diploma or master's degree. They will be able to increase their skills or gain a new position in the special education sector. They will also study alongside other types of special education specialist teachers. We can expect promotion of a shared understanding, common language and collaborative approach between special education fields.

Over the next year Massey University, the University of Canterbury and the Ministry of Education will be working with special education stakeholders to develop the specialist content of the qualifications. Enrolments will commence in 2011.

The Government's Review of Special Education also identifies the importance of teacher education in fulfilling the capability required for schools to succeed. Effective classroom teachers are one of the key contributors to success for all students - and, for students with special education needs, the success is likely to be greater when classroom teachers have access to quality additional specialist teacher and specialist support.

High quality teacher education and high quality training for specialist teachers and specialist services is critical if we are to achieve success for all students. I encourage everyone in the Education sector to give careful consideration to the issues and options within the Special Education Review discussion document and provide feedback.

You are all here today because of your desire to make a difference for young people with special education needs, their families, their schools and communities.

Together we can build a skilled workforce to ensure that all students can participate at school and achieve in the community. If we can provide the right support for students with special education needs, everyone will benefit.

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. I wish you all the best for your work together now and in the future.

ENDS

The greatest legacy parents can leave their children is to prepare them to succeed in the world they will inherit - a world characterised by rapid continuous change, and increasing complexity and ambiguity. The successful citizen not only needs a broad range of skills, knowledge and experience but also well-refined tools for continuous self-learning.

With this in mind I joined my National, ACT and Maori Party colleagues this week to launch 'Step Change: Success The Only Option' - the report of the Inter-Party Working Group on School Choice.

Born from the National-ACT Confidence & Supply Agreement, the IPWG was formed in April 2009 and consisted of National MPs Hekia Parata, Chester Borrows, and Jonathan Young; Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell; and ACT MPs Sir Roger Douglas and myself as Chair.

We were tasked with reviewing policy options for funding and regulation of schools to increase parental choice and school autonomy. For the past year we reviewed current practice here, and best practice overseas, complementing our research with visits to schools around the country. The culmination of this work was two reports: one supported by all Group members; the other written by Sir Roger Douglas and myself.

Step Change: Success The Only Option
Although New Zealand's student achievement at higher levels of literacy and numeracy compares well with other countries, our students perform poorly at the lower percentiles.

'Step Change' focuses on those most in need, and those not being served by the current education system - the 20 percent of students who are failing, and the top five percent who are gifted and talented. The report acknowledges that better educational outcomes are possible for all students, and is underpinned by four principles:

* Choice: for students to develop a personal learning plan and for them to choose a learning provider who will meet their needs, interests and goals.
* Flexibility: for providers to expand and find staff, curricula and pedagogies that match student needs.
* Quality: that is reflected in school leadership, teaching, content and student performance outcomes.
* Accountability: that sees providers measured by outcomes pertaining to student success and satisfaction.

The report recommends an eight-step programme to improve outcomes for these students. Most importantly, it emphasises the needs of the student through a personalised learning pathway. Aimed at six-16 year-olds, its goal is to shift the focus of education on to the student to ensure the primary education relationship is between the provider and the student and family. Its key elements are:

1. Student identification
2. Provider identification
3. Provider prospectuses
4. Students(and family/whanau) choose a principal provider and/or a range of providers
5. Personal learning plan agreed
6. First (of two) tranche of student performance fee paid to provider
7. Performance of student monitored and assessed, amended and supported as necessary including provider, broker/mentor, and family/whanau
8. Student succeeds - second tranche of student performance fee paid as a success bonus to provider.

Determining the logistics of putting this programme in place would be the role of a taskforce - which the IPWG recommends that Education Minister Anne Tolley appoint now, so as to have the 'Step Change' proposals ready for implementation in the 2011 school year.

A copy of 'Step Change: Success The Only Option' is available at: www.roy.org.nz

Free To Learn
Although ACT is fully supportive of the recommendations put forward in 'Step Change' we would, as usual, like to take things further.
Motivated by a deep desire for every New Zealand student to reach their full potential and leave school with the skills necessary to succeed in the wider community - 'Free To Learn' makes recommendations that would affect the entire education system and every student, rather than just the bottom 20 percent and top five percent.

There is no argument that something must be done to improve the situation for this 25 percent, but ACT understands that real and meaningful education reform cannot occur if we exclude 75 percent - the vast majority - of our student body.

Covering several areas in education - including teachers and training, information, property, and funding - 'Free to Learn' submits a case for enabling a range of providers to enter the education sector, for schools to have the independence to innovate and meet student needs, and for funding to be available to every family to take to the school of their choice.

Not only would these changes inevitably create a diverse, competitive, innovative, and accountable education system but - most importantly - it would create an equitable education system.

School choice in New Zealand is currently only truly available for those who either have the capacity to pay tuition fees, or are willing and able to make enormous sacrifices. Creating a system where choice is available from a range of options, and where money follows the student, ensures that every family - regardless of income - can select the best education.

'Free to Learn' builds and expands on ACT's existing policies. One out of every five students in New Zealand is failing - leaving school without the literacy and numeracy skills they need to survive, let alone succeed, in daily life. Clearly some parts our education system are in urgent need of reform.

'Free to Learn' proposes to do just that: create a system where schools have real incentives to raise student achievement to benefit the whole of our society.

'Free To Learn' can be downloaded at: www.roy.org.nz.

Lest We Forget - First Frozen Meat Cargo Sails From New Zealand
During the 1880s, the New Zealand and Australian Land Company decided to attempt to ship frozen meat to Europe. Shipping from Australia had been underway for 20 years, but the longer voyage from New Zealand had previously been deemed unviable.

The company built an export slaughterhouse at Totara Estate, near Oamaru, from where 95 percent of the first cargo would originate. Carcasses were transported by horse and cart to Oamaru, then by steam train to Port Chalmers, where they were frozen and loaded on the sailing ship Dunedin.

The Dunedin set sail on February 15 1882 and when the ship arrived in London three months later, all but one of the carcasses were in perfect condition.

This voyage paved the way for New Zealand's frozen meat and dairy industry. It helped lift New Zealand from the recession of the 1880s and became the cornerstone of our current economy, earning New Zealand the reputation as 'Britain's Farmyard'. The brave seafarers of this and other similar journeys are remembered with a memorial at the Port of Oamaru.

ENDS