Good evening.
Thank you for the invitation to be here with you to celebrate the innovation and leadership of the businesses in and around Tokoroa.
I’d like to acknowledge Mayor Neil Sinclair. Neil is eternally optimistic, a real champion for this town and this district. To Jenny, from Classic Hits, Paula at South Waikato News and Ian at Carter Holt Harvey – thank you for your hard work and support for this event.
I would like to extend my congratulations to all the finalists here tonight; you can take great pride in your hard work. I have trained as a business excellence evaluator and so I know the commitment involved in entering business awards let alone being selected as a finalist.
Small business is the life blood of the New Zealand economy. I started my first business at age 19 and have had a wide range of business experience prior to entering Parliament. I understand the trials and triumphs of owning and running a business, big and small, and the challenges that many of you have overcome.
The locally owned and operated businesses are the heart of our nation. You are the people that prove over and over again the power of New Zealanders’ ‘kiwi ingenuity’ and our ‘can do’ attitude.
Local businesses provide the lifeblood of our communities. You are our employers, you are our educators, and you are our providers.
As you know, the scale and speed of the recession caught even the gloomiest forecasters by surprise.
Through this I am proud to see so many businesses persevering and many even continuing to grow.
I am proud to represent you as you do this.
And I am proud to be part of a Government that is committed to supporting businesses throughout this time.
Earlier this year we introduced a small businesses relief package to provide support for businesses around the country. This included a range of changes to make doing business easier, and a $480 million suite of tax cuts to stimulate the economy and put more money in everyone’s back pocket.
We also fast tracked half a billion dollars worth of infrastructure development, including improving our state highway network, upgrading our schools, and investing in faster, better broadband for all New Zealanders.
I am proud that the first New Zealand Cycle Trail will be launched by the Prime Minister John Key here in the South Waikato on Tuesday. This will provide many opportunities that our community needs to seize.
I thank you again for the opportunity to be here to celebrate your success, and I thank you for the contribution you’ve made to our community and to our nation.
There are exciting times ahead. Like John Key, I believe the best years are still ahead of us and I look forward to working with each of you going forward. |