Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good afternoon and thank you for coming to this pre-Budget speech.

I want to thank Business New Zealand for hosting this event today. And I want to thank them for the very constructive role they play in representing New Zealand businesses and employers.

Budget 2012 will show the Government is on track and sticking to its plan.

As Bill English said in a speech a few days ago, we are set to post an operating surplus in 2014/15.

We don’t have the final forecasts through from Treasury yet, but we have enough headroom now to be sure that there will be a surplus in that year.

It might not be the world’s biggest surplus, on current forecasts. But in 2014/15, for the first time since the global financial crisis and the worldwide recession, the Government’s books will be back in the black.

That’s a testament to disciplined fiscal policy and a willingness to make trade-offs.

As you know, this year will see our second zero Budget.

Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow National Party members, welcome to the Mainland Region conference for 2012.

It’s a pleasure to be here in Dunedin at this great new stadium. What an asset it was during the Rugby World Cup, and continues to be.

I’m proud to be here as leader of this great Party – the National Party.

And I’m proud to be here as your Prime Minister.

I’d like to thank you all for being here today.

You are loyal National Party members and you make this Party strong.

It is because of you that National is in government today.

It’s now five months since we won the support of New Zealanders to lead this country for a second term.

On election day last year over a million New Zealanders voted for our clear plan to build a brighter future.

Kiwis said yes to more jobs and less debt.

They said yes to reforming welfare and raising achievement in schools.

They said yes to our tough stance on crime.

And they said yes to our comprehensive plan to build a more competitive economy.

Last election we achieved the highest party vote share ever seen under MMP – 47.3 per cent.

And we lifted that vote from a position of being in government – that’s a great achievement.
Fellow National Party members, we couldn’t have done it without you.

From the volunteers right through to our candidates, we ran a well-funded, well-directed campaign that won the support of New Zealanders.

Selamat pagi. Tena koe. Good morning.

It’s a great pleasure to be here in Indonesia and it’s a great pleasure to be addressing this distinguished gathering of Indonesian and New Zealand business.

This is my first visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister. But like the rest of the world I have been watching your country with admiration.

Your progress in the 21st Century has been extraordinary.

You are emerging as an economic powerhouse – already one of the 20 biggest economies in the world and growing at over six per cent a year, despite the global financial crisis.

Good morning, it’s great to be here.

I’d like to acknowledge my Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, and the many other youth health experts here today.

It’s a privilege for me to be here with so many people who are committed to the health and wellbeing of our young people.

Thank you for the work that you do.

I share your passion for the future of our young New Zealanders.

As I travel around New Zealand, the energy and enthusiasm of the vast majority of our young people makes me hugely optimistic for our country.

So many kids are on the right track and have high aspirations for their future.

But I worry about some kids – those who finding the transition from childhood to adulthood tough going.

I worry about kids who are not getting the opportunities they need to succeed in the modern world. That’s why we’ve introduced our Youth Guarantee and Trades Academies policies, which give young people more choices to get the training they need.

I worry about the kids who are dropping out of school and lacking direction. That’s why we’re wrapping support around them through our ambitious welfare reforms.

I worry about the kids who’ve gone badly off the rails in their teenage years. That’s why we’ve taken the bold step of introducing Fresh Start programmes and expanded Limited Service Volunteers.

And I worry about the kids who are struggling with mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

This last group is the group I want to talk about today.

Mental health is a big issue for teenagers.

Around one in five will experience some form of mental health problem during this crucial time of their lives.

Good morning, it’s great to be here.

I’d like to acknowledge my Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, and the many other youth health experts here today.

It’s a privilege for me to be here with so many people who are committed to the health and wellbeing of our young people.

Thank you for the work that you do.

I share your passion for the future of our young New Zealanders.

As I travel around New Zealand, the energy and enthusiasm of the vast majority of our young people makes me hugely optimistic for our country.

So many kids are on the right track and have high aspirations for their future.

But I worry about some kids – those who finding the transition from childhood to adulthood tough going.

I worry about kids who are not getting the opportunities they need to succeed in the modern world. That’s why we’ve introduced our Youth Guarantee and Trades Academies policies, which give young people more choices to get the training they need.

I worry about the kids who are dropping out of school and lacking direction. That’s why we’re wrapping support around them through our ambitious welfare reforms.

I worry about the kids who’ve gone badly off the rails in their teenage years. That’s why we’ve taken the bold step of introducing Fresh Start programmes and expanded Limited Service Volunteers.

And I worry about the kids who are struggling with mental health problems like depression and anxiety.