I didn't know what 'iBuzz' was when I received this invitation, but I accepted because it said that iBuzz was the result of Sapien - Intelligent People Placement, the Canterbury Development Corporation and socialWEB - Business and Community getting together to work out what was missing from the puzzle when attracting and retaining professionals from the IT sector here in Christchurch.

My former colleagues Ruth Dyson and Mojo Mothers, Commissioners Rex Williams and Peter Skelton, Dame Margaret Bazley, Kelvin Coe Mayor of Selwyn, David Ayers Mayor of Waimakariri District and Roger Sutton CERA. My fellow Councillors Phil Clearwater, Paul Lonsdale, David East and Andrew Turner.
 
(Neill O'Reilly, principal of Windsor School and Te Marino Lenihan, Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Aroha Reriti-Crofts Ngai Tuahuriri).

Superintendent Garry Knowles, of the Christchurch Police, Pauline Clark, General Manager, Christchurch Hospital, Lesley Elliott, Members of Parliament, Christchurch City Councillors, Agencies working in the area of family violence and all invited guests.
 
The White Ribbon is an international symbol of hope for a world, where women and girls can live free from the fear of violence. The campaign aims to change men's attitudes and behaviours, predominantly through men talking to men.

May I begin by acknowledging the Hillary Institute Chair, David Caygill, Kaiwhakahaere Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu, Ta Mark Solomon, my council colleagues Raf Manji and Paul Lonsdale, Acting Chief Executive Jane Parfitt, 2013 Global Hillary Laureate, Atossa Soltani and other distinguished guests.
 
It is a privilege to be invited to say a few words. To do so in the presence of this year's Global Hillary Laureate is particularly meaningful for me given the journey we have been on as a city since the first earthquake struck on September 4 2010.

I would like to thank Deloitte Christchurch for providing me with this opportunity to address this gathering of Canterbury business leaders at such an early stage of my Mayoralty.
 
I asked Cr Raf Manji to join me in his role as the head of our finance standing committee, as I thought it might be worthwhile to have him participate in the Q&A after breakfast. I am also delighted that our acting Chief Executive Jane Parfitt is here. Jane has one of the hardest jobs in town at the moment. She has been in the acting role since July and will continue to do so until we hire our new Chief Executive. The fact that she is here says that she understands how important the business community is to our city's future.

Resilience comes from knowing who is on your side. Thank you for inviting me to speak. This is my first major address as Mayor of Christchurch and I am very grateful that it is to the industry that more than any other provides the context for where Christchurch finds itself as I take office.

I have been asked to talk about community resilience in the context of the Christchurch experience. But I cannot miss the opportunity to deliver a message to the industry that holds the key to so much of our future.

Thank-you for this opportunity to address the Canterbury Alcohol Symposium 2013 – I apologise for not being here in person to speak on this crucial social issue, however today we are holding the first business meeting of this Council term and I thank you for allowing me to provide my thoughts in this way.
 
I'd like to acknowledge the work of all of those here today and underline the great importance to our community of what you do. Thank you to the Canterbury District Health Board for coordinating this meeting of minds; to the various local authorities and agencies in attendance for your efforts to oversee and guide the development of alcohol-related strategies and policies; and to the community and welfare groups here today for the vital work you do in our communities every day.

It is a great pleasure to be here tonight at the Soul of Africa celebration and to see so many community members in attendance.

I'd like to acknowledge some of the distinguished guests here this evening:

• · Ngai Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon
• · Members of the Christchurch African Council and the Soul of Africa
• organisation
• · The Christchurch Migrants Centre
• · Canterbury Police Superintendent Gary Knowles
  

Welcome to the Christchurch City Council. I would like to acknowledge my fellow councillors Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck, Glenn Livingstone, Jimmy Chen, Ali Jones, David East, members of our eight community boards, residents' groups representatives, representatives from Community Organisations who are playing such a valuable role in our recovery and Council Staff.

I would also like to introduce our guest speakers for today and thank them for agreeing to participate in this session that is a bit of an experiment. As you know there is a seminar on recovery on Monday night that the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery has graciously allowed me to co-host. I was already planning a seminar for today should I be elected Mayor. The Minister, it transpired, was organising one too. Although Monday's agenda was different, accepting the invitation to co-host has sent a powerful message of unity – central and local government working together – something we haven't seen in the city for a long time.

Moira Coatsworth, President of the NZ Labour Party and members of the NZ Council,

The Hon David Cunliffe and all my former Parliamentary colleagues; The People's Choice councillors and community board members, Delegates and friends;
 
It is my absolute pleasure to welcome the New Zealand Labour Party to Christchurch in my new role as Mayor of Christchurch.