Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats

Prime Minister, Ministerial colleagues; distinguished guests

Twenty five years ago, a first year teacher fresh out of teachers college, sat in his music prefab and dared to dream.

Day after day students would find their way to his room; letting out their frustrations on the drum kit; picking up the trumpet and having a blast.  

For some of them, teachers just didn’t seem to get them.  For others, the only thing that interested them at school was playing around with sound.   

For all of them, music was the gift that expressed best who they were.

The teacher wondered – how could these students do what they loved most – and yet still be challenged beyond their comfort zones, to be the very best that they could be?

From those initial musings, Smokefree Rockquest was born.

Since its inception in 1989 more than 35,000 of our most talented musicians have taken up that opportunity to live their dreams.

And so firstly today, I mihi to Pete Rainey and Glen Common, for the courage to dream; the commitment to make their vision come alive and the incredible investment they have given to our young people.

Your efforts to connect with our young talent, and to motivate them to create their own music, has taken off on such a scale that now more than ninety percent of secondary schools and wharekura participate each year in more than 25 events from Kaitaia to Invercargill.

I have to say that ‘Tariana Turia’ and ‘Rock music’ is not generally an association people make.  And I’m certainly not about to grab a lead guitar and dispel any doubts you may have about my credentials for this role.

But I am a huge fan of Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats and there are three key reasons why I was so proud to accept the invitation to launch these events here tonight in the Grand Hall of Parliament.
There is no greater message that Parliament could receive than to know an investment in our young people is an investment in our collective wealth and wellbeing as a nation.

Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats have between them generated an environment that tells New Zealand our young people matter.  

These events have nurtured thousands of incredibly vibrant young New Zealanders, cultivated their skills and provided a platform for growing their talent.

On the eve of New Zealand Music Month we can be proud to celebrate these two events as literally the launching pad for generations of New Zealand artists, including Nesian Mystik, Anika Moa, Bic Runga, Ria Hall, Opshop, Brooke Fraser, Ladyhawke, Kimbra, King Kapisi, The Black Seeds and the list goes on.

But it is not just about successful careers and fame and fortune.

What these events have done is to give some of our young people a reason to stay in school; a goal to work towards.  It is about something as basic as believing you have something to contribute to the world; a purpose for being.

The second reason I was proud to be here tonight, is all about language.

Whether it be the language of love or the potential to mobilise a revolution; music has always been most powerful when it has created the medium for a message.

And it is fitting that this launch is also being held at the start of Te Wiki o te Reo Turi - New Zealand Sign Language Week – so that we place into context the power of language in giving voice to the dreams and aspirations of people.

Whether we are talking about Deaf people; tangata whenua; Pasifika peoples, or peoples of any culture the opportunity to communicate in a way which gives rise to the expression of identity can not be under-stated.

I want to especially acknowledge tonight, Shirley Allen and the impact of Smokefree Pacifica Beats insisting that performances must feature at least two of the following cultural criteria:

• Language  - your mother tongue
• Sound and instrument – such as taonga pūoro, ukulele,
• Movement – haka, poi, siva, hula
• Cultural identity – lyrics that are relevant to Aotearoa.

In the health sector we call this cultural competency – it is about celebrating the essence of who you are.  

Interestingly, in Auckland University’s Youth Health Survey in 2007, it revealed that young people are proud of their culture and want to be recognised for the unique histories, stories, values and beliefs that make them who they are.

I believe we can all learn from their leadership in this regard.

For 23 years, these events have enabled and encouraged our young people to create and perform their own original music – music which is about sharing a message with the nation, about the world we live in.

Again, I say, I hope Parliament and our politicians, see this as a unique stage to understand the stories, hope, dreams and emotions of the up and coming leaders of our land.

The third key reason I wanted to be here tonight, was to congratulate the organisers – Health Sponsorship Council; Rockquest Promotion Limited and the Youth Performance Trust – on their commitment to such a strong healthy lifestyle message.
And I want to particularly congratulate Iain Potter –chief executive – and Hayden Wano –chair of the Health Sponsorship Council for your vision in being involved with this event since 1991.

It is, of course, fantastic that I can legitimately promote the brand Smokefree so many times in this event.    The Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Pacific Beats events challenge the idea that smoking is normal, it consolidates the message of “Smoking – Not Our Future”.  

Smokefree Aotearoa signals a future without tobacco – a future to which our young people are leading the way.   The future-proofing of the health and wellbeing of our children, our whānau, our communities is far too precious to be left in the hands of the tobacco industry.   

And so I am really heartened that we have seen reported this year, the biggest decline in youth smoking rates in almost ten years, including a significant decline amongst Māori females.

An Aotearoa without tobacco is a future with much less lung disease, fewer heart attacks and strokes; a future in which we no longer need to mourn the loss of five thousand New Zealanders each year.   It is a world with less pain and less suffering.
It is a world in which we can enjoy more great Kiwi music and celebrate the talents of our amazing tamariki and rangatahi.

Finally as Bono from U2 famously said, “As a rock star I have two instincts – I want to have fun, and I want to change the world.   I have a chance to do both”.

My last message is to all those talented young musicians preparing to participate in the Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Pasifika Beats – and to the whānau and families who support you all the way.

Like Bono  - may you have great fun – and may your message help to inspire us; to challenge us; and to see the future you want for us all.  Enjoy every moment – we celebrate your talents; and the bright future your participation heralds for Aotearoa.

It is my utmost pleasure to declare the 2012 Smokefree Rockquest and Smokefree Pacifica Beats open.