In this issue, I talk about my trip to the USA and Canada, Whanau Ora, the Rugby World Cup, developments in health care and climate change - and my new video series, John Responds.

VISITING THE UNITED STATES

Click here for pictures on Flickr from the trip so far.

I’m in Washington at the moment. This morning I had a great meeting with US Vice-President Joe Biden. We agreed that relations between our two countries are at the highest point they have been for many years. We talked about trade.

Today I’ve been at the Nuclear Security Summit, where I talked briefly with President Barack Obama. The President announced last week that the US would review its nuclear policy. New Zealand warmly welcomes this development.

HELPING FAMILIES GET AHEAD

I was delighted to appoint Tariana Turia as Minister Responsible for Whanau Ora last week.

Whanau Ora is a government initiative to help families get more effective support when they need it. Traditional approaches to helping families in need have not worked that well, and taxpayers have not had the best value for money.

Through Whanau Ora, government agencies will work together with the whole family, rather than with individual family members.

While Whanau Ora has the potential to benefit Maori, it will be available to all families in need.

See the taskforce report here We’ll be formally responding to it in the next month or so.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

Before Easter I was delighted to help launch the 2011 Rugby World Cup ticket sales campaign. When tickets go on sale later this month, fans can start planning which games they’d like to go to.

The World Cup is the most exciting and largest sporting event New Zealand has ever hosted. We’re expecting 85,000 visitors, and we’ll be in celebration mode next year with festival events up and down the country.

See the festival programme here.

Get information on ticket sales here.

DELIVERING BETTER HEALTHCARE

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the largest ever annual increase in the number of people receiving elective surgery in our public health system.

More than 12,000 extra patients had the elective surgery they needed in 2009 compared with 2008. Before 2009, the average annual increase was fewer than 2000 extra operations. Elective surgery includes the likes of new joints, cataracts, and other much needed operations.

We are delivering on our election promise to boost elective surgery and provide better, sooner, more convenient healthcare to New Zealanders.

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

Last week I spoke at the first Global Research Alliance meeting in Wellington. The New Zealand-led initiative includes almost 30 countries. The alliance was formed at the Copenhagen climate change negotiations last year.

Its aim is to figure out how to feed the world’s growing population, but at the same time limit greenhouse gas emissions. I’m delighted that the Global Research Alliance is already working to tackle this big challenge.

FROM MY DIARY

Recently Otaki MP Nathan Guy and I spent a day in the Otaki electorate. You can see our photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/nznationalparty/sets/72157623600518879/

Over Easter my wife Bronagh and I had a great time catching up with school friends at Burnside High School’s jubilee in Christchurch.

Check out my new video series, John Responds. It’s a chance for me to answer questions you leave on Facebook and on my website. Thanks for keeping in touch and sharing your views.

Best wishes

John Key
Prime Minister

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