I remember the first time my teachers tried to educate me about government.
My third form social studies class took a field trip to Parliament. I was a nervous 13-year-old in short pants as I took my seat with my classmates above the debating chamber where very important-looking people in suits were gathered.
The leather seats looked so green and the wood panelling was so polished, I felt like I was in a palace. I could smell that I was in a place of great power and prestige – then the debate started and my illusions were shattered forever.
I think had expected a Churchillian debate where important matters of State were discussed in hushed tones. Instead all I observed was bickering, whining and squabbling. I recall thinking it was a bit like a kindergarten without a proper school teacher to keep them in line. If my mother had been there she would have sent them to their room.
Back at school we learnt about different approaches to government – when I heard about the “laissez-faire” concept of non-intervention, my ears pricked up. It sounded so French and sexy, and even though its direct English translation (“let do”) was extremely unsexy it sounded like a very relaxed way to run a country.
Not surprising the French came up with it. When you’ve got that much foie gras and Dom Perignon to get through, you don’t need a complicated system of government interfering with your boules game.
Of course a system where the government doesn’t really do anything except watch from the sidelines would never work in New Zealand because we wouldn’t be able to indulge in our national sport of blaming local and central government for everything that happens in our lives. It’s always amused me that one of the main reasons we are encouraged to vote at local and national elections in NZ is because it then gives us the right to complain. We don’t really have elections, they are really just registrations for our triennial “whinge licences”.
Locally, the “Shaping our Future” initiative is gaining traction as a way for all of the residents of the Lakes District to have an influence in how we want our lives and our places to look in 50 years’ time. The process is designed to get us to take responsibility for our own futures (quelle horreur!). After 25 forums in various communities and feedback from 1000 people around the district, Shaping our Future is getting close to setting out the vision, values and priorities that most (!) of us can agree on as a way forward. The first recommendations from the people - not the council - for an event strategy for the district will shortly be up on the website for us all to argue and whinge about. Have a look at www.shapingourfuture.org.nz.
Unfortunately no politicians were harmed in the making of Shaping our Future, so there is no one to blame. Yet.
David Kennedy is Ngai Tahu Tourism’s southern region general manager
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