If you are having a bad day at work, sitting in front of your computer, take a brief moment to think about the days and nights of some of our lowest paid workers- those who care for the elderly. Â
My grandmother is in a home in Wellington, nearing the end of a long time in care as a result of Alzheimers. It is hard going to visit her (and to be honest I don’t go anywhere near as often as I should). She can not communicate, does not recognise anyone and has a very low quality of life. If it is hard going to visit her, it is difficult to imagine how hard it is to look after her. I have huge admiration for all of the staff- nurses, cleaners, cooks, orderlies. Day in day out they do hard, physically and mentally draining work. Continue reading ‘the wide view- caring for the carers’
Posted in The Wide View and Social Justice. |
In one of my conversations with Labour Wellington Central members recently I was asked what was a view I held that would be unpopular. It was a good question (try asking a friend, it’s fun!), but one that I found I answered very quickly. I think that Te Reo Maori should be taught compulsorily in schools, probably from age 5-14. I know that a lot of people find this idea difficult, but events of recent times have only reinforced my view that this would be an important element in improving race relations in New Zealand. Learning a language is the key to unlocking the door to understanding a culture. I strongly believe that this is also a key to what I consider to be one of the major challenges to my generation of politically minded people. How to move race relations in New Zealand forward in a positive way. Continue reading ‘The wide view- An unpopular idea?’
Posted in The Wide View and Social Justice. |
It is easy for third term governments to be criticised for lacking in new policy ideas. They are in some ways damned if they do (how come you have not already implemented it?) and damned if they don’t (run out of ideas, time for the other lot to have a go). The release of the New Zealand Energy Strategy and the Energy Effiiciency and Conservation Strategy last week was a convincing attempt by Labour (with considerable support from the Greens) to show that it is possible to push forward with innovative thinking eight years into government. Continue reading ‘The wide view- third term energy’
Posted in The Wide View and Sustainability. |
I had always thought of John Key as more Neil Diamond than John Lennon, but after declaring “War is Over”, there might be some newfound peacenik credentials hidden in there. At the end of a terrible fortnight for the Nats, this foreign policy gaffe is in many ways the worst offence. It shows in one moment of glibness how ill-prepared John Key is to lead New Zealand, and why the National Party is so determined to neutralise (or to use the favourite phrase of the Hollow Men, innoculate) foreign policy as an issue.
While it is conventional wisdom that foreign policy does not decide elections, it is an important issue for New Zealand and New Zealanders, and significantly it is an area where a leader’s character is often tested. Making calls on committing troops, resolving diplomatic disputes or taking positions in global negotiations are critical decisions. How you articulate your view is also important. New Zealand gets precious few chances to influence world events.  It is no place for glibness or shallow populism.
National’s foreign policy discussion document released this week is a skate over some critical issues, Continue reading ‘….and so this is Christmas (for Labour anyway)’
Posted in New Zealand in the World. |
The wide view takes a break this Tuesday for a holiday. Check back later in the week for more postings. Cheers
Posted in The Wide View. |
