Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
The truth of New Zealand’s economic divide
In the words of Dr Mike Joy, ‘‘There are two worlds in New Zealand. There is the picture postcard world, and then there is the reality’’.
He was referring to the environment, but everything is connected and those words apply equally to Marlburians.
With one of the lowest income levels in New Zealand, an average income of $60,356 is more than double the median income $26,900 – which is what most people earn. Many earn less; consider our high proportion of pensioners, people locked into the low-pay economy and those on benefits.
Obviously some earn far more to bring the average up. This tells the tale of a widening rich/poor divide.
Ferraris park alongside old dungers, which owners hope to keep roadworthy because they cannot afford to replace them – and the only ‘‘public’’ transportation is a vineyard contractor’s van to ferry them to low-paid work. The poverty trap.
Our assets, agricultural, viticulture and forestry land, increasingly falls into foreign ownership – arguably less interested in maintaining high environmental and workplace standards because their main goal is to optimise profits which go offshore.
Corporates have deep pockets to influence government decisions regarding public health, the environment, tax regimes favouring excessive profits over public good.
The handmaiden of corporates is the advertising and public relations industry – a ‘‘go to’’ place for journalists or psychologists wanting to link their fortunes with their masters.
Clever manipulation of the populace manufactures blind consent. The distracting hand- puppets of flags, pandas and the holy trinity of rugby, racing and beer is the Punch to the Judy of dissent.
In the meantime the TPPA has slipped through along with zero contract hours – a good fit for the era we are being undemocratically propelled towards.
When details are finally unveiled it is likely New Zealand can be sued by multinational corporations if the government tries to act on behalf of our citizenry, our environment and our working conditions.
That is the background which should inform social policy. An underclass contributes to social dysfunction evidenced in social isolation, depression, anxiety, debt, alcohol/drug abuse, poor housing/diet, domestic violence/ other anti-social behaviour and low educational outcomes.
Marlborough is blessed with a wide array of social agencies and volunteers who aim to address these issues. But they are being hollowed out by lack of government funding.
Services are being cut at the very time they are most needed. Slogans such as ‘‘It’s OK to ask for help’’ and ‘‘Working Together, Achieving More’’ will echo with hollowness.
Is philanthropy supposed to fill the gap? Glitz and glam giving: philanthropy works well to support arts and culture in America and seems to be mirrored here – the anonymous gift of a grand piano worth almost $250,000 to Blenheim’s new ASB Civic Theatre and scores of lesser donors lining up to buy seats at $1500 to $10,000 each.
A third of children are the most deprived in our society; it is to be hoped they too may benefit from public and private largess. But they cannot vote, they do not add social prestige and they have low visibility (except during innumerable reviews of Child Youth and Family).
On one side of the divide the lucky ones go on to travel and work overseas; the unlucky ones do not get to see beyond the boundaries of their home town. Another lost generation looming.