Business needs NZ to go multilingual
Nearly 500 people gathered together at the China Business Summit to discuss the China-New Zealand relationship. One of the clear takeaway messages was: businesses need to buckle up.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s speech at the summit highlighted the likelihood of further challenges in New Zealand’s relationship with China.
Ardern told the summit: ‘‘The differences between our systems – and the interests and values that shape those systems – are becoming harder to reconcile.’’
The Asia-New Zealand Business Foundation was also involved in the annual Institute of Directors’ Leadership Conference, supporting a session by our honorary adviser, Mitchell Pham, on technology developments in Asia.
Pham’s key message was that the region’s innovative and fastmoving tech trends in areas like fintech would increasingly impact New Zealand companies.
The conference also tackled other big issues including increasing global uncertainty, cyber-crime, the future of tourism in a Covid-19 world and supply chain issues.
There are plenty of pressing issues to absorb the attention of businesses.
But another topic with potentially long-term (and positive) impacts on business is flying mostly under the radar.
Parliament’s education and workforce select committee has
been hearing submissions on the future of language learning in schools.
The Education (Strengthening Second Language Learning in Primary and Intermediate Schools) Amendment Bill aims to increase language learning in schools through the provision of extra resources by the Government.
If successful, the Government would create a national languages policy and identify at least 10 priority languages.
Each primary and intermediate school would have to provide at least one priority language.
The committee has received more than 300 submissions on the bill from education sector representatives, academics, community groups, district health boards and from many individuals.
But none were from a business group, although the New Zealand Technology Industry Association advocated for the inclusion of coding languages.
Despite this apparent absence of interest, language learning in schools is a topic of considerable consequence for business.
The foundation was among those who presented to the select committee.
We spoke of the need for New Zealand to become a country where bilingualism and multilingualism are valued, to help our social and economic direction.
Young New Zealanders will be at a distinct disadvantage if they remain monolingual.
Te Taumata’s Te Taitokerau regional trade hui on May 1, which the foundation attended, was a reminder that many of our Ma¯ ori rangatahi are impressively bilingual in
English and te reo.
But increasingly we will see many internationally multilingual and globally educated graduates coming out of other countries, including in Asia.
We want New Zealand’s own workforce to be able to thrive in this environment, which means having language skills.
Our research has found high support among the New Zealand public for foreign language learning in schools.
We also know many young New Zealanders enter our school system bilingual or multilingual, in their parents’ languages but can easily become monolingual in a society that does not value language learning.
Language learning is not just about reading, writing and speaking. It opens doors to understanding other societies and cultures.
Even the simple act of pronouncing people’s names correctly shows respect and helps solidify new relationships.
New Zealand’s engagement with Asia is going to increase over coming decades and we want New Zealanders to be equipped to best succeed.
While our top business minds are discussing pressing issues and immediate risks, we need to recognise that managing risk requires real expertise.
Expertise does not happen overnight – it requires long-term investment. The work being -done in Parliament right now is relevant to this.
The China Business Summit showcased some incredible talent within New Zealand’s private sector, people who know China well and have longstanding relationships in the country.
These people have the knowhow and skills, such as languages, to navigate the relationship.
When it comes to our international engagement, we have to be able to communicate effectively with others who have different world views and understand their perspectives, even if at times we do not agree with them.
Language and cultural skills are at the heart of that.
This does not mean that every young New Zealander needs to be fluent in several languages.
But growing an environment that values bilingualism and multilingualism puts us in a better position to navigate our relationships.