Democracy your choice
background is in the aged-care and forestry sectors. There’s little in her CV to indicate she has the empathy and understanding necessary to run a ministry that’s up to its eyeballs in intractable social issues and has a substantial Ma¯ ori and Pasifika clientele. Were there no suitable New Zealand applicants for these key jobs, or didn’t we bother to look locally? I have a friend in the corporate sector who claims that executive recruitment agencies prefer to cast their net overseas because it gives them an excuse to fly around the world and stay in posh hotels.
Part of the problem is that some of the most capable Kiwis end up taking their talent abroad because this country is just too small for them. Conversely, I suspect we attract a lot of second-rate people from other countries because the bar is lower here.
It’s not just the public sector that seems to remain locked in a mindset that people from overseas have better ideas about how to run our affairs than we do.
Under an English chief executive, New Zealand Football comprehensively lost its way and managed to alienate the entire Football Ferns team by importing an Austrian coach whom no-one liked.
Both men are now on their way home, and deservedly so. But how often must we repeat these mistakes before the message sinks in? Do you want to live in a democratic nation or in an ethnically favoured country? Follow the media. The choice is yours.
Bryan Johnson, Omokoroa The Waikato Times is subject to the New Zealand Media Council. Complaints must be directed to editor@waikatotimes.co.nz. If the complainant is unsatisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council, PO Box 10-879, Wellington, 6143 or info@mediacouncil.org.nz. Further details at mediacouncil.org.nz editor@waikatotimes.co.nz, or the Editor, Waikato Times, Private Bag 3086, Hamilton, 3240. Letters may be edited or rejected. Letters should be no longer than 200 words and a name, postal address and phone number must be provided. Pen names are not accepted.