Clive Bibby: We are in danger of being left behind

Living here on the East Coast after the floods, trying to stay sane in an environment that could easily drive you mad, it is hard to focus our attention on a credible recovery plan, costing as it will billions of dollars, when those who control the purse strings appear to have already written us off.

I suppose that isn’t surprising given the sparsely populated region we inhabit and a cynical view of political responses that would suggest we just don’t represent enough votes.

However, there are very good reasons why money spent on our local recovery would be as good an investment as in any other place in the country.

I say that having spent the last two decades promoting ideas for restructuring that, up until now, have been ignored as either two expensive or incompatible with the privileged  minority groups that have had their head in the public trough for years - and because they have such a vested interest in our current underperforming economy, they see no reason to change a single thing.

Their mantra continues to be “l’m alright Jack” and unsurprisingly, are supported in this suffocating stance by our elected officials.  You can’t make this up but it has to end.

So, what needs to happen in order to break this impasse and allow the people to break out of their confined space, using our natural resources (some old, some new) in a restructured way that could result in our region becoming the most prosperous in the land.

This is not a pipe dream. It is based on a number of contributing factors that all align at a time when economic restructuring is not just an idea but an absolute necessity.

However, for a meaningful recovery to take place, the whole community must be willing to divest itself of old prejudices, special interests and perceptions of entitlement that would strangle this vision of a better world at birth. The truth is that most of us must be prepared to change the way we do things in the best interests of us all.

Climate change which was a major factor in the devastation of established livestock and forestry industries during the recent floods is here to stay and we have no choice but to adapt these important contributors to our economy by bringing them into balance with the changing weather patterns and its effect on the local environment - in other words, a situation of peaceful co-existence.

That would mean a transfer of income generating capacity from these older industries operating at a reduced level to some new exciting opportunities which just happen to be waiting relatively undeveloped only a stone’s throw from the city boundaries - 18000 hectares of some of the best arable flat land in the world which, with irrigation, could turn our local economy on its head.

It is a no brainer. Yet l am not at all confident that those who can make it happen are prepared to swallow a few dead rats and adopt these simple proposals before we fall further off the radar of government interest and its much needed significant financial resources - a cash injection from a government fund designed specifically to help provinces grow. We don’t have to go back any further than Winston Peter’s “Provincial Growth Fund” to find a precedent for this type of State investment.

It is interesting to note that Labour reluctantly had to accept this part of the 2017 deal with NZ First in order to become the Government. Ironically, it turned out to be one of the few success stories of the Ardern led administration’s  first term.

Are we likely to see this type of lifesaver being recreated under future governments?

Time will tell but the problem for us here on the East Coast is that we are already running out of time.

We are hopeful that the recommendations of the Parata Land Use Inquiry will force the government to adopt meaningful restructuring ideas but, given the findings may expose both Central and Local government as equally responsible for the destruction, our immediate needs may have already become a low priority.

Government may be forced to spend an enormous amount on legal defence of their bone headed, ideologically driven policies that were avoidable.

Herein lies the real tragedy. We appear to have been abandoned by the very people who should be begging our forgiveness.

Unfortunately we, the residents of this beautiful community, have become collateral damage of misplaced pursuit of vain glory on the world stage while “Rome burns” at home.

We need to react in unison against this threat to our democracy but any steps taken should be conducted within the law. A revolution of the passive kind.

Clearly the best option is to send a message at the ballot box next October.

That appears to be the only thing our current leaders understand.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.