Clive Bibby: A Winning Formula 

I wrote this before l knew the result of the much anticipated rugby test between the old foes New Zealand and South Africa.

This battle of the Titans has always produced a measure of where we are at in the ratings relative to the rest of the world rugby playing nations especially when compared to those who are considered favourites for the World Cup competition. 

Perhaps it is a good thing that this time, the All Blacks were not in their normal position close to the top of the rankings. That in itself must surely have taken some of the pressure off when they prepare for these “lead up” games. In the end though, it is anybody’s guess as to whether they have the player combination sufficient to get them to the final, let alone win it or will it depend on who turns up on the day.

Five million kiwis were waiting anxiously to see whether this current encounter will be the positive indicator we were looking for.

And boy did they respond to this hope for the best but expectation of the worst. Prior to the match, the doubt amongst the faithful was palpable but that result ensured we can sleep easy - until the next one!

However, It is hard to remember such a dramatic turn around for a team that has showed so much promise but failed to deliver on so many occasions. There is no question, the talent is there - just whether ”Fossie” knows what he is doing.

There is no question that Saturday’s performance has satisfied many of the doubters - including myself.

Whatever - Well done All Blacks. For the moment at least, the nation has your back.

To some extent the fortunes of our rugby players are mirrored in the months ahead with the communities who have been ravaged by cyclone damage here on the East Coast.

We are both living in hope that the people who have the ability to prepare us for the times ahead will have the right formula for success.

For the All Blacks, that means harnessing the the combined skills of the 15 players on the field plus the back-up reserves - building them into a unit that will accomodate their own deficiencies and the inherent skills of other sides.

The same is true of the folk who are in survival mode trying to get back to some form of normalcy where they are once again in control of their own destiny.

The only difference is that while the All Blacks’ result will be solely dependant on preparation and performance on the day, those of us here at the coalface are dependant on others who have the ability to make it happen but who may or may not be prepared to recognise the urgency of our plight and respond in a manner that is fit for purpose.

For those at Ground Zero it is almost entirely out of their hands and unfortunately, time is running out for making the start on the recovery that will have a meaningful effect on what we look like in six months time. We need to see results for the work so far but in many ways, we appear to be only standing still. That isn’t good enough.

We can’t be expected to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, especially if our political masters decide to give us what THEY think is appropriate for the needs of us lesser mortals - things that are more likely to be designed with the next general election in mind rather than policies and assistance packages that will make a difference to the long term future of this local environment where we live, work and play.

We aren’t interested in what survives on Lambton Quay or Queen Street.

We here at the coalface have no choice but to concentrate on doing what needs to be done today in order to protect a heritage that embodies the very best of what we have become as a multicultural society second to none. But we can’t progress based solely on HOPE even though, albeit in diminishing supply, it is the only ingredient that is currently helping us keep our heads above water.

We need help but it has to be on our terms

We are nobody’s guinea pig and are done with other people’s experiments.

Just get out of the way and let us get on with it.

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