Category Archives: Uncategorized

Climate change was a topic in front of us constantly prior to Covid. The media pushed the issue, young mothers worried what sort of planet their children will grow up on. Public opinion built up a considerable head of steam on the issue. But few topics exhibited more clearly the inadequacy of human public debate.Continue reading “Chapter 11. CLIMATE CHANGE”

Populations around the world are aging. Birth rates have generally fallen, people are living longer and the baby boom generation, born in the 20 years after WW2, is now reaching old age. These three factors are combining to drive population aging from all parts of the demographic spectrum. The US Census Bureau put out aContinue reading “Chapter 12. HEALTH – COSTS EVER UPWARD”

Education again seems to be one of those polarized and politicised topics. What a pity all those in the field (including the teacher unions) can’t sit down and come up with a few sensible compromises. I have included a chapter on Education, because it is so vital for NZ’s future in every way. This appliesContinue reading “Chapter 13. EDUCATION – COULD DO BETTER”

In 1973, as a young lawyer just entering practice, I negotiated a commercial lease with Norman Shieff, then a doyen of Auckland commercial lawyers. The lease had to have dispute clauses in it, Norman told me. The courts system is slow, expensive and old fashioned, and if our clients ever have a problem they needContinue reading “Chapter 14. LEGAL PROFESSION – LOST TOUCH”

LEGACY OF BABY BOOMER GENERATION The starting point for my whole thesis has been that New Zealand can and should do much better. As a baby boomer, I feel as a generation we could have done much better for New Zealand. Life has surely been easier for us, than for every generation which preceded us.Continue reading “Chapter 15: DRAWING THE IDEAS TOGETHER”

Winston Churchill is reputed to have said: ‘Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the other forms that have been tried from time to time’. In a spirit of trying to improve New Zealand and create the circumstances to implement real change, what can be done in 2020, to improve our democraticContinue reading “Chapter 16. CAN WE IMPROVE THE SHORTCOMINGS OF DEMOCRACY AND IMPLEMENT THESE CHANGES?”