Member Comments

Being slightly over the half-century, I found your report interesting, and I suppose things are better than when I was a lad.I reflect on a recent editorial in the Dominion Post discussing the merits of various measures we use to assess quality of life, and how these are all money-oriented and comparitive with other countries. I don't care if Aussies (for example) get more take-home pay than me - this says nothing about the quality of their lives and doesn't consider the negatives that may accompany this 'wealth'. It's not all, or even a little bit, about the money. I worry too about the Americanisation of our attitudes - we're not the nice, friendly people we once were - our bucolic naivety has gone, and an uncaring I'm-in-it-for-me attitude has replaced it; and no-one seems to lament this.

You state that huge gains have been made socially and economically. Does ‘economically’ mean an increase in consumer products? Heat pumps may be ‘preferred’ but that is quite different from their installation. Where are the statistics to back up your claims? Are you using the disputed Gross National Product measurement? I presume that ‘school milk is long gone’ is not counted as a huge gain.
You would expect life expectancy to increase in line with world trends. Is that in fact the case? The ethnic gain of Maori to Pakeha is small and Maori female gain is also relatively small. Your table labels ‘Maori Women and Men’ against ‘Total Women and Men’. Is that the case or should ‘Total’ be ‘Pakeha’?
What about the amount of free time available to enjoy that increase in life expectancy?
It’s great that there is such a significant increase in the proportion of the population with a BA degree, however the other issue of increase time at school does not indicate quality and with all those BA degrees around you would expect more social decisions in favour of the quality of our life.
I find your analysis highly selective sparse and lacking significant detail.
Your sections that follow – The cost of living, The environment and International trends – are, in my opinion, more satisfactory.

Appreciate Karl Cook detailing some of the destructive things that happen in our early education.
Agree very much with KC over all, and yes the present economic system is destroying the quality of our lives and our very existence and despite being informed of this dire fact we carry on blithely bringing about that annihilation.
People in groups can often decide things that insult individual intelligence, unless wealthy power groups are regulated to act for the benefit of the majority this merry-go-round of destructive crap will continue until it destroys itself and us.
Even a child could tell you that organising ourselves into a society where only profit counts and where the planet and human values are excluded, will cause ultimate disaster. After fighting many wars we have in fact created an almost Fascist society.
Neo Classical Economics has much to answer for. The wealthy power groups are so entrenched that our Universities are completely dominated by the 'waiting for the next overseas trip crowd', who reject outright any attempt to introduce students to the thinking of Eco-Economics (I don't mean as trimmings around the edge but given its full and rightful importance as a Department Chair).
NZ has been especially targeted by business propaganda. We have sold off our banks, media and much of our businesses to overseas private interests. In that climate we seek freedom of the individual, reliable information, free enterprise, free markets and individual initiative:
Fat chance!

If only people would give their money to people and organizations in 'need' instead of buying the latest plastic box. It is disturbing how money is spent on luxuries before necessities. Why do we suffer from the need to constantly be accepted, and seek the approval of others, who themselves act the same. What is needed to break the cycle of our contaminated mentality... I still believe it begins in our early education. We are taught the wrong things in the wrong environment.

And why the hell are grade 5 (non-recyclable) plastics still being used in this country. I'm looking at you 'Glad'.

And why the hell would I buy Freeview to have crap programming in a clearer image. I tore down my ariel 2 years ago and have never looked back. Seriously, TV is evil. Just try living without it for while. Imagine what you could think about instead what you could be told.

Finally... remember to consider taking the paths in life which may be deemed as 'to hard', but are then awarded mentally, physically and spiritually.

And buy the way, that movie TERMINATOR, not at all unrealistic.