New Zealand Needs Leadership With Vision

Vision + Determination = Victory

Introduction

The lead-up to and fallout from the COVID era exposed the true nature of the liberal, woke leadership that has dominated New Zealand in recent years. Cloaked in the guise of kindness, their governance was anything but. Division, uncertainty, and outright hatred spread under their watch. Our leaders — once praised for their "compassion"—revealed themselves as hypocritical, self-serving, and utterly disconnected from the struggles of everyday Kiwis.

When Dame Jacinda Ardern stepped down abruptly, as her domestic popularity tanked, Chris Hipkins — her successor — floundered in her wake. Here was a man who could not even define what a woman was, despite being married to one and raising children. It epitomised the absurdity of modern leadership: leaders who espouse inclusivity and freedom, and tell fibs, while gorging themselves at the taxpayer trough. Billions flowed via their ministries, but only a few scraps trickled down to those who needed help the most. This grotesque hypocrisy left New Zealanders exhausted and disillusioned, culminating in a decisive rejection of Labour at the last election.

But has this change brought the renewal we hoped for? Sadly, no. What we have received instead is "Labour Lite"—a National-led coalition that delivers more of the same weak leadership and reactive crisis management. They lack vision, unity, and the courage to lead boldly. Fiscally, the country is on shaky ground — socially, we are fraying at the seams — and our health system teeters on the brink, overwhelmed by the tidal wave of post-COVID, and jab-related illnesses.

Meanwhile, young Kiwis, including those from my extended family, are fleeing to greener pastures overseas, leaving many of us to ask: where is the strong leadership? Where is the inspiring vision that could unite this nation and guide us toward a better future? How did we lose our way so badly?

From an Ethos of Saving to Reckless Borrowing

When I was at primary school, every child was given a Post Office School savings account booklet, and a piggy bank as part of a school-based program. Each precious penny we saved in the piggy bank was to be deposited in our savings account. Each deposit of pennies was dutifully recorded and stamped. Our teachers supervised and encouraged this habit, instilling the value of saving to pay our way. Borrowing was not even a concept we entertained.

Our parents reinforced this ethos as we grew into adulthood, drilling into us the importance of always having enough money in our wallets or purses to cover our needs. To be a "bludger" was unthinkable.

Then, in the 1990s, everything changed. Credit cards arrived, and with them came a cultural shift. I recall, with horror, my own children, upon enrolling in tertiary education, being issued an ANZ credit card complete with generous overdraft limits. The ethos of saving quickly disappeared, replaced by a new norm: borrowing without caring for the consequences. Today, advertising bombards our young people with messages urging them to "shop like a billionaire"—spend first, worry later.

This shift from saving to reckless borrowing hasn't just infected individuals — it now defines our political leadership. During the COVID response, the government borrowed at least $70 billion — an astronomical sum for a country of just five million people. And they did not stop there. They continue to borrow and spend, yet we see little of lasting significance to show for it. Where is the improved infrastructure? Where are the transformative investments in health, education, and housing? Instead, the money has disappeared into a black hole of wasteful spending, much of it into politicians' pockets, or their technocrat friends' ones — most of it transferred offshore.

New Zealand is now suffering the slow-motion consequences of "spending like a billionaire." The financial recklessness of our leaders is catching up with us, as the cost of living soars and public services buckle under the strain. Just as individuals pay dearly for living beyond their means, so too does a nation.

Using Race-Based Politics to Cause Division for Profit

Adding to the nation's woes is the rise of race-based identity politics, which has eroded the unity that once defined New Zealand. For decades, we have prided ourselves on being a peaceful, multiracial, and multicultural society. Yes, there were challenges — no society is perfect — but the direction was one of progress, harmony, and mutual respect. Like so many Kiwis, I should know, since my family is multi-racial.

Now, a small clique of activists, claiming to represent a single racial group, has introduced an insidious politics of division. Their rhetoric, dressed as empowerment, has created a system of privilege for a select few while leaving those most in need — of all races — behind. These activists profit greatly from the division they cause, positioning themselves as gatekeepers to funds, influence, and decision-making. Meanwhile, the communities they claim to represent see little to no improvement in their lives. For most of us, no matter our skin colour, the rising cost of living, lack of inspiring leaders, and widespread malaise means life is getting harder for us — not better. For example, I am well past retirement age, but there is no way anyone can live on a pension these days. We will have to continue working, if we are to sustain our frugal lifestyle with a few treats now and then.

What New Zealand needs is a return to compassion and care based on need, not race, gender, or identity. Every Kiwi — regardless of heritage — deserves access to opportunity, respect, and support when they need it. We must honour and foster the idea of individual progress by merit, not by ticking the right demographic boxes. This is the foundation of a fair and thriving society.

Identity-based privileges do not solve problems — they exacerbate them. They create resentment and widen divisions, all while allowing a select few to profit handsomely. True leadership would focus on policies that uplift all New Zealanders, addressing poverty, housing, and education based on need, not the colour of someone's skin.

The Way Things Were

It was not always this way. Until the 1980s, New Zealand's politicians were mostly men who had made their own way into politics. There were a few women, like Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, who I remember well, who had done good things in life. These were self-made people who had achieved success in business, health, farming, child-rearing, or other practical fields and then turned to politics out of a sense of civic duty. They entered public service not for wealth or fame, but to give back to the nation that had afforded them opportunity. Their actions were guided by a simple yet powerful principle: to do "Good Works" for the benefit of others.

This ethos of selflessness is exemplified by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, whose life was a testament to humility and sacrifice. Gandhi rejected material wealth and personal comfort, choosing instead to serve his people and fight for their freedom. He lived simply, walked among the poorest of the poor, and endured great personal hardship to embody the principles of justice and unity. Today's politicians, by contrast, are often driven not by a desire to serve but by the allure of wealth and power. They embrace privilege, prioritising financial gain and political longevity over the well-being of their constituents. Gandhi tried to bring people together and improve them through honesty and sacrifice. Many modern leaders divide and use their people for their own personal and political gain, leaving a legacy of distrust and despair instead of hope and progress.

Now, politics is dominated by career politicians — most of whom have never held a real job. Many leap straight from university lecture theatres into parliamentary offices, armed with degrees in law or social sciences from our now-woke-dominated education system. They lack the life experience to understand the struggles of ordinary New Zealanders, and it shows. How can leaders with no grounding in real-world challenges lead with courage and vision when bureaucracy and ideology — and spending like millionaires — have sheltered their own lives? Living for today with no care for tomorrow, and always for their selfish benefit. It is no surprise that New Zealand has lost its way.

The Danger of Hollow Leadership

Political philosopher Mattias Desmet has written a lot about the dangers of leadership that loses unity and humanity for technology and ideas that divide people. In his latest article, Desmet observes that modern politics often moralises while concealing gross hypocrisies. Leaders preach compassion, equity, and inclusivity while using these ideals as tools to divide, conquer, and consolidate power.

Desmet also critiques the mechanistic worldview that dominates modern governance — a worldview that treats people as cogs in a machine, to be controlled, surveilled, and optimised. In New Zealand, we see this reflected in sprawling bureaucracies, race-based policies, and the hollow rhetoric of inclusion. Such governance erodes trust, empathy, and the shared humanity that should underpin a functioning democracy.

We Need Vision and Courage

New Zealand needs leaders who dare to dream bigger than the next election cycle. We need leaders who understand the struggles of ordinary Kiwis because they have lived them. Leaders who, by their actions and not just their words, inspire us to unite, to work together for a healthier, happier, and more prosperous nation.

We need to reclaim our identity as a land of opportunity and resilience. This starts with rejecting hollow careerism in politics and prioritising leaders who bring real-world experience, courage, and vision to the table. It means revitalising our education and health systems, supporting local industries, and creating pathways for young people to thrive here — not overseas. It means fostering a culture of honesty, unity, and genuine kindness — not the hollow rhetoric we have endured for far too long.

Desmet reminds us that true leadership reconnects people to their shared humanity and resists the temptations of control, division, and coercion. It is time for New Zealand to rediscover this kind of leadership — a leadership that unites, inspires, and leads with integrity. We are ready for something different. The question is: will anyone suitable rise to the challenge? For now, I will continue to keep looking.

A Message of Hope

While the picture here may seem grim, I remind myself that the darkest and coldest hour is the one before dawn. Marathon runners, like my sister, Lorraine, also experience the same darkness towards the end, but there is exhilaration and renewed energy when they reach the last corner to see the finish line, and the cheering crowd. I have felt this way many times myself. Like an exhausted runner, I feel victory is nevertheless near and a new day will soon warm us. Therefore, quitting is not an option. It never is.