Publisher’s letter: A Kiwi renaissance?

What buzz it is to work on an entire magazine full of inspiring stories about World Class New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses all operating at peak performance in every field of endeavour.
Some of those within these pages are household names – at least within New Zealand – and some have an international profile – possibly better known offshore than here.
What they all share is passion for New Zealand; partly for what it is and has been – childhoods spent at favourite beaches, barbecues, and freedom. Freedom from crowds, pollution, oppression, poverty – and many are concerned that some of those freedoms are not such given anymore.
Mostly, our World Class New Zealanders share fervent aspirations for the New Zealand they know could be, and desire to contribute to creating that future. All see the opportunity for New Zealand in the digital age, to overcome the tyranny of distance and engage in the global economy as never before.
Some, like Geraldine McBride, see signs of New Zealand “renaissance” born of the combination of the creativity and “disobedient thinking” she thinks is part of our collective DNA, and the global markets technology gives us access to.
What is clear is that there are many hugely capable high-performing Kiwis around the world who, once they re-engage with their home country, can help to make extraordinary things happen. Harnessing the power and potential of that expat network is what Kea is all about.
The organisation has ramped up its efforts over the past year, building its connections to over 100,000. That’s still just fraction of the one million Kiwis who live offshore. Imagine the impact on New Zealand’s performance of connecting all the expats with influence in the communities they now live in, back to businesses in New Zealand that want to reach out to overseas markets.
I’m constantly amazed by the number and prestige of influential expats I learn about via the Kea network. Just one example; to my shame I was unaware of Judith Hanratty, this year’s WCNZ, Investment and Business Award winner. For those as uninformed as I, Hanratty is one of the most influential people in modern corporate governance, having pioneered the concept of corporate social responsibility during long career with BP in the UK. NZ Management magazine will be talking with her while she is in New Zealand and that interview will be published in next month’s issue, with focus on Leadership.
I’m looking forward to meeting still more Kiwi high-fliers at this year’s Kea Inspire event and World Class New Zealand Awards, and over the coming year as Kea gathers yet more expats into the fold – all primed to do their bit for NZ Inc. Kiwi renaissance starts to look real possibility.