EDITOR’S LETTER : Backwards in Coming Forward

Everybody has role model, perhaps even several of them. By definition they are people to learn from, respect and emulate. The World Class New Zealanders featured in this issue are highly suitable candidates to add to the pool. Some of the names you will know well, others not so much. They come from wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. Some are based in New Zealand, others have settled overseas. But they all have at least one thing in common – they are proud New Zealanders who have made their mark internationally.
We need more people to do this. If we don’t tell the world how good we are, how are they meant to know?
I’m reading Bill Bryson’s Short History of Nearly Everything at the moment (yes, yes, I know most people read it couple of years back when it first came out but I’ve been busy) and it’s amazing how many people had to be cajoled into actually sharing their discoveries. They would have been quite content to just move on to the next project and leave their findings undiscovered. Where would that have left us? “Sure, I did discover that the earth is round/invent the internal combustion engine/work out the theory of relativity – but I just didn’t tell anyone.” It doesn’t make sense does it?
Well, nor does it make sense for New Zealand to have the expertise and skills it does and not tell anyone. The world is constantly changing but one thing needs to stay the same – pride in what we achieve in New Zealand, closely followed by firm declaration of it. The job will never be done so we can’t afford to rest on our laurels. Good as they might be.