Scoop Feedback: 'Young New Zealanders' Ad

By Shaun Wakelin

RE: Fabricated NZBRT Funded 'Young New Zealanders' Advertisement

When I get money I will be out of here too, but its not because of the falling dollar or the terrible 'left-wing' government that's taken away all of those poor [rich-aspiring] bastards opportunities - you have to feel sorry for them...not

The reasons why I want to leave are for precisely the reverse. The worship of the commercial imperative, the retributive justice system, the daily media dose of moral panic and the increasing state control over the personal is what is going to drive me away from here. If this country continues to focus solely on the economic and the punitive in terms of its policies then the exodus might be much greater than what it is now. The 'economy is the world' as most of us know and there's a lock em' up and throw away the key atmosphere in this country as well.

We have more than enough accountants, lawyers, ITs and bureaucrats. What we need are more creative people (multicultural, teachers (not school teachers), arts, music, indigenous artist/writers/intellectuals) and a culture that measures success and achievement in a multitude of ways. I don't mean more of the standard as funded by the state and corporate sponsors either (we can do without heterocentric un-funny native comedians such as Mike King, for example and aren't we all a bit tired of 'kiwi' sporting heroes who remain rich while they keep losing! LOSERS!!!! ha ha ha I love it with this country loses in sports - its a delicious feeling!) NOTE: all the while other sports people, notably women and non-corporate meathead sportspersons have to struggle)

Im writing a thesis, I tutor and I work in a volunteer capacity with people (vertical age groups) who have had little or no formal education, many are young and not driven by the effects of commerce/IT/legalistic professions as yet - they are just having to exist. Many I have worked with are wanting to work in communities voluntarily, to have a small part time job and to be involved in creative work, art, music etc. This is their measure of success and it should be recognised as much as groups such as the 'young New Zealanders'. I’ve come to realise that it is easy to be cynical here if you have extremely liberal social values, but when I work in environments (with people who are often thought of as deficit in some way) where I meet gutsy, creative people, often without a decent income, who are interested in new ways of enhancing and developing economies, communities and social conditions and others who have ideas that they would like to put into action I am given hope.

Of course, reality sets in and if we see the pattern in this country of who gets what money, resources and media attention and we can see that it is not that easy to try out different ideas. What can we do about this? I would actually like to stay here, because I can see the potential for alternatives to the current. I’ve been to a lot of places in the world and I still think this country is amazing in many ways. I have friends who live overseas and say that they will never come back to this country, not even to visit and all of them left for some of the reasons I have outlined. I think its important to let politicians know that not all of us are leaving because of 'lack of opportunity' - because that is a lie, there's plenty of opportunities, the problem is there is no support for them - the paradox is that the 'young New Zealanders' and other right-wing hate groups actually have it sweet. Nearly all funding goes into economic ventures or something that is going to generate money. The world which is being destroyed by the exploitative economic imperative is more than this.

Shaun Student

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