Luke Kirkness: We live in paradise but don't act like it

Kiwis are working harder not smarter than others in the OECD. Photo / File

My brain has been running on empty.

There's not even a monkey in there smashing cymbals together to muster a complex thought.

I've been tired this week. Most of that is attributable to my new diet, but I think the number of hours spent in front of a computer is also a major factor.

I love my job: I get to meet an array of people, cover interesting stories and do my bit to try to make a difference.

However, apart from a few breaks to grab a hot drink from the kitchen, warm up my lunch or maybe take a quick stroll around the block, I'm on my a*** in front of two computer screens.

No doubt some of you reading this will be able to relate; many may spend far longer at your desk than I do.

We drive to work, we slave away, then head home. Photo / George Novak

I often imagine working outside. The biggest upside I can see is being able to work on a nice tan.

I can't believe the other day I was thinking about buying some fake tan from the chemist just to see how it would look. It makes me shudder.

The frosty mornings, wet days and wind gusts would be hard to overcome, though.

I also don't know what else I'd be doing if I wasn't a journalist so here I remain.

After I wrap up for the day and finally shut down my computer, I head home to laze about there.

I might pick up a good book or watch some sports highlights – both enjoyable pastimes but I wish there were other things to do.

As a relatively recent migrant to Tauranga, I am amazed at how little there is to do here.

I don't have much experience with other Bay of Plenty CBDs but it appears they're riding the same wave.

There was an advertisement on page 3 of Thursday's Rotorua Daily Post highlighting the significant need for a Rotorua CBD revitalisation.

Vacant stores in Rotorua's CBD. Photo / Andrew Warner

It highlighted its physical footprint, small landholdings with fragmented ownership, a 1960s layout and massive capital commitment required to effect change as its biggest issues.

Back to Tauranga: My flatmates and I attended a pub quiz along The Strand and there was bugger all activity. You could find more life at a cemetery.

It's no wonder "For Lease" signs plaster the windows of many buildings down there.

As one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, it's hard to believe there is nothing to do here apart from going to work and go home again.

Maybe I just need a new hobby.

These thoughts come after a report published by the Productivity Commission showed New Zealanders were working harder rather than smarter.

Research showed for the year predating March 2020 we worked 34.2 hours per week compared with 31.9 hours in other OECD countries.

And we produced less with just $68 of output per hour compared to $85 of output in those other countries.

Why do we do this to ourselves?

I'm sure we'd all have things we'd rather be doing than fluffing around at work.

I seriously think part of the answer lies in working fewer hours over a shorter number of days – I'm repeating myself here but the proof is in the pudding.

The simple fact is we are working too hard for little reward. If that doesn't set the alarm bells off I don't know what will.