Owen Glenn: Heading for rocks unless we change

We are at risk of having far too much in common with the Rena unless we shift course. Photo / APN

New Zealand, I believe, is in good hands to face the challenges ahead.

As a country we should be concerned that one million people didn't exercise their right to vote but, for the most part, the electorate voted with their heads rather than their hearts.

The spectre of allowing the flea on the tail of the dog to wag the nation was thankfully avoided. So now the hard part begins in meeting the enormous challenges that we face and the opportunities we must create and manage to our best advantage.

I suggest the road to recovery would be less rocky if Prime Minister John Key were to set an agenda of putting aside the "old style" of political posturing and undertake the following:

* Seek bipartisan consensus on major issues facing the country by going beyond seeking political accommodations with just the minor parties. This may involve the use of independent commissions or bodies and bipartisan working groups. From this develop a binding national blueprint for economic recovery and "book balancing" management.

* Distinguish between what are best treated as moral issues rather than divisive political issues (the care of children and youth clearly falls into the area of a moral and social issue).

* Appoint an independent body to monitor all aspects of fiscal control. Examine each and every initiative for ways to conserve costs and to enhance revenue.

There is a very real danger that sources of funds from overseas lending institutions could either be hard to acquire or literally dry up.

A clear and unambiguous blueprint to get our country back on an even fiscal keel is mandatory. We run the risk of becoming the country equivalent of the Rena unless our course changes.

To borrow President Bill Clinton's sentiment, the central issues are the economy and putting the brakes on out-of-control public spending. At any time this would be prudent policy; with the global crisis embracing the world it is imperative.

Fortunately, we are well placed in the current growth zone of Asia Pacific to navigate our way out. Let's not squander that advantage.

Public sector spending clearly needs containment. Inflation adjusted, over the past decade this has increased a massive 57 per cent.

Clearly this blowout is unworkable and the decisions made to have so much bureaucracy is foolhardy and unsustainable. Private debt levels are even more worrying especially in so far as so much has been used to finance non-productive assets in property markets.

In national crisis situations, time and bi-partisan co-operation are the main ingredients to deal with issues and challenges.

I urge Parliament to consider extending the time between elections to four years to allow more time to implement policy.

If not, enough needs to be put in place in the next three years to avoid costly u-turns and a spending spree of promises.

Tough times require tough calls to be made. I would urge the Prime Minister not to lose any resolve even though, in some quarters, decisions might prove unpopular.

The reality we face means the traditional adversarial nature of politics is an impediment.

What the politicians like to represent as a "free contest of ideas" is often better described as "point-scoring" and "bickering".

No one has a monopoly on innovative and game-changing ideas. National could learn much from the Greens and vice versa, for example, if given the right conditions and motivation.

Similarly, using the knowledge and experience of someone like Sir Ralph Norris now that he is returning to the country could be in order. Not to mention tapping into the brains and networks of other skilled and passionate New Zealanders based here and even overseas.

Moreover, successful private sector organisations have learned when to compete and when to collaborate.

The political system needs to learn how to do this as well and across the political divide. When faced with major external and internal threats and challenges, co-operation rather than conflict is needed to build bridges and to make progress.

The same approach could be considered for managing one of our biggest dilemmas which is the care, protection and development of New Zealand's children and youth. For many reasons this particular sector represents our severest moral and social challenge. Like the economy it needs care and attention.

The last thing we need is to succumb to the level of impasse being seen in Europe and more particularly the United States leadership. In-fighting and agenda-driven behaviour between the two major political parties have now reached a point where few Americans have any faith in their politicians to reach a workable consensus in the interests of their country.

The same outcome in our current parliamentary makeup is a possibility that must be avoided. Forget the side shows. Focus on what is important to us all. That is why I've raised issues and thoughts over the past months, to stir the pot of debate and shake out some of the lethargy.

I trust that while you may not all see eye to eye with me, we have the same end goal - New Zealand's sustainable growth and wellbeing of all its residents, young and old. I'd be delighted to help in any way I'm able or needed.

Owen Glenn is a businessman, philanthropist and an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.