No wild celebration on Dick Hubbard's plate

By DANIEL RIORDAN

Socially responsible cereal maker Dick Hubbard is taking his New Year Honours award in his stride.

Mr Hubbard, who becomes an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his services to business and the community, says he does not see the recognition as a cause for wild celebration.

"If anything it encourages a little navel gazing. At a time like this it helps you rededicate your commitment to the cause."

That cause is socially responsible business, which Mr Hubbard has championed as a co-founder and board member of New Zealand Businesses for Social Responsibility.

His is the only award for services to business this year, among an honours list dotted with cultural awards reflecting the Labour-Alliance Coalition's philosophies.

The Ministry of Economic Development chief executive and long-time public sector economist, Paul Carpinter, becomes a companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services (QSO).

A year ago knighthoods (now abolished) went to Christchurch software developer Sir Gil Simpson and horse breeder Sir Patrick Hogan, and lesser honours were awarded for services to the dairy, forestry and transport industries and for business management.

Mr Hubbard says his message of business needing to look beyond financial returns to measure success is steadily gaining wider acceptance.

"It's not an ideology which tends to be fixed over time. This evolves as more people cotton on to what it means and what can be done. Not only is this damn good for the planet and the community but it's damned good for shareholders as well."

He said he was concerned at the psychological rather than the economic depression that held sway till the middle of the year. "It wasn't rooted in economic reality. And I was amazed how quickly the mood of the country changed. I'm pretty bullish about the future. There's a lot of positiveness out there."