Letter to the Editor, Tuesday June 7, 2016

God's Own Country

I wake most mornings and my first thoughts inevitably are, "Isn't it great to be alive?" I'm so privileged to live in the greatest country in the world, and IMHO (in my humble opinion) Northland is the best part of this great country.

I say this from being able to breathe in the beautiful clean air, to being surrounded by such spectacular scenery and to experiencing the breath-taking coastline.

I live in the Mid North in the land of milk and honey, literally, as I'm surrounded by dairy farms and beehives. In our short rural road alone I can source meat, milk, eggs, honey, fruit and vegetables, and I can swim in the crystal clear rivers. Wherever I look I see potential. I see possibilities. I see a positive future.

I guess by now you're picking up that I'm a cup half-full kind of guy, and you would be right. I adopted a positive outlook on life from an early age thanks to the upbringing my parents gave me. I benefited from being nurtured in a loving and supportive environment, where my parents set the example and demonstrated some of life's basic values.

Values such as 'Do unto others as you want them to do unto you' and 'Your word is your honour, so honour your word.'

In fact I would say if every child experienced the upbringing I was fortunate enough to have had you could dispense with all the prisons, the courthouses, the police, even the lawyers. What a great world that would be.

It is my firmly-held belief that some of the issues we face in Northland stem from within. It's about perception, it's about how we are perceived, and more importantly how we perceive ourselves.

How can we expect people to want to come and live and invest in the North if we don't believe in it ourselves? If we as Northlanders want to improve our prospects, our income, our standard of living, our quality of life, we need to start by taking a long hard look in the mirror.

It's about the decisions each and every one of us make every day which determines the outcome.

Having had the privilege and opportunity to have seen other parts of the world it has really bought home to me just how lucky we are. In many countries in the world they can only dream about the lifestyle we take for granted.

In some countries, if you don't work you starve, if you fall ill and need First World medical care you die, if you take a wrong turn into certain areas you risk your life.

I guess my message is, appreciate what you have, make the most of your opportunities, keep your head up and enjoy the ride.

MATT KING
Proud Northlander
Okaihau