Dialogue: Why don't we just get on with it?

The headlines say it all - "Wage figures set off inflation alarm bells," "Price rises on the way," "Maths brain drain 'threatens industry"' and so on and on.

Every day we hear and read negative responses to the economic news and the Government's lack of leadership and direction. So what's different? Just one more nail in the coffin.

We get fed up and rail against the philosophies of a Government with no leadership, no strategic direction, no understanding of the ordinary, hard-working public.

Let's chuck it in and move to Australia.

Why stay here and battle on, work hard all our lives? For what? Nothing? The opportunities in Australia are just so good, the Australian Government just lets people get on with it. Australians wouldn't stand for all the rubbish that we do.

Would they? Hell, no. Well, read those headlines again. They are all from the Sydney Morning Herald over the past fortnight, not selected for any particular reason other than that they look exactly what you would read here in any week in our newspapers.

So why do we think it's so much better over there? Perhaps it is all to do with perception. Nothing is to do with reality.

Think about it. How does the sharemarket establish a price for a share? How does the real estate market establish a price for a house? You and I decide what we are going to pay. We are only willing to pay what our perception leads us to believe is value for money.

Where is the reality? This is the reality. If this is so, surely we can do something very positive about it.

Why are people more often successful when they choose to move to a new country?

Perhaps it's to do with the fact that they are determined, having made a decision to have a better life than they left behind. What do they need to do to make it better?

How about a better attitude, a stronger vision, a belief that it can work out for them, a bit of hard work and sacrifice and a driving conviction that they did make the right decision. These are powerful drivers to get things done.

We are only ever going to be what we make ourselves. Of course, the infrastructure which surrounds us, the assistance which comes from the Government, can encourage us - or discourage us, but even that might be perception. But take a quick reality scan and acknowledge that, in fact, it all lies in our own hands.

Government thinking on small business is quite innovative and supportive. That could be your perception. In reality, it has set up an economic and business focus within the Ministry of Commerce (renamed the Ministry of Economic Development). In fact, it has put the new focus into an organisation with a board of business leaders to drive and direct it for the benefit of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Industry New Zealand, which began last month, has several programmes to assist small business. None of this help has been available since the 1980s when the Development Finance Corporation was still in existence, particularly its Small Business Agency.

In addition, the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology has opened up grants for research to a level that has stimulated interest from small and medium-sized enterprises.

Many of these have recognised the opportunity and have used grant funds. Certainly, ideas abound.

With the focus on market-driven economies and the market taking care of itself, any assistance, intervention, help or guidance was gone. New Zealand, the brave pioneer somewhere at the end of the world, said let's lead the way and deliver the new model.

Did it work? Once again, it's a matter of perception. Some will say it has and some will say it has not. It depends on who you talk to.

Certainly, big businesses got more opportunities and took good advantage of them and did well. But does that trickle down to the rest of the business market?

Some will say it did and some will say it did not.

Doesn't this have a familiar ring to it?

If there has been a driving philosophy in my life it is that if you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got. So what are we going to do about it? It appears obvious that the remedy is in our own hands.

This small country is certainly a long way from the rest of the world's markets but we have always been creative, innovative, hard-working and willing to give anything a go.

We are also largely driven by our small and medium-sized enterprises. It's these people who hold the business health of New Zealand in their hands.

The Government has recognised this and put in place some help through Industry New Zealand programmes.

Most city councils are also funding economic development agencies which work closely with the local business community to make things happen, to give business guidance and help. Most of this is free.

Surely this is the fuel to stoke the economic boiler. Let's just shovel some more on and get this burner really fizzing and pumping.

Why don't you make a decision to do something different today?

If you want to start a new business, get some money to explore a new technology or idea. If you believe that the business you have could do better, seek out help from your local economic development agency.

It has all the contacts and networks for you to tap into, make use of and seek guidance from.

Just do something. Do something today. After all, it's up to you and me. There is nobody else.

* Gaelle Deighton is the chief executive of Enterprising Manukau.

Herald Online feature: The jobs challenge

We invite your responses to a series of questions such as: what key policies would make it easier for unemployed people to move into and generate jobs?