Editorial: Summertime, and the giving comes easy

John Key. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Opinion

Enough with the seemingly endless string of commentators dissecting 2010 in search of the cancer that finally killed the beast. Enough with the pundits and their predictions for the young, unsteady and dewy-eyed 2011.

It's time to seize this new year by the horns and give it a steer on which way to go.

Tomorrow, many people are heading back to work and setting their goals for the year. Well, we'd like to give the whole country a few goals.

1. YOUTH

It's election year and where are the new faces? No end of sunning himself in Hawai'i hides the fact that John Key's looking a bit weathered now, and we know why his ministers don't want to push back the retirement age - they're all nearing it. Phil Goff was in government in the 1980s and the motorbike looks more late-life crisis than mid-life. Worst of all, old Rodders and Winston are oiling up for another go at government. Time for new blood.

2. UNITY

Len Brown promised a "politics of inclusion" to bring the new Auckland Supercity together, offering roles in his new administration to those from both the left and right. Well, Len, we've seen enough of your political cronies put on the payroll or rewarded with lucrative council contracts - time to deliver on that "inclusion".

3. ACCOUNTABILITY

It's time financiers like Mark Bryers, Eric Watson and Mark Hotchin front up to investors to explain their shameless extravagance.

4. NEW BIRTH

Wouldn't it be nice if Prince William and his new bride Kate honeymooned here? Dare we say it, there are some lovely romantic getaways to conceive a 100 per cent Pure heir to the throne. We promise not to give you any more Buzzy Bees, Wills. On the flip side, a challenge for Pippa Wetzell: To let just 12 months go by without conceiving another baby.

5. GROWTH

Could the recession now recede, please?

6. WARMTH

The weather's good. And we'd love to see Taika Waititi's balmy, bittersweet comedy Boy, a consummately Kiwi summertime tale, nominated for an Oscar this month.

7. COURAGE

Standing up against discrimination, whether it's rejecting racist slurs by TV hosts, or being brave enough to take pride in our own identity. Step up, Ali Mau! Now, in this Rugby World Cup year, surely there must be a sports hero who will follow?

That leads us, of course, to one more thing. It is that piece of silverware whose name we barely dare breathe, lest the hex continue. But if the All Blacks can't deliver on their promise to win it this year, at home, then it's time for them to retire to the commentariat instead and dream about what might have been.