Editorial: The road forward starts here, today

Newspapers mould public opinion. From the words written in this column to the stories carried on its news and feature pages, the newspaper affects the way its readers think. There is nothing boastful in that observation. Its influence is a function of the medium itself, one of the reasons it is bought each day. The power of that influence is such that it must be used responsibly and, when put to a particular purpose, the reason must be a worthy one.

Today the Weekend Herald and New Zealand Herald go on record as committing their influence to a good cause: helping to lead the country to a new sense of economic, social and cultural well-being. Why? We believe New Zealand has what it takes to be an innovative and prosperous country that fights above its weight but lacks a sense of direction.

We are sick of politicians blaming each other, politicians castigating bureaucrats, businessmen railing against politicians and bureaucrats and the bemused public sitting on the kerbside with its chin in its hands. No one is to blame and everyone is to blame. However, we are past the point where anything is to be served by finger-pointing, unless it is to show the way ahead.

We do not claim to have all the answers and it would be supremely arrogant for the newspaper to think it did. However, we do know one thing: we can provide some of the much-needed leadership through our power to communicate. The use of that power will have one purpose: to help create a better New Zealand.

There will be those who will say we have a political agenda. They are wrong. We are seeking what Industry New Zealand's new board member Bridget Wickham calls "a national conversation" to find our way ahead.

Yes, we have some views on what is needed to find that way forward. We believe that children should be taught to strive for success, that education policies should have enshrined principles that survive a change of government, that brainpower should be recognised as the country's greatest asset, that the market should regulate itself but provide social equity, and that taxes should be lower to attract business and jobs.

We also believe that there is a growing number of people who are prepared to give their talents to setting New Zealand on a new course. We will seek out those people and provide a platform where their ideas can be aired and tested. We will support public and private sector policies and initiatives that will move New Zealand forward and expose the impediments to progress. We believe that, together, these things are capable of creating a new vision for New Zealand in a rapidly changing world.

A vision will be no more than words unless it has the power to move politicians, boardrooms and, above all, people. It must be robust and rewarding but it also has to be exciting. It will not excite unless the national mood is shifted away from impotent pessimism. The country feels it is on a losing streak. When that happens to a sporting team they have a pep talk and reflect on what they are actually capable of achieving. They look to the success of others and say "we can do that, too." It is high time that Team New Zealand (and let's make no apology for adopting a winning title) started to see its potential. Our part in that process will be to highlight New Zealand successes.

We will also be reminding New Zealanders that their reputation for ingenuity doesn't end with a piece of No 8 fencing wire. The prospect of knowledge-based industries removes the tyranny of distance that has plagued our progress in the past. The creation of these industries will be a focus for the Weekend Herald and New Zealand Herald.

"The Jobs Challenge," a major series that begins in today's Weekend Herald and examining New Zealand's response to the global economy, is a signal that our commitment starts now.

Herald Online feature: The jobs challenge

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