Lessons from our failures

By SIMON COLLINS and MATHEW DEARNALEY

New Zealand needs to learn from its failures instead of condemning those who fail, says biotechnologist Maxine Simmons.

Ms Simmons, a founder of Immuno-Chemical Products, of Auckland, has been appointed to the board of the Government's new business development agency, Industry NZ, which becomes a legal entity tomorrow.

Back this week from an exporting trip to the United States, she said that in America going broke was regarded as a useful learning experience.

"In the US, someone involved in three unsuccessful businesses is a very bankable proposition, because they have had an opportunity to learn. We are very quick to condemn when something goes wrong. We champion our sporting heroes, but not our business heroes.

"That's what I'd like to see Industry NZ doing - supporting people, instead of pulling them down. Those people are prepared to put themselves out on a limb and go for it. We should give them all the support we can."

This weekend, the Herald begins a major series which examines the Government's plans for Industry NZ. It asks what we can learn from our economic failures and our success stories, and from other countries. The Jobs Challenge starts on Saturday.