New Year is usually a time for making lists, so here are five things Steve Braunias wants to see in 2016.
More money for the poor
God, it's great to be rich! No, it really is, no sarcasm about it. It's what everyone wants - wealth is a place of rest, an end to anxiety. It's nice. You drive your nice car to your nice house where you eat nice food and have nice dreams. Probably you've worked hard for it, made sacrifices, played things wisely, cleverly, maybe daringly and creatively, and it all paid off. So why the hell share it with bums and drug addicts?
A little bit of redirected government spending towards the poor wouldn't hurt. Politicians generally and sincerely get into their trade because they want to make a difference, because they want to make things better. Maybe the first place to start looking is at the bottom of the heap. The statistics of poverty in New Zealand aren't lies. There are families and children behind those figures, who really are queuing for food parcels and making purchases based on Winz quotes. They live where we live - New Zealand. Dear Government and taxpayers: give them a break.
Sonny Bill Williams was already everyone's New Zealander of the Year for giving his World Cup medal to that kid who got "smoked" by the security guard. Then he went the extra distance, which he kind of always does, and made his plea this week on behalf of Syrian refugees. A few bores have been very cross about his use of photos of two dead children. Well, bores will always find a huff to get into. But actually, Williams' words spoke louder than the photos.
Sonny Bill Williams was already everyone's New Zealander of the Year for giving his World Cup medal to that kid who got "smoked" by the security guard. Photo / Christine Spring
This is part of what he said: "The thing that really touched me was, coming here, I didn't really know what a refugee was. I mean, I knew what a refugee was but did I really know? No, not until I came here. It kind of hit home, how ignorant I was ...
"We're so lucky where we live, but we're so out of touch. Everyone's mindset is made to feel that refugees are a problem, but it's more than that. They're human beings too. They were forced from their homes ... Everyone is fighting over who has to take them on; it's like everyone's reluctant to do that."
The dude doesn't do politics but you know what he's saying is a political message to New Zealand to take more refugees. Like he said, "People have goodness in their hearts."
More games of cricket that the Black Caps win resoundingly and thrillingly
Okay, so Brendon McCullum is kind of like Richie McCaw. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Okay, so Brendon McCullum is kind of like Richie McCaw - he's the skipper, he leads by example, he has a very firm jaw, he talks in reassuring monosyllables. And Kane Williamson is kind of like Dan Carter - he's spectacular, he has a genius for the game, his face doesn't exactly scare the horses, he seems like a nice fellow. How about the whole of the Black Caps, then, go out and perform this summer exactly like the All Blacks did all last year?
The only thing missing in last summer's magnificently feel-good Cricket World Cup was an ultimate result. They hit exhilarating runs, and reduced wickets to kindling. Vettori made that catch for the ages when he picked the ball out of the air like a fruit from a branch. But we lost the godammned final. All we're asking for this summer is that the Black Caps win, resoundingly and thrillingly, game after game after game, right up until February 20. Smash Sri Lanka. Smash Pakistan. Smash, above all, Australia, into little whining pieces.
More regional news
The nation deserves to be told regional events. Photo / File
Television has more or less given up on investigative journalism. Mark Weldon got rid of it at TV3, and TVNZ prefers to slap John Key on the back on Seven Sharp. But both networks still have excellent news teams full of talented reporters - and it'd be great if they were allowed to leave the office now and then, and bring back stories from the regions. New Zealand news on the telly is too often just Auckland news, or Patrick Gower standing in the lobby at Parliament. It's so great when the 6pm news goes out into New Zealand and shows us images of those cities, towns, valleys, pastures and coastlines where everyone else lives. If something affects people in New Zealand, it's news. The local is the national.
Story this week, in the Northern Advocate: "The Whananaki footbridge linking North and South Whananaki is closed until further notice. It was damaged by a boat, log or similar large object." And the Rotorua Daily Post: "Motorists are being warned to be careful on Old Taupo Rd at the intersection with Malfroy Rd as the traffic lights have stopped working ... It's unknown how long they will be out." The nation deserves to be told these events.
More peace, love and understanding
Maybe the best thing to do about it is not join in yourself. Photo / Jo Currie
Bit of a classic, this one. It never really goes out of fashion and it's always out of reach but it's a really worthwhile ideal to strive for, and the governing principle is pretty much confined to two words: "Cool it." Cool it, in particular, with the social media hating so prevalent and so odious in New Zealand. Cool it with the bullying and the campaigns and the righteous bullshit. Cool it with the court of uninformed, indignant, juvenile, bigoted, crazed, and stupid public opinion.
Ignoring it won't make it go away - rage and spite always find a comfortable place to seethe - but it's not a bad place to start.
Maybe the best thing to do about it is not join in yourself. Maybe the best thing to do about it is not feel the need to add your voice. Maybe the best thing to do about your part in the endless raging arguments of social media and beyond is to just cool it. Happy New Year!
