Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: Scientists most trusted?

The Australian government is pushing STEM subjects in schools: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. They believe these are fundamental to positioning Australia as a lead, high performing nation this century. You have to hand it the Aussies. They don't think small or short term.
Their government expects STEM subjects to be encouraged at primary and secondary school level. This, they say, will produce the wave of scientists and engineers that Australia needs for innovative thinking and "out there" ideas for their primary and manufacturing sectors. Apparently manufacturing in Australia is falling behind big time as the focus and investment capital is channelled into mining. Businesses are being encouraged to think about how new technology might be applied in their area.
They are not expected to come up with all the answers themselves.
They are asking scientists to work in areas they haven't worked in before. It's a case of fresh eyes being able to spot an opportunity that may have been overlooked by those working in that field for years.
Australia has set an audacious vision. They want to become a nation of scientists, highly skilled technicians, engineers and mathematicians. They know it is this group of inquiring minds - always looking to see where value can be added, an existing system improved or replaced entirely - that will keep their country ahead of the pack.
They want to grow their own scientists and welcome those from other countries as well.
There must be something in scientists that I've missed all these years. Apart from being highly sought after around the world for their expertise and stunning minds they must have the X factor too. Only last week in New Zealand three topped the Reader's Digest New Zealand's most trusted survey after 735 adults were asked to rank 100 preselected people. Keisha Castle-Hughes the actress and Richie McCaw All Black captain were also on the list. Can't think why.
Nice people I'm sure, but most trusted? You have got to be joking. Even three scientists; Sir Ray Avery inventor, New Zealander of the Year 2010, Sir Peter Gluckman chief science adviser to the PM and physicist Sir Paul Gallaghan, New Zealander of the Year 2011, were included. Again, all nice people, but most trusted and for what? You don't usually hand over trust lightly and rarely to someone you don't know well. These men have made an outstanding contribution in their field of work. They are known and respected here and abroad. And it is fitting they should rate highly because of the real value of their work.
But the question I ask is most trusted for what?
To take over in a time of constitutional crisis, quell a riot, unblock a stagnated economy? Maybe but I wouldn't have thought so. Most trusted to me is someone to whom I would hand over my decision making, to represent or act on my behalf and in my best interests. That requires blind faith as well as trust.
To know that when it is time to act, no matter how unpalatable their decisions will be. They will also have the ability to see things from another's point of view.
What really sticks out in the survey is that coming in with the lowest placed rankings - from 90-100 - were nine MPs, including our PM.
That surely says something about how trusting we are.
Over the years I have learnt that trust and believability are built and sustained through consistency - and demonstrating them in our choices and actions. This is probably why our three scientists have survived as leaders in their field and enjoy being among New Zealand's most admired citizens.
Maybe Readers Digest should rename their survey, New Zealand's most admired and then perhaps we'll see our politicians move up in the ranking. Then again, maybe not.