A great start for the new year
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Posted Thu 21 January 2010 @ 12:18 p.m. by Ernie Newman
I’m back! I’ve been out of the office, and New Zealand, for over 6 weeks – the longest time away I’ve had in my career. Spent most of it chilling out in an apartment in Barcelona. Just living the local lifestyle - though we tended to keep the lid on the red wine bottle until lunchtime rather than join the diehard locals in sipping over breakfast.
It was great to get the re-charge. It left me with several strong conclusions, some of which are about telecommunications but most in a wider context:
- We are very, very, very lucky to live in New Zealand
- We’re luckier now than at any time in the recent past.
- We’ve emerged from recession in much better shape than many. We should be grudgingly grateful to the Aussies for this – we benefit from the “lucky country’s” slipstream
- We have a new, fresh, young-looking government which has helped our sense of optimism. National is astoundingly popular. Not just because they are young and fresh – the honeymoon would have ended months ago were that the case. Not just because they have some capable ministers – Labour had some too. But because they are spending our money on infrastructure. New bridges, tunnels and fibre will help us each make our living and improve our lives. That’s what governments are for – to provide infrastructure as a base for the citizens to produce the wealth.
- Air New Zealand’s award as the World’s Best Airline is, categorically, amply deserved. They are truly top in their field by every measure.
- The Brits have lost the plot. They have their heads in the sand. They’ve failed to take advantage of being part of Europe, been let down hugely by their political leaders, and are failing to plan for a future. They fear the recession is going to worsen.
- Red wine doesn't have to cost $30 - or even $10 - to be seriously drinkable.
- It gets easier and easier, year on year, to globetrot using only English. I always felt that if I stubbornly refused to learn other people’s languages, they would be forced to learn mine. Its come true.
- The world’s population is getting browner so fast you can almost see it happening.
- I accept that the planet is warming but remain very, very sceptical about emissions trading as a response. The new Ice Age in the UK ten days ago helped convince me.
- Mobile data networks are not only a very expensive way to stay on line, but extraordinarily erratic – even in the CBDs of the world’s biggest cities.
- The very best part of any holiday is landing back in Auckland.
As to TUANZ, we’re in bullish mode. 2008 was a nightmare. 2009 was a year of hanging on. 2010 is the year of our comeback. We have scored a huge range of wins, but we have serious work ahead to help ready this country for the ultra fast age.
I’ve got a lot more to say about telecommunications issues from my travels, which will be posted over these next few days. Meanwhile – I hope all our members share my sense of optimism. Good trading and good luck to you all for 2010 – it’s a great time to be alive!
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