IN RECENT TIMES THERE HAS BEEN A GROUNDSWELL of public anxiety about our future, as individuals and as a nation. Will our rivers survive, and can they become pristine again? Will climate change alter our lives irrevocably? Will electric cars solve problems with fossil fuels? Can our hospitals cope with a growing population and its health problems? Can we live sustainably?
With these types of questions in mind, we decided to ask the experts — influential people with experience in different fields — what they thought had caused the many problems we face, and what we need to do to make a positive difference, to ensure our future is a good and healthy one.
There is plenty to think about on these pages. Each voice is strong and singular, each writer tackling the problems in their area in a different and often refreshing way. Common themes can be traced — most clearly the need for us all to keep the bigger picture in mind, rather than focusing on the minutiae. Yes, the micro problems need to be dealt with, but their position within the overall framework must be taken into account, too. We are all connected.
We hope you enjoy these essays, and gain insights from them into our possible futures.
Kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui.