Looking back, and forward, for Mangawhai

 

As the general election approaches I have been reflecting on why I entered the political frame in the first place – it serves as a very good touchstone as to my motivations to serve my community and country. Below are excerpts from my maiden speech to Parliament in 2011:

I am proud to be a representative of the National Party because its founding values resonate with who I am as an individual. Central to this – personal responsibility, reward for hard work and enterprise, limited government and equality of opportunity and citizenship.

It is a fast paced world we live in and much has changed, even in my lifetime, with regard to the fabric that binds society together and the balance required to maintain a healthy socio-economic equilibrium. Too often nowadays a sense of pride, self-reliance and independence is usurped by a culture of entitlement despite the implicit irony that so many who contribute nothing to society have developed an almost self-righteous belief that society owes them something. Striving to succeed and success itself is so often frowned upon as threatening and somehow discriminating against those who seek refuge behind an ever-growing veil of mediocrity.

Participation, it seems, is now the goal, and winning is equal part unnecessary and intimidatory. Personal responsibility, the very source from which self-respect springs is intrinsically related to the individual’s willingness to accept responsibility over one’s own life. To do so is to give value, purpose and freedom to the soul. To refuse, it leaves a hole from which the spirit of the individual will slowly but surely drain. Yet, years of socialist ideology, and welfarism which provides perverse incentives to opt out has seen the notion of personal responsibility pilloried. The long and short of it is that a little bit of personal responsibility goes a long way, but a lack thereof will go a lot further – just in the wrong direction.

I am a great believer that a marriage of quality education and equality of opportunity are essential building blocks to social wellbeing and prosperity. I want to do all I can to ensure this environment exists to help Northland and New Zealand reach the obvious potential we hold. I also come here with a focus to see Northland develop a whole-of-region economic plan that clearly outlines a path to reaching that potential, the barriers that may stand in the way and where the opportunities are to make our boat go faster – and there are many!

Too often, Northland is singled out for many of the wrong reasons. But let me make it quite clear today, the less than flattering statistics are not the failure. Our failure is that Northland is blessed with economic potential but we have no plan to achieve it – well not yet anyway. (Three years on we are the fastest growing region in NZ).

The last point I want to make relates to judgment. Edmond Burke, viewed by many as the philosophical founder of modern conservatism said of judgment: "Your representative owes you – not his industry only, but his judgment – and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion."

In a world that is over-managed and under-led, judgment and leadership is what New Zealanders need and expect of us, something I will always keep top-of-mind.

On Saturday August 30 I am holding a public meeting, Mangawhai – Looking Forward. It has been a very difficult few years for Mangawhai and the Kaipara district and I’d like

to discuss some of the issues and where to from now. All are welcome at the Mangawhai Recreation Centre, Insley St, 1.30pm.

 www.mikesabin.co.nz

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