By JIM COTMAN*
In the Herald of November 13, Prime Minister Helen Clark suggested partnerships are the basis of our future prosperity.
New Zealand Inc had to work together to take advantage of the exciting opportunities before it, she said.
But on the same day, National leader Jenny Shipley championed individuals and risk-takers as the key to prosperity.
"The key person in the process of wealth creation is the entrepreneur, the individual."
What should we make of these conflicting statements? Which approach should we take?
In fact, we need both the partnership and the entrepreneurial approach if we are to really change gear and move forward.
Let's not be scared of embracing the entrepreneur model, capturing the innovative talents of the individual, while working together for the greater good.
I look to my United States-based son, Tony, who started his career in America as a mechanic and now manages an Indy cart racing team. His enterprise has been rewarded. Other young New Zealanders overseas are achieving similar success.
When go-getters participate in a competitive environment they create success. Leadership, skills, and pro-active actions are recognised and rewarded.
It's about support and encouragement in order to create a winning formula, but it is not about intervention.
We should reward, promote and acknowledge achievement, and harness the spirit of entrepreneurs.
There are good examples of acknowledging the strengths of the individual while they are working in a group. The Farm Environment Award in the Waikato is one. It promotes top-performing farmers who are using good management principles. They are prepared to be judged by their peers and are increasingly seen as role models.
Forty Waikato farmers have entered this year and are now in the first judging round.
The entrants are all individuals working out what is best for their own farm.
But a strong partnership of many people is needed to promote and run the awards. Fellow farmers freely give their time to judge the competitors. Support also comes from others with a range of expertise, and from a growing family of committed sponsors.
It is all about promoting the results of individual effort for the benefit of many.
The New Zealand Landcare Trust also leads in innovate thinking to achieve its goal of promoting sustainable land management.
It assists land owners and others in the community to set direction and take charge of their destiny.
There is a common theme of working together for common good while extracting individual pride and success.
They are not holding their hands out for the largesse of Government but are instead trying to create their own success. (Albeit, they could do it better with some support.)
These groups often provide a forum for interaction between farmers, landowners, science and policy people and by doing so, challenge existing boundaries.
It is about people harnessing the talents of the group - the brains trust - to progress their thinking.
Working together for common benefit does not, and should not, limit individual drive toward being a top performer.
Show me a young dairy farmer working under the co-operative (partnership) system who is not focused on being a top individual performer.
So perhaps both politicians are correct. It makes a change, doesn't it!
* Jim Cotman, is a dairy farmer, chairs the Waikato Farm Environment Award committee, and is Waikato coordinator for the Landcare Trust.
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