Jim Eagles: At last, business gets its due

COMMENT

The Government appears to have undergone a welcome change of heart when it comes to honouring the role business plays in our society.

Last year's New Year Honours list acknowledged the work of just two businesspeople.

That was, frankly, a disgrace.

This year's has - if you take an appropriately broad view of the nature of business - more than a dozen.

Those from what might be considered mainstream business include former Auckland International Airport chief executive John Goulter, former Meat New Zealand chairman John Acland, company director and former Dairy Board chief executive Warren Larsen, chairman of the Forest Owners Association Peter Berg, Vogels bread founder Johan Klisser, Comvita chairman Bill Bracks and business mentor Athol Hutton.

To that we can add Trelise Cooper and Karen Walker from the fashion industry, Richard Taylor and Niki Caro from the film industry and Alan Limmer and Michael Cooper from the wine industry.

As with any honours list it is easy to quibble over some individual choices but collectively it represents an appropriate acknowledgment of the importance of business and business people to this country.

Of course we need to recognise the very special contributions that the likes of artists and sports people, social workers and medical researchers, scientists and teachers, lawyers and entertainers make to our society.

But that should not blind us to the fact that the wealth that actually endows the art, funds the universities and pays for the social services is largely generated by business.

Unfortunately the attitude indicted by last year's honours list is all too typical of the way business is perceived.

A survey conducted earlier this year for Trade and Enterprise New Zealand concluded that New Zealanders "seldom identify the role business plays in a well-performing economy and ... rarely make the link between strong economic performance and social well-being."

Hopefully the greater recognition given to business in the latest honours list is a sign that such views are starting to change from the top.

Until we learn to truly value and foster the entrepreneurial spirit, the money to pay for hospitals and schools will continue to be in short supply.

Acknowledging that the successful entrepreneur is as important to our society as the successful potter, netballer, bureaucrat or academic is a good step in the right direction.

Herald Feature: New Year Honours >