Get hands dirty to get ahead

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

MY parents came here with the shirt on their back, literally — no money, no home, no welfare to fall back on, just nothing.

The positive they had was a strong spirit of belief that this was a great country and they believed they could make it work here.

One of the marvellous things about New Zealand is that everyone has access to land. Whether you rent or own, there is dirt under your feet.

The dirt is the opportunity, in the first instance.

I look at all the lawns and vast land in Tairawhiti and I can see golden opportunities.

Our family worked the land, starting off small — just like the Chinese chap who is selling Chinese vegetables on the street outside the farmers’ market on Saturdays.

We grew veges to sell to whoever wanted to buy. We saved our money and made sure we didn’t waste it on unnecessary things; no drink, no sweets, no smokes, no holidays — we just worked and saved.

As time went on we leased another small parcel of land, bought a horse called Dick to work the land, and worked and saved. Soon there was enough to buy a small block of land. We worked and saved.

Work was not just 8am to 5pm, it was more like 5am to 11pm. Yes, Richard and I worked some of those hours too; no we were not slaves — we were there for the family to get ahead. I was on the tractor at eight years old after school until about 10pm singing the Maori song Rona, the moon song.

Do nothing, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

We learned about the value of money at a very early age. We were brought up learning about money and what we can achieve with this. Mum and dad taught us to “work towards no work” — meaning save hard, invest wisely and live off the passive income in years to come.

You may have noticed your Chinese neighbour dig up their lawn and plant spring onions, rhubarb, parsley and veges. They would think: What value is the lawn other than to waste petrol and time mowing it? Something you admired, we would think differently — we look at the lawn and we see a future, we see land, veges growing on it, paying off the mortgage, saving for education.

Just plant something, it turns into money. Harvest and sell at the flea market, the farmers’ market, outside your gate, on the side of a GDC road. You can learn how to grow veges on YouTube, or call me.

This is a great country, paradise I say. With free enterprise, if you are willing, there is nothing to stop you from getting ahead. No one needs to be poor or to go hungry in New Zealand.