The appearance of business leader and former Olympic Games swimmer Mark Weldon at the culmination of Wairoa Business Week was a symbolic coup for organisers hoping to spark an economic revolution for Northern Hawke's Bay.
Mr Weldon, a 44-year-old QSO recipient whose CV belies the aspirations which might have beenassumed as he wagged school at the beach in his teenage years, was the keynote speaker at the closing dinner on Thursday.
When he used the word "brave" as one tenet Wairoa should portray to reach some of the aspirations expressed during the week, it somehow reflected the very move which had brought him to town.
More used to the bigger audience - whether it be the corporate scene from New York to Wellington or swimming at the Barcelona Olympic Games - it was the first time he'd been invited to speak in such a heartland environment.
He could recall only one other small-town speaking engagement, a night with a more specific audience in Waipukurau in his role as CEO of NZX as the stock exchange company developed its agribusiness interests.
He wasn't sure when Wairoa District Council economic development officer Roz Thomas contacted him, but he had no hesitation in accepting, and didn't come for "a fee."
But there were rewards, he said, in helping others.
"Setting up a business week for four days shows quite a lot of aspiration. It's a healthy starting point," he said after his "Big Picture" address.
"This clearly is an area where there have been challenges. But the people here can accept challenges, and have opportunities."
Among the opportunities were the natural gifts of the region - a "beautiful ocean-front, a beautiful river, and a beautiful lake ... all within 40 minutes".
He could think of no other place with such a combination and discussing the broader "values" of the area, he said "the answer is collaboration".
While the week ended in a wave of enthusiasm, a task now falls on the council and staff to advance ideas.
Ms Thomas, who found Mr Weldon's input "inspiring" with a message of "taking risks and giving it a go", said some steps could be taken quickly, particularly communication aspects and exposing Wairoa, its events and attractions, through websites and other means.
