Editorial: Let's get to the top of lists

One startling statistic is that one in every four Bay adults is a "hazardous drinker", nearly twice the national average and that is one of an alarming many.

Wouldn't it be great if we could look at a set of regional comparisons and see that Hawke's Bay was ahead of the pack?

Some may see that as wishful thinking, but it does get depressing seeing this province languishing at the bottom of economic and health tables when we know that this patch of earth we call home is up there with the best places in the world to live.

Sadly, when it comes to regional statistics, to put it plainly - we suck.

New Zealand, as a small country, is renowned for punching above its weight in sporting achievement and film-making, to name just two areas of expertise. So, why can't a spectacular, but unfashionable province tucked away on the east coast of the North Island, have standards that the rest of the country follow?

The economic statistics are depressing and, as has been said many times before, a game-changer is needed to change our fortunes.

But of equal, and possibly even more concern, is the story on our front page and page five today. A Hawke's Bay District Health Board report released yesterday shows the region is worse than the national average in hazardous drinking, death rates, mental disorders, smoking, teenage pregnancy, GP access, dental visits and hospitalisations for assaults.

My word - where do we start. One startling statistic is that one in every four Bay adults is a "hazardous drinker", nearly twice the national average and that is one of an alarming many.

For a region that is constantly crowing how wonderful it is here, we need a serious reality check. We need to own our problems and sort them out together.