Jacoby Poulain: Lessons from extreme poverty

Jacoby Poulain.

I'm back. Thank you to all who supported my election as a member of the Hawke's Bay District Health Board.

I look forward to contributing to the health arena in addition to continuing as a councillor for the Hastings District Council. I stood for election as a member of the health board for much the same reason as standing for election to the council in 2010. This stemmed from a resolve to contribute meaningfully back to my community and others with any skill, knowledge or value I may have to offer and after being inspired by a trip to Indonesia.

On a mini OE after my university studies I had the opportunity to travel to Indonesia doing humanitarian relief work. There I witnessed poverty, destitution and despair second to none. I saw a group of frail elderly men working in the heat, each contracted as manual lawn mowers, kneeling down and cutting the grass in paddocks with a pair of hand scissors.

I saw another group where one was given a crowbar to break up concrete roads and the rest squatted to dig out the dirt, kitchen spoon by kitchen spoon full. These were the lucky ones with jobs. The rest begged, schemed or did whatever they could to get their hands on the means of life or a few bucks to sustain them or find their next meal.

Despite the lack, what I witnessed in the multitudes though was a resilient, resourceful and diligent attitude that made the most of every opportunity. No stone was left unturned, no territory unventured and every opportunity explored. If something wasn't working they found a way to fix it or make it happen.

The resources were always scarce but they overcame their lack. This is the kind of attitude we need in the bay. The next year or few are going to be game changers for current and future generations in terms of key decisions to be made. Significant issues are on the board. Do or die of the dam is one question, oil and gas is another and then there is the infamous amalgamation debate. Whatever one's personal position on each issue, the fact is that decisions regarding each will have repercussions on the future direction, prosperity and well-being of our region and households.

The agricultural and horticultural sector has always been major industry in Hawke's Bay and will continue to be, provided water is available. Increasing climate change, droughts and famine on a world-wide scale is happening and food and water will become an increasingly valuable commodity. Quality food and wine from a clean, green environment is our brand and we would be wise to nurture, protect and promote this and anchor our competitive advantage position on the world stage.

Furthermore, in addition to traditional industry, we should be looking at the potential of developing new industry and jobs to go along with it. Our employment rates, among many other social indicators, lags behind the rest of New Zealand. Something must be done and new territory ventured to address this situation. Oil and gas is also a valuable natural resource worldwide and may be an avenue of exploration. I do caution, however, that any consideration of the potential economic benefits from the use and/or extraction of any natural resource, whether it is water or oil and gas or otherwise, must be coupled with the balancing and protection of people and the environment.

An amalgamated region may see us bear the ability to forge forward and have greater influence on a national and international level when united as a force.

Jacoby Poulain is a Hastings District Council Flaxmere Ward councillor and a Hawke's Bay District Health Board member.