Dave Mollard's Change is Constant: An anchor is holding Aotearoa back

Nurses, such as fairy god nurse Valerie Harris from Hawke's Bay, see us at our worst and provide us with dignity in undignified situations. Photo / Ian Cooper

OPINION:

We revere some professions more than others. Doctors, lawyers and pilots are all people we respect and pay subservience to. These people do deserve our respect for the study and mahi they have done to get where they are, but there are Kiwis in other occupations we need to elevate to that same high standard of reverence.

Aotearoa has an anchor attached to it that is holding us back from reaching our full potential, and I do not mean Ashburton. There is a group of Kiwis, our whānau, who for many different reasons are not positively contributing to our communities.

It's the 5 per cent of us who suffer from generational dysfunction, addictions, mental health issues and the loss of tūrangawaewae. This group of people is a burden on our health system, a burden on our education system and a burden on our justice system.

This minority is supported in many ways by the majority, but just "chucking" money at the issues has not, and is not, going to solve them. It is only people who can solve these challenges. Family and whānau need to look after their own and support those who they love, but when the obstacles get too great it's time to get the professionals in. These hard-working, big-hearted Kiwis are police, teachers, social workers and nurses.

These four occupations are our treasures and the only professional solution to the intergeneration dysfunction and mental health issues our community is facing.

We are blessed to live in a country where, for most of us, we don't need to fear the police. By and large, the thin blue line is made up of well-trained, well-meaning and well-resourced Kiwis. Their interactions with the public usually fall into two categories: offenders and victims. Either way, our police officers are dealing with highly emotional people in heartbreaking incidents every day.

Nurses are the unsung heroes of the medical profession, providing the human face to very traumatic experiences. Nurses see us at our worst and provide us with dignity in undignified situations.

In Aotearoa, we also have a mental health pandemic that has been exasperated by the other pandemic we are all experiencing. Our people are struggling with who they are and where their place is in our motu. Social workers are connecting with people who have been hurt and, in many cases, are hurting others. They are the true warriors, taking on our troubles, providing a crutch to lean on, ears to listen, and a gentle explanation of the tools we need to get ourselves to better places.

Teachers are in many cases the role models some parents are not. Our educators are now dealing with more behavioural and health issues from their students than at any time in our history. The pressure on teachers from parents, administrators, students and also from themselves has created burnout and career changes for some of our best teachers.

If we come up with new ways to support our struggling parents and teachers, we will reduce the new demands on our social workers, nurses and police. Reducing this demand will give our social workers, nurses and police the time and space to create more positive outcomes for the people they are now dealing with.

If you know a teacher, a social worker, a nurse or police officer, please give them the aroha and mana these essential workers absolutely deserve.

• Dave Mollard is a Palmerston North community worker and social commentator.