Broadcaster Wendy Petrie says it makes her upset to see young families living in garages, cars or
sub-standard cold houses.
Broadcaster Wendy Petrie says it makes her upset to see young families living in garages, cars or
sub-standard cold houses.
As TVNZ tackles the topic of our future, we ask well-known Kiwis what changes they hope the next 20 years will bring to new Zealand and the world.
Wendy Petrie TV presenter So many stories we do on the news are about the chronic lack of housing, especially in our biggestcity. It always makes me upset to see young families living in garages, cars or sub-standard cold houses. These kids suffer the most in winter when they catch diseases such as rheumatic fever, usually only found in third-world countries. As an ambassador for Kidz First at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland, I hear about how the lack of decent housing is affecting our kids terribly. So in 20 years I hope to see well-insulated, warm houses for all Kiwis.
Laurel Devenie Actor Capital gains tax, less foreign ownership, more national funds in the Far North, a restored northern railway line, no plastic bags, compulsory te reo in primary and high schools, a reformed welfare system, growers' markets in every town, more women in leadership roles, less billionaires, happy children, more hot water bottles, less America, more bicycles.
Pua Magasiva Actor I'd love to see a whole bunch of positive and country unifying things - and I really hope that as a country of all colours and cultures we're always moving towards that. Beyond that, what I'm kind of hoping to see is a damn good Michael Jackson impersonator who can actually sing Man in the Mirror exactly the way Michael did - and be able to moonwalk not only backwards but in a circular motion.
McGuinness Institute chief executive Wendy McGuinness.
The one thing I would like to see is a culture that leaves no young person behind. We must equip all young people to embrace diversity, adapt to technological change, scrutinise information, test beliefs and have empathy for those with different beliefs or fewer opportunities. We need to support and guide young people to be informed and engaged. Our biggest threat is being complacent; our biggest opportunity is being an example to the world.
Hilary Barry TV presenter I can't wait for self-driving cars. If the experts are to be believed, we'll be over-run with them in the next decade, so in 20 years, just imagine. I'd get so much done if I didn't have to drive myself.
Miriama Kamo TV presenter In 20 years I hope we're all riding bikes on an extraordinary network of cycle-ways, and sharing self-drive cars. And I hope we'll have long been fearlessly teaching New Zealand history and te reo in schools.
Broadcaster Hadyn Jones.
Hadyn Jones
TV presenter
There's so much, I'd like to see but perhaps protection of our waterways is the number one for me. Maybe electric cars for everyone and while we're talking transport how about a train from Auckland airport to the CBD ? Oh, and the invention of a potato chip that's good for me. A return to glass milk bottles and brown paper shopping bags so charities and sports clubs can do bottle runs on the back of trailers.
Greg Boyed TV presenter Electric vehicles to be commonplace and affordable. The technology has been there for aeons - the fastest car around Nurburgring was electric, so they're not glorified mobility scooters anymore. Then, be it hydro, sun or wind, can we have some say in how we charge our cars and stop screwing the environment.
The Hits host Sarah Gandy.
Sarah Gandy
Radio host
I'd love to see more of New Zealand embrace the idea of working from anywhere. There are so many beautiful places around the country that many of us could call home, if getting to work wasn't an issue. Imagine if more of us worked from a beach town or the countryside instead of fighting the masses to get to work each day. Insane rush hour commute times and unaffordable housing could be old news if we could find a way to switch things up.
