It's getting easier to be Green

The late Sir Paul Callaghan, the physicist who championed smart, innovative export-focused entrepreneurialism, was a son of Whanganui. The A Place to Live conference is in his memory.

Sunday was a bit of a downer for Greens supporters like me, especially those that hail from the mighty Whanganui.

While getting my sad self over the lower-than-expected result of election night, I sat down to watch the Sunday programme, looking forward to seeing the rubbish claims of Whanganui being a zombie town torn to shreds as if by a pack of rabid zombies.

But no, instead I was tortured by the tired utterings of our former mayor (who I was surprised to discover I agreed with on one point regarding decentralising government services to the regions or at least not centralising them as has been done recently with DoC).

It was shocking that Whanganui's amazing lifestyle and successful small and large entrepreneurs were not highlighted.

I saw a glimpse of our beloved mayor, Annette Main, who represents so much that is good about Whanganui, but TVNZ didn't allow her voice to be heard. Jamie O'Leary did a fantastic job of challenging the critics, while still acknowledging we have our challenges.

More bizarre, was the lack of mention of the upcoming national conference to be held in Whanganui in November, focusing on these very challenges.

Organised by Victoria University and the MacDiarmid Institute, the A Place to Live conference honours the memory of Whanganui's Sir Paul Callaghan, the 2011 New Zealander of the Year, focusing on the economies and environments of small towns and regions.

I will be one of many talking about how living and working in the provinces is fantastic. As I have written before, the benefits are many, not least saving hours each week avoiding commuting in heavy traffic and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in mortgage repayments with our significantly lower cost of housing.

The concept that regional towns and cities facing challenges should be closed down so investment in major cities can be intensified is madness.

What we need is more regional jobs with higher wages so people can contribute economically, alongside the multitude of contributions people already make socially and environmentally.

Working from home is brilliant and I would love more employers to discover the additional benefits that flow, like loyalty, commitment and focus, fed by appreciation for a better work-life balance. It's not just because I have young children, it's because I want to be in a smaller, connected community that is surrounded by nature.

(As an only slightly related aside, check out the stunning photo portraits of Ohura people at Puke Ariki in New Plymouth if you get a chance.)

Keynote speaker Richard Louv will talk about humans' need for nature and how our increasingly urbanised lifestyles, disconnected from wild places, are associated with serious social issues such as obesity, anxiety and depression.

Sir Paul, too, wrote about his appreciation for growing up in Whanganui, connected to nature, and after attending the University of Oxford, shifted back home, still gaining international recognition in his field.

We'll also have the dynamic Kim Hill in Whanganui hosting the conference plus an opening address by Dame Anne Salmond, who has been inspirational as our 2013 New Zealander of the Year. It will be an incredible three days and there will be massive opportunities for Whanganui to showcase its true character.

Check out www.aplacetolive.org.nz.

Of course, Government doesn't need to have all the answers for a more sustainable future both the regions and cities.

There are many Kiwis already leading the way as I discovered at last week's Sustainable Business Network conference. We don't have to wait for the Government to catch up; individuals, communities and businesses are already making a positive difference.

Even the new Petroleum Exploration and Production Association chief executive told Radio New Zealand this week that his industry is ready make the transition to a low-carbon future as the Rockefeller Foundation leads divestment in fossil fuels.

So maybe I need to temper my election disappointment with the realisation that perhaps it's a classic case of losing the battle but winning the war for a Green influence on our world.