David Clark – Dunedin North

I briefly mentioned the importance of ‘fairness’ as a cultural value in an overview of my USA study trip. Since then, I’ve expanded on the theme in the Otago Daily Times.

While ‘fairness’ has been important in our past, it is even more important to our future.  Social cohesion and economic advancement demand it.  It makes sense to develop all of the talent in a society, not just the talent of a wealthy few.

But fairness is also a reason New Zealanders are invited to sit at the table during international negotiations – despite our small size.  That means it’s good for our exporters.

I’ve had heaps of feedback on the ODT piece on fairness. Click on the link to read the full opinion piece published in the Otago Daily Times.

The danger to future prosperity of growing inequalities is something I’ve written about before I was elected to Parliament. See here. Since then the situation has got worse.  Recent reports show that the gap between rich and poor is the largest it has ever been in New Zealand.

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that the Government act to make our country a fairer one.