Godwit’s lesson: motivation matters but so does timing

During the past couple of weeks, I have found my thoughts turning to godwits, vaccines, timing, and attitude.

It’s an odd combination, I know. But please read on as I attempt to explain the connection.

In the last few days, you may well have caught a story on whatever channel you prefer to deliver your news about the longest migration in the world. The epic journey of the godwit is under way once more and New Zealand is central to the story.

The godwit is a larg (ish), longlegged wading bird that chooses to make its home in the Arctic and New Zealand depending on the season. Some may recall the bird was the logo on NAC, the predecessor to Air New Zealand.

I often hear of people choosing to share their time between the Gold

Coast and southern New Zealand. I must say it does have a certain appeal in the middle of a harsh Southland winter.

Anyway, back to the godwits. These birds choose to put themselves through the ordeal of flying over 12,000 kilometres non-stop to flee the northern hemisphere winter and enjoy their summer downunder. I really struggle to get my head around how they can sustain themselves on the journey, but they do. And then they repeat it in our autumn, back to the north.

I easily understand why the cathedral bells in Nelson rang long and loud to announce the arrival of these plucky feathered friends once more to our shores.

So, I guess by now you are thinking, ‘‘why on earth is he talking about godwits?’’ Surely these opinion columns should focus on the multitude of challenges ahead of us as a nation.

I can only speak for myself, but from time to time, I find it helpful to look at the natural world to get a sense of perspective towards the challenges we face.

There is no doubt the challenges are coming thick and fast in local government, be it Three Waters Reform, Resource Management Act reform or indeed, the very purpose of local government.

Putting aside for a moment the pros and cons of the proposals, the more I think about it the more I come back to the conclusion that the

only constant in life is change, and yet we resist it with all our being.

Despite the threat of excommunication hanging over my head from the mayoress, I will risk briefly mentioning the W-word – water.

Water is the essence of life, and systems to deliver clean drinking water efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner are mission critical for me.

If the 3 Waters reform brings change, the most important factor for me is that the entity delivering the service is affordable as well as owned and accountable to the public.

As a mayor and in my personal life, I am always open to change. But not at any price.

There is still a lot of water to pass under the bridge (excuse the pun) before the current reform proposals are anywhere near ready to be legislated. As it stands, the gaping hole in the Government’s proposal is the lack of an adequate channel for local voices to be heard and heeded. That is critical.

I think I got away with that brief water mention, hopefully.

So back to the godwits and the importance of timing. This year one bird, which had been tagged and traced, unfortunately, picked an awful time to start its journey south. After more than 50 hours of struggling against severe headwinds, it decided to turn back and arrived back in Alaska a mere shadow of itself after shedding almost half its body weight.

The irony was had it chosen to depart two days earlier or two days later it would have made it to New Zealand in record time due to the strong tailwinds. A positive attitude and good timing are so important in everything we do.

And finally, let’s talk vaccines. If you have taken the initiative to get the jab, well done. If you haven’t, please do it unless advised not to by a medical professional.

A big thumbs up to all the professionals delivering the jab. Great timing and attitude.

If the 3 Waters reform brings change, the most important factor for me is that the entity delivering the service is affordable as well as owned and accountable to the public.

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