Even bad times are good

OPINION: At Christmas time, all people, regardless of their religion, have an opportunity to share in a time of generosity and giving, a time of forgiveness and reconciliation, writes Tim Shadbolt this week.

But Christmas is not only a celebration of goodwill; it is also a time of reflection.

Looking at the big picture, 2009 has been an excellent year for Invercargill. Together we are working through the present recession. Through tenacity and strength of spirit we are, for the most part, still in reasonable shape, battered and bruised perhaps, but certainly not broken.

We started 2009 with a commemoration for the 25th anniversary of the great floods of 1984. It may seem strange to pay tribute to such a disaster but there were many aspects of the flood worth celebrating. The practical, commonsense approach by hundreds of volunteers; the rock-solid professional response of police, fire brigade, ambulance, Civil Defence, the military and other emergency services; the fundraising campaign launched by Mayor Eve Poole, and the caring, sharing compassion shown by those who were not one of the 1400 families whose homes were devastated by flooding; and, of course, I have to say it, the positive long-term approach taken by local government to prevent flooding from happening again in Southland.

Local councils set about upgrading the stopbanks and improving the stormwater systems.

We constructed new drains around our city and towns and we also developed a flood plain, a block of farms that we will deliberately flood if a wall of water heads in our direction again.

There was, of course, the recent dispute between myself and my deputy.

As with the floods, however, a lot of positives emerged from this dispute.

Both Neil Boniface and I presented our differences on national television with maturity and dignity. We had a difference of opinion but we were honest and open about it.

An entire council meeting was recorded for television and anyone in New Zealand with Sky could see democracy in action. I had hoped that as gentlemen we could have avoided taking it into the public arena but such is the nature of politics.

At the very least we sought as a council to be as transparent as possible through out this issue.

One of the big challenges for 2010 will be to continue our city's support for the search for the cure for diabetes. Trials are now under way at Middlemore Hospital.

I still believe, even more so now after our delegation's research in Norway, that oil and coal will be of huge significance in Southland's future. However, the Living Cell Technology project is likely to be the most successful in the short term. It would put us on the international map, if Invercargill became the city that cured diabetes.

Without question one of the greatest moments of 2009 was seeing our city respond to the boys bringing home the Ranfurly Shield. What a day that was!

But wait, there's more. We have shared in the successes of numerous Southlanders staking claims of greatness in many different areas, from cycling to film, from groundbreaking innovations in biofuel research to further exciting developments in our key agriculture industries.

Yesterday there was more great news for Invercargill, with confirmation that our city will host three Rugby World Cup 2011 teams: Scotland, Argentina and a playoff winner. I'm sure Southlanders will once again be united by their love of rugby and pride in our city and province and be fabulous hosts to these teams.

After a very stressful and difficult time during the past few weeks, I was reminded of the beauty and wonder of this world when I had the honour and joy of playing Santa Claus to the little ones of the families who work at council.

I would like to take this opportunity to humbly thank all those who have supported me at this time and I reiterate my promise to you all that I will not be sidetracked from my commitment to moving our city forward.

This Christmas, I hope we will all show compassion, kindness and generosity towards those who are struggling and in a worse-off position than ourselves.

Merry Christmas everyone.

» Tim Shadbolt is the mayor of Invercargill.

- © Fairfax NZ News