Editorial: Seizing the new year

OPINION: The amazing story of Twizel's Kylie Wakelin, who became the first New Zealand woman to ski to the South Pole this week, just goes to show what extraordinary things can happen in the lives of individuals who are up for the challenges that come their way.

When 2009 dawned exactly a year ago, it's doubtful she would have had any inkling of where she might be as the year neared its end. And yet there she was, part of an eight-woman Commonwealth expedition heading for the South Pole on skis! And getting there.

Making her story all the more amazing is that she was only selected for the party in early October when expedition leader Felicity Aston was concerned about team dynamics and removed a New Zealand Army doctor, Charmaine Tate, from the line-up.

Not that the 36-year-old from Twizel was not equipped for the task. After all, she's an adventurer by nature and profession. As yesterday's report said, she was selected "after spending 16 years running Glacier Explorers' boat trips in the small lake at the foot of the Tasman Glacier and taking part in ski-touring and mountaineering expeditions, as well as working for the British Antarctic Survey".

Clearly, Ms Wakelin is someone who is up for adventure and jumped at the chance to be a part of history.

It's an approach that's worth bearing in mind as we stand in the doorway of the new year. It's open, but the journey to the door that lies waiting at the other end of 2010 has barely begun. In other words, a year of opportunity lies before us if we're ready to take the chances that may come our way.

The ability and the willingness to grab opportunities, to seize the day as it were, is certainly a character trait that would be present for many of the New Zealanders who were honoured yesterday when the annual New Year's honours list was announced.

Though former Prime Minister Helen Clark was rightly honoured for her long, distinguished service to the country, perhaps the name that would have stuck out to most, because he has been highlighted so much in the media, is that of Oscar-winning film director Peter Jackson, who is knighted. How appropriate that his latest offering, The Lovely Bones, should just have hit our movie screens.

Sir Peter, as he is now, embodies the "Kiwi can-do attitude" we hear so much about, as, clearly, do Kylie Wakelin and many of those whose names feature on the opposite page today. May we all take such a focused and determined approach into 2010 and stand amazed in a year's time at what it enabled us to achieve. Happy New Year.

- © Fairfax NZ News