Editorial
The Minister Replies!
Regular readers will be aware that just over a week ago I sent an email to the deputy PM, Jim Anderton, who is also the country's Minister Of Economic Development.

Jim is the self-proclaimed head of a movement to move New Zealand forward and foster a "new economy" (formerly known as a Knowledge Based Economy.

Full credit to Jim for responding at length to my email -- he could have simply ignored it or sent a "Thank you for your email... yours faithfully" kind of brush-off.

However, that's where my satisfaction with the Minister comes to an end.

For the benefit of readers, I've published a copy of the original email I sent to the minister.

I have also published the minister's reply

As I write this it is 6 am on Monday morning and I've just deleted several thousand words of response I wrote to the Minister's email over the weekend.

The trouble is that every time I think I'll just respond to one part of it -- I end up finding "just one more" point that needs addressing.

So, to avoid boring you all -- I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions as to whether Anderton "gets it" and whether any serious action from government is any closer.

The only points I will make are that I find it disconcerting how he regularly refers to "Alliance" policies and plans -- doesn't he realise he's part of a Labour-led coalition government?

And his closing statement that "15 years of ignoring industry development cannot be undone overnight" is, in my opinion, nothing more than a feeble excuse for the lack of action to date -- and probable lack of any real positive action in the months to come.

But read the email and please send me your comments.

Free republication rights available on request

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