Geoffrey / Teacher / Australia
New Zealand has a long and proud history of being a progressive and creative nation.
Amongst its achievements is the successful pursuit of the French Foreign Minister, following the tragic bombing of the "Rainbow Warrior" in 1985. In 1987 New Zealand banned the entry to its seaports, of all nuclear-powered and armed sea vessels and in 2018 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made history by bringing her baby to a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
It is a country that has embraced alternative farming techniques such as "Regenerative Agriculture" and has revolutionized medicine through the invention of the "Disposable Syringe". It has even won a "World Speed Title" in 1967, thanks to Burt Munro and his modified 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle.
It is a country that can be truly proud of its achievements.
Part of the success of New Zealand is a direct result of its people looking past the way they usually approach problem-solving.
Normally the reason why people fail in problem-solving is that they are bound by their preconceived negative ideas, their cultural traditions, and their past experiences.
If it were possible to avoid the "negative voices" in our minds and navigate new pathways to new solutions, then life would be far more productive indeed.
The truth is, however, that our negative thoughts are hard to ignore because they have been built up over many years, even decades and in some cases, they have been passed down over generations.
We need to find a way to think fresh and see the possibilities in our world, using revitalised eyes and new perceptions.
