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"I applaud this initiative! More
than that, I believe there is a strange kind of synchronicity occurring around the country
at the moment. I work alongside fairly senior people from a range of corporates, SOE's,
agencies and new media companies. There is a common theme occurring, people in NZ are fed
up, and things have to change. We cannot wait for the government to take the lead...the
changes needed are far bigger and more important than anything that can become a political
football. Our country has the opportunity to become a leader in the new era of the
knowledge economy, think Finland or Ireland of the South Pacific. There is a great pride
in the "No.8 wire", kiwi ingenuity, and we are small enough to change direction
and start correcting our course. The task is huge, but with a clear vision, the will of
the masses, and the forum to address the key issues, we may have a chance!
General Manager – Wellington, New Zealand
"I thoroughly enjoyed your
speeches and endorse fully what you are saying. For years now I have been teaching and
speaking and coaching Kiwis to attain peak performance. Kiwis are the best at so many
things but we could be the best at so much more.
"I have coached at the
international level for 15 years, three Olympics, 4 world championships and represented
New Zealand in three sports. The fundamental philosophy we have is that to achieve the
challenge of being the best, you have to fulfil three criteria;
- Be proactive, productive and positive
in all your behaviours and habits.
- Be successful and recognise that
success every day at training and in competition.
- Get and cherish control of your own
destiny.
"I always ask the question "
Is there anyone out their walking around in front of you holding a large sign above their
heads that reads "You will never make it and will never succeed." If you can't
see the sign then you must assume that you can succeed and should accept the challenge to
be the best.
"This philosophy has carried us through 2 Olympic champions, 5 world champions and
over 20 national champions and also influenced many young people to give it a GO. "The best response ever was a speech to a
group of Rotary Youth Scholarship people where I talked about pride in a nation and
therefore pride in yourself as you are the nation - I showed footage of Paul MacDonald
& Ian Ferguson winning a race and then asked someone if they had ever tried out for a
team for the Games. One young woman put up her hand and I invited her to the front and put
her on a chair and explained the feelings and emotions of being a coached and seeing your
athletes coming down the water first. I played the footage again and then explained the
training and intensity of life in the sporting fast lane.
"I explained the need to be
passionate and driven and to be on the edge. I explained that if you accepted the
challenge to be the best than you can be the best. With that I pulled out the gold medal
Macka had loaned me for the night and put it around this young woman’s neck.
Spontaneously the young people in the room stood up and started singing the national
anthem and the woman with the medal around her neck started crying. She explained to me
later that she had dreamed of wearing a medal so many times and now it had come true.
"It was a special time - not
because of the warm fuzzies but because of the realisation of group of young New
Zealanders that you can make it - you can have pride in your country and that dreams do
come true.
"Well I have gone on a bit but - I feel as if I have found a sounding board where
someone feels the same way I do about New Zealand and being on the edge. The more we pump
it the better for NZ and for all Kiwis. Kiwis can fly - they just have to jump and accept
the challenge to be the best. Thank you Kevin Roberts for publicly recognising so many
flying Kiwis is your speeches."
Sports Performance Coach – Auckland, New Zealand "You continue to inspire many with your
attitude. Never ever change!
Executive Assistant – Wellington, New Zealand
"What a cool set of speeches.
Wish I was present at the time.
I arrived from Fiji about 17 years ago
looking at spending a few years in NZ studying and then returning to work with my dad.
Well...here I am in 1999 as much a rugby-mad kiwi at heart as the rest of my mates at
Carisbrook. I agree with you - this IS THE PLACE; and yes we are the EDGE!! Mr Roberts -
your passion and excitement for what your concept proposes is awesome. Lets hope there are
more Kiwis reading listening and believing in what you have to say."
Manager/Chef/Entrepreneur – Dunedin, New Zealand
"Congratulations and thank you
for trying to bring some edges into the New Zealand scene. Without a vision, there is no
cohesion, and self-interest and apathy compete and combine to leave the observer wondering
whether he is trapped in some enormous illusion, a hall of strangely reflecting mirrors,
shapeless.
"In Process psychology (Arnold
Mindell), the EDGE is that point where the old identity is giving way to a new and fuller
sense of self. It is experienced as a fairly uncomfortable or confusing time because the
subconscious senses danger when we move out of the tried and true comfort zone. As a
nation we seem to be in that place now.
Development Advisor – Auckland, New Zealand
"Way to go! Big ideas, fresh ideas. Any idea is better than the directionless
management we have of our country at the moment. Keep up your invigorating work."
MD Natural Health Company – Christchurch, New Zealand
"NZ badly needs a vision. That
vision then needs to be broken down into a set of quantifiable goals across a whole range
of different areas of endeavour, but concentrating on what is important to achieve that
vision. This is not rocket science. It is basic, simple stuff that every competent CEO
practices every day.
"The key to achieving this is to
involve people who know how to do it. Polling forums round the country led by politicians
was never going to produce the results we need.
"We have proven we can be
successful in the resource economy. But now the rules of the game have changed and there
is no certainty that we can be successful under the new rules of the knowledge economy. We
have a huge task ahead to do this, but do not seem to recognise the importance or
magnitude of that task."
Business Economist – Auckland, New Zealand
"Great idea - I'm a very proud
New Zealander too!!"
Investment Banker – Sydney, Australia
"Your comments remind me of the importance of tourism to the New Zealand economy. It
seems the government has missed a key point about tourism in its new sloganeering about
the knowledge economy. All through a business diploma I did a few years ago we were
constantly being reminded about the change from a goods based economy to a service based
economy. Surely this is still true and nothing typifies this more than the growth of
tourism, - a service industry if ever there was one. This concept of a knowledge-based
economy is far too simplistic. "Let’s
be more specific and remember the importance of other characteristics in the changing
world such as the building of service based industries, the adding of value to our raw
materials as well as the development of knowledge based industries and so on. They are all
important and vital directions for New Zealand and they are all interrelated in a complex
new range of economic opportunities staring us in the face."
Environmental Consultant – Wellington, New Zealand
"Like your style Mr Roberts. It's
a pity that our politicians roll over for the public as easily as they do. I'd love to
work with you guys to popularise some of these concepts throughout the world"
Executive Producer – Auckland, New Zealand
"Excellent speeches and comments - what will it take for more people in our country
to realise their potential and give more of themselves in reaching their goals and
improving everyone’s lot in life?"
Sales Contractor – Auckland, New Zealand "How prophetic that we live in a nation
called NEW Zealand. New is a word this will always transcend the boundaries of time. In
the past and in the future our nation has and will always be a reflection of our people
and if New is the first word to roll of the tongue when addressing ourselves as a nation
that can only be a positive reflection of being first, at the forefront, on the edge and
always...new.
Illustrator/Creative – Wellington, New Zealand
"New Zealanders have so much to
offer the rest of the world in spirit, attitude and aptitude. But we are missing where we
could be powerful - that is getting together and adding value to primary production and
creating an international brand in organic, natural food production. NZ should be moulded
as the Switzerland of the Southern hemisphere using our isolation and clean/green
perception as our competitive advantage to etch out markets in Europe and the USA. As
consumers become more informed and more concerned about food modification and additives
(sprays, steroids, antibiotics), more and more they will look to naturally grown food and
doesn't NZ have all the inputs to build a truly international food brand giving NZ a
premium price for value added product.
Company Director - Auckland, New Zealand
"Great stuff. I
think something is happening downunder. It seems NZ is starting to awake
from its long slumber over the last ten years or so and like the phoenix
will rise again!!"
Operations Manager - Antwerp, Belgium
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