There was a time ,especially during the 70's when New Zealand was the envy of the world. We had the best medical facilities,hospitals, free health care, best education system-bar none (Universities were free), free Plunket service ( which provided free baby care for mothers and children and also kept a running record of each child's health and growth), each child received a fortnightly payment as part of the family benefits program, we signed away our rights to sue to adopt the ACC program-which made weekly payments to you (you could also get a bulk payment) if you were ever injured at work or sports. We had free swimming pools, parks etc. This helped NZ produce some truly world class athletes. Peter Snell, John Walker as examples
Many organisations around the world use to travel to NZ to learn how we did things. The Government of the day had only had 4 things to concentrate its efforts on. Health, education,lifestyle and business.
Sadly as the 1980s roll in all of the above started to slowly disappear and each sector slowly eroded.
The government in the 80's started its campaign for the so called "Big business initiative" and sadly this idea has continued to the present day. WE now have serious problems within the country. Crime rates have increased. Prison population has increased. The following are all the other things that have increased, Child murder, gang affiliations, prices to attend University, obesity, cost of living, Auckland is now the 4th most expensive city to live in, behind Paris, Tokyo, London and Melbourne. The list goes on and on. Sorry didn't realize I was ranting! Lol