I almost didn’t make it into 2026 and I have the battle scars to prove it. Surviving a serious life threatening illness puts everything else into perspective forever. So visiting Raglan this long weekend – with my wife Renea Mackie – has been an amazing tonic for us both after a very challenging 12 months.

Raglan Harbour Sunset

Restful location with rejuvenating sea air, amazing views and some overdue quiet time for writing and reflection about what’s up next. Did I mention the cute laneways, lovely cafes, fresh fish & chips and friendly, creative locals? Nestled among the misty hills of coastal Waikato, this busy little town somehow balances the needs of alternative lifestylers, eager tourists and local Tainui people. At least superficially, it is a microcosm of our nation.

But in the midst of these simple pleasures, I’m also mindful that wider New Zealand is doing it tough right now in economic terms. The future quality of the healthcare system (that saved my life) and that of our once respected education and welfare institutions now looks at risk. Successive governments have failed to make smart decisions about moving our country up the value chain. We have not planned adequately for energy and climate security. Infrastructure capacity is still years behind population growth and land developments. On top of all this, environmental protections are being wound back.

I’ve been around long enough to witness the ebb and flow of numerous economic cycles. But this time it’s different. Society has never been so polarised politically. Young people and knowledgeable elders with clever ideas are not being heard or are giving up hope and leaving. In the meantime, as social equity erodes, we cling to incredibly outdated, divisive and binary 19th Century thinking around politics, race and economics.

It seems overdue that we review whether or not our political system and constitutional arrangements remain fit for purpose. At the very least we finally need to find a unifying sense of direction as a nation that for once does not entirely revolve around sport. We are so very fortunate to live in such a peaceful and beautiful place. But the worry is that the sun is setting and the rest of the world is rapidly leaving us behind.

Paul Spence is a commentator, researcher and a part-time university assistant lecturer in commerce and management. A previous co-founder of a successful New Zealand based global technology venture, co-founder and director of Creative Forest, principal at GeniusNet Research & GeniusReFi and a startup advisor. You can follow Paul on BlueSky @GeniusReFi or Twitter/X @GeniusNet