Around this time last year we were delivered a ‘well-being budget’. When introducing the well-being budget Ardern had this to say:
It’s a reality because while economic growth is important – and something we will continue to pursue – it alone does not guarantee improvements to our living standards.
Nor does it measure the quality of economic activity or take into account who benefits and who is left out or left behind.
We know for example that New Zealand has had strong growth for a number of years, all the while experiencing some of the highest rates of suicide, unacceptable homelessness and shameful rates of family violence and child poverty.
It will be interesting to see the year-to-year comparisons of suicide, homelessness, family violence and child poverty after the ‘year of delivery’.
The introduction had this definition of well-being:
Wellbeing is when people are able to lead fulfilling lives with purpose, balance and meaning to them. Giving more New Zealanders capabilities to enjoy good wellbeing requires tackling the long-term challenges we face as a country, like the mental health crisis, child poverty and domestic violence. It means improving the state of our environment, the strength of our communities and the performance of our economy.
As Robert Burns once penned, “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft a-gley.”
So what is ‘well-being’? An online synonym provider gave these suggestions:
comfort, contentment, happiness, health, prosperity, protection, safety, security, success, welfare, profit
So how did the Government score on their well-being budget?
Comfort
There’s nothing like the comforts of home, so they say. Enjoying lockdown?
Contentment
Contentment levels in New Zealand have never been higher over the past few weeks. Who needs sport anyway? Why waste your time hunting and fishing? Is the Bridge Club really that riveting? Is a shopping spree retail fix actually good for you? Should you spend so much time at the local cafe or bar?
Happiness
Speak to those unable to visit their dying loved ones in the hospital. Talk to the mother of a suicide victim.
Health
Well, this one gets a tick. 80,000 New Zealanders did not die from COVID-19. Well done! The numbers of extra suicides from business failures have yet to be tabulated. The number of extra deaths from undiagnosed and untreated cancers has yet to be tabulated. “The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, for instance, says 20,000 operations were cancelled and 60,000 specialist appointments parked. It will take more than a year to catch up, they say.”
Prosperity
GDP is going to be clobbered over the next little while. The OECD said, “New Zealand would see an initial drop of almost 30 per cent in activity compared to about 15 per cent in Ireland, 22 per cent in Australia and 25 per cent in the United States.”
Protection
Our lovely boys and girls in blue have been busily protecting us from ourselves by following up all the leads coming in on the snitch-line.
Safety
Are the victims of domestic violence feeling safer under lockdown?
Are the medics and other health professionals feeling safer without the PPE that we apparently have ‘enough’ of?
Security
With all the window twitchers carefully watching their neighbours so that they could report any indiscretions to the snitch-line, crime has dropped. The advent of heavily guarded internal ‘borders’ has wonderfully added to our sense of security.
Success
We have successfully stopped the freedom campers crapping in the bushes but unfortunately, stopping trap maintenance in the bush killed five kiwi that we know about.
Welfare
A big tick for this one. Welfare payments are through the roof!
Profit
Mask makers and hand sanitiser companies are very happy.
I wonder what Thursday’s Budget is going to be called? Maybe the ill-being budget?
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