The two Daggs. Photo: David Roberts, Te Papa.
I saw the “Not Only Fred Dagg” documentary just before New Year. It reminded me how much we need to be able to laugh at ourselves and how much we appreciate someone who can help us do that.
Crystal Beavis
“We don’t know how lucky we are, mate, we don’t know how lucky we are”.
Fred Dagg’s unofficial national anthem celebrates life in New Zealand while simultaneously reminding us it’s not always financially good. I found the original 1975 version, which included the words: “If things get appallingly bad and we all get atrociously poor, if we stand in the queue with our hats on, we can borrow a few million more.”
The economy was in a poor state back then, in recession by 1976, triggered by oil shocks and trade difficulties (Britain entered the EEC in 1973), with high inflation, high unemployment, and rising government debt.
The statistics make grim reading today, too. The latest GDP figures – down 1 per cent in the September quarter – were like the Grinch stealing Christmas. Transaction numbers at the Christmas Eve retail spending peak (noon-1pm) were down 47,000 on last year, reflecting the ongoing cost of living crisis.
About half of New Zealanders are living pay-to-pay. Research shows about 44 per cent of the general population have no savings to cope with unexpected costs, and 56 per cent of survey recipients feel financially uncomfortable.
More than 500,000 people are supported by New Zealand Food Network food hubs each month, and at the last census 112,496 people were estimated to be severely housing “deprived”, not including the homeless and those in temporary accommodation.
In this context, the waves of local government reform – from the Resource Management Act to rates capping and regional reorganisation – are designed to help boost development and reduce rates pressures. Although with three-year transitions, they’re not a quick fix.
But just as Dr Seuss’s Grinch discovered Christmas is not just about presents – maybe we need another Fred Dagg to remind us that New Zealand is still a special place despite the difficulties.
Visitors to our country are struck by the welcome they receive, the generous response to others’ needs, the instinct to open our hearts and homes when trouble strikes. We still share a strong sense of community, a belief that everyone deserves a “fair go”, and a “can-do” attitude that draws people to work together for the wellbeing of others. Sometimes we have to scratch to find it – but it’s still there under the surface, ready to spring up.
Stats New Zealand data shows over half of New Zealanders, 53 per cent, volunteered during March 2025. And as unemployment has risen (to 5.3 per cent in the September quarter) so has interest in volunteering – so much so that apparently charities in some places, such as the SPCA, have reached their capacity and are turning potential volunteers away, according to a recent news report.
One of the best parts of being a local government councillor is meeting and working with people who volunteer their time for their local communities. Thank you to all of you.
In hard times the Kiwi spirit still shines. Happy New Year.
