True to its colours the business lobby was wildly out of touch with Aucklanders last week when the New Zealand Herald, that cheerleader for the Establishment ran its annual 'Mood of the Boardroom'. Arresting, but misleading title that. It turns out these aren't the views of board members or chairmen but those of 92 Chief Executives. So what did these execs say about the destruction of the democratic voice in the Government's move towards an Auckland 'Super City': From the lobby which has bored us witless with its mantra of competition and transparency, 79% said 'no' to a referendum for Auckland voters to approve the new governance  structure. 93% followed ACT's party line saying the new Auckland Council should stick to core services. Goodbye libraries, arts, social and cultural activities. And 60% took up the National Party's idea of wanting to develop Queens Wharf as 'Party Central' for the Rugby World Cup. Top marks for sycophancy and the wooden spoon for independent thought. 

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How good is this then as a representation of the new melting pot of Godzone?! It's the Diversity Fern, the logo of the New Zealand Diversity Action. Designed by Jean Voon, for the Human Rights Commission, it represents the growing cultural diversity of the country. At the fern's tip are baby fronds symbolising new growth.

Beneath that an Iranian motif represents Middle Eastern peoples here. And so it goes down the stem with Vietnamese, then Indian motifs, a traditional Chinese character, a Samoan tapa cloth pattern, European Fleur de Lys (St Patricks Cathedral, Auckland) and finally a Maori kowhaiwhai pattern (Manutuke Church). Haven't seen anything which captures our new cultural composition so effectively.

http://www.hrc.co.nz/home/hrc/racerelations/tengirathenzdiversityactionprogramme/tengirathenzdiversityactionprogramme.php

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Who'd be Todd!  Gives meaning to the saying 'You're on your tod'!