Josh Hoskin Smart Money jhoskin@goldridge.co.nz

I watched with sadness the recent press on the demise of my old home town, Kawerau. In the 1980s when my family lived there, most people had a job with Tasman or one of the associated industries and although it was a tough town, it was relatively affluent.

It seems now a lack of jobs and a vast array of dysfunctional influences all weigh heavily on the social fabric of this small BOP community.

Idle hands are the devils work. Not only does a lack of jobs in one community create an atmosphere of discontent, but when this attitude is carried on by the next generation we all begin to suffer. Ask yourself who is more likely to cause mischief – the 19-year-old that has just worked a 12 hour day on a dairy farm or the one that has not worked for a month? Not only is a community without jobs spiralling into a black hole, but when this occurs in more and more communities – which happens in recessions – the country begins to falter.

If we can provide jobs, we can help create communities that thrive, social problems should ease and tax revenue should increase – which will be two positive contributors to the gradual improvement of our country's overall economic and social wellbeing.

As a financial planner some may ask why I would enter what is mainly an economist's domain. Well my view, as a business owner and more importantly as part of this community, is the better the community and country are the better my personal and business life will be –caring about our community creates positive outcomes for us all.

Please note this article is based on personal opinion and is not necessarily representative of Goldridge Ltd.