An Open Letter to a new Government

Prior to last weeks general election Fashion NZ approached fashion designers and brand founders in the New Zealand Fashion Industry asking them  to pen an open letter to the next NZ government. Our Founder Murray Crane was asked to contribute and his letter has been published on Dispatch

For the past 40 years, I've had the privilege of working in an industry I'm passionate about. My journey has transitioned from being an employee to becoming an employer. Over 13 election cycles, I've accumulated invaluable business lessons, predominantly from my own mistakes, with minimal influence from the governing party.

 I'm convinced that merely changing the government won't address the multifaceted challenges plaguing numerous industries, including ours. The issue isn't primarily about which political faction is at the helm; it's more about the collective commitment we make as responsible citizens. Genuine transformation begins when we relinquish the notion that change is someone else's responsibility. Moreover, merely fixing an issue doesn't always lead to improvement.

Meaningful change requires courage. Regrettably, acts of courage often stem from an innate instinct that bypasses contemplation. This makes them less cultivated in our society. Our inherent human apprehension towards change and disruption doesn't help either so if I were to convey a message to our politicians, leaders, and educators, it would be this: Advocate for risk-taking and foster resilience by equipping individuals with the unconventional skills they need to thrive.

It's imperative to nurture the outliers, champion the change-makers, and seek out the latent potential. While our tertiary education institutions adeptly prepare the next wave of problem solvers, it's high time we also champion and support the change-makers, for they are the architects of transformative progress.

Murray Crane

Founder - Crane Brothers