Top scientist and New Zealander of the Year Sir Paul Callaghan has launched a campaign to get young people overseas to repay their student loans to aid Christchurch and the country which is facing chronic debt as a result of the quake.
The basis of the campaign is to make heroes of the 1000s of these debtors. Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard thinks the campaign is a brilliant idea.
It’s a brave call to arms on the basis that “New Zealand needs you”, and it will be fascinating to see how well it works, even with the power of social media. But how well do Sir Paul and Alan Bollard know their audience?
Living and dealing with students as he does at Victoria University, I would expect Sir Paul to know his target, and like others, I would dearly like to see such a campaign work. Sadly I suspect it lacks the critical sizzle factor and there is not enough personal upside. Even if they accept the legitimacy of their debt, most students, however overwhelmed by the sight of Christchurch’s devastation, see it as an obligation, not an opportunity for good. As such (an obligation), noble causes don’t come into it.
And even Sir Paul is having a bob each way with his comments: “If the hot coals fall on me, so be it – I’m too old to care”.
Human nature being what it is, possibly the only campaign that might work is of the name and shame variety; however the debtors know that no one is going there.
What Sir Paul’s campaign has done is remind us all of what a serious drag recalcitrant student loans are on the economy, and why the task of rebuilding Christchurch will be that much steeper than it should be.
During the past two weeks we have been extremely well served by our national media in their reports of the earthquake and the aftermath. Overwhelmingly the coverage has been realistic and balanced.