WHAT A YEAR

NICK ROBERTS

2016 was always going to be a big year for the Momentum team. It was my first full year as CEO and I had lots of plans coming into 2016. A refresh of our brand, a change of office for our Auckland team, new hires to on-board, and a new website to deliver to name just a few. Little did I know that world events would unfold as they have.


January started with the sad news of David Bowie and Alan Rickman’s death, both 69 and taken by cancer. CS Lewis once wrote that the sadness now is because of the happiness then. Alan Rickman’s performance as Hans Gruber in Die Hard is one of my standout cinematic performances of an evil villain. Bowie’s Heroes was voted at number 46 by Rolling Stone and it’s hard to disagree. Heroes is about two doomed lovers who are seeking a moment of redemption; it could easily have been a recruitment anthem.

I, I will be King
And you, you will be Queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can be heroes just for one day
We can be us just for one day



DAVID BOWIE

There was also the outbreak of the Zika virus. The World Health Organisation initially feared that the virus would spread throughout the Americas by the end of the year. Thankfully this didn’t eventuate.


Further deaths of Prince and Muhammed Ali added to the loss of icons from the last decade. I’m sure I won’t be the only once singing Purple Rain over the festive period with a beer in my hand.


In June, the United Kingdom held a referendum on its status within the European Union. 30 million votes later and the country had spoken and decided to leave. I immediately feared the worst in terms of global economies however, as of today, the markets have recovered and only the British pound is at a 30-year low. The sentiment behind the exit was driven by a fear of further influxes of immigrants and a loss of further legislative control to Brussels. David Cameron bet his reputation and opinion against the masses – and lost. What’s to come is Article 50 and the potential unwinding of 43 years of treaties and the negotiation of new trade agreements. Opinions are endless yet surely if a country like New Zealand with 4.7 million people cannot just survive but prosper and negotiate its own agreements, then surely the UK can as well?


NASA’s space probe Juno finally reached Jupiter after a 2.8-billion-kilometre trip. It will now orbit Jupiter 37 times over the next 20 months. For those who know their Roman mythology, Juno was the wife of Jupiter.

Rio de Janeiro hosted the Summer Olympics despite the Zika virus concerns. Usain Bolt won the 100-metre sprint with the luxury of a smile before he crossed the line. For me, though, the standout moment was surely New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin and American Abbey D’Agosti who together showed what it takes to be a true sportswoman. Winning doesn’t have to come at all costs. Compassion and goodwill do win the day!

The biggest event of the year was still to occur. In early November, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton concluded their multibillion campaigns to be the next president of the United States of America. It was a shock to most that Trump won.

The sociology of America, the divide in wealth, and American culture was bound to result in a split. The challenge for Trump now is that he lost the popular vote. Will he be a good leader? Leadership comes in many different forms. Hard decisions are often not popular. I just hope he doesn’t think that, like billion-dollar corporates, America can be declared bankrupt and start again.


A few weeks later New Zealand was rocked by a massive 7.8 earthquake in Kaikoura. It was frightening, but the disruption we have faced in Wellington is nothing compared with those trapped in Kaikoura. But while the shakes continue, the spirit hasn’t been broken. The largest of the aftershocks was on December 5th when Prime Minister John Key said he had nothing left in the tank and that it was good to leave on top. I can’t imagine the pressure and commitment it must take to lead a country. Leadership isn’t a 9-5 gig. It overtakes your life and thoughts. You never really shut off, and even when you do for a brief moment something happens and you’re back in the seat. The conspiracy theories are endless yet Mr Key has always been very open, and I for one don’t doubt his motives.

SHARE

Share by: