‘Back N.Z.’ campaign?

Press, 12 June 1979, Page 27

‘Back N.Z.’ campaign?

The attitude of many students that New Zealand is going downhill • is not justified, according to a tutor at the Christchurch Technical Institute, Mr A. M. Ireland. Mr Ireland is concerned about the “negativism” reflected in students’ attitudes and has proposed a “Back New Zealand” campaign to show the nation’s favourable aspects. The proposal, which has prompted much discussion

within the Technical Institute, will be debated by its council <m Monday Mr Ireland hopes that if the proposal is accepted, the campaign would start immediately and reach a climax late this year or early next year. "We have a good core within the Technical Institute to work from, but I would like to see the campaign spread nationally,” he said. Technical institutes at

Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington had shown favourable, although as yet unofficial, interest. “There is a need to encourage patriotism in view of the numbers of people leaving New Zealand,” he said. “Similar campaigns were springiong up all over New Zealand indicating that people have had enough bad news and want to see good news making the headlines.”