NZ Parliamentarians and Local Government ignore Entrepreneurial efforts to create global Sustainable

Online, September 7, 2009 (Newswire.com) - The team at the Online Gardener, have literally created employment, to meet an already established demand, while reducing our global footprint collectively. The system has been thoroughly investigated for its commercial viability, and is endorsed by those of high standing in this country and abroad.

However it seems Prime Minister John Keys has other plans.
In February he instigated a 'Job Summit' where the Prime Minister promised the initiative would save or in fact create 'thousands of jobs' However since the summit, 16,000 New Zealanders have now joined the dole queue. To date approximately 1,000 people per week are following suit and becoming partially if not completely dependent on welfare assistance.
Relatively (June 23) the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research forecast that a further 60,000 kiwi's will also find themselves unemployed over the next twelve months.

In response to the current unemployment situation, Labour leader Phil Goff commented via the Labour Party Website, that "John Keys and his ministers either don't care or have given up on the number one issue facing New Zealanders at the moment" Goff further stated "New Zealand needs to focus, on fresh ideas and solutions to tackle unemployment, but the National Government doesn't have any".
Goff added "John Keys Job Summit was little more than a talk fest and gimmick".

An opinion shared and discussed vehemently amongst both social and business Entrepreneurs within certain Online Internet Forum sites. One recent comment: "They (the Government) only want our idea's if they can call them their own and take over the developmental and ownership and copyrights.
Aside from the ill fated Summit, whats happened to the Governments focus with regard to involving private enterprise, and entrepreneurs alike? Is this incentive now firmly placed in the too hard basket, as Phil Goff implies?

Incidentally, the role of the Social Entrepreneur has been defined as : Innovators who pioneer new solutions to social problems and in doing so change the patterns of society. They excel at spotting unmet needs and mobilizing under utilized resources, people, buildings, equipment to meet these needs, creating impressive schemes with virtually no resources".
Is this not indeed what the country desperately needs at this time? And is this really a good time to ignore those who may be holding a solution?
So if the Government fails to recognize the possibilities, what then of our Local Governments?
A section of Work and Income NZ's very own Service and Standards brochure clearly outlines the services they offer, including:

"Helping people into work Practical support for people with the right experience to start a business.
Supporting employers
One of the ways we help people find work is to support employers who provide work for our
clients.
Your own Work Broker to help you find the right people, training and seminars to help our clients get up to speed quickly, wage subsidies to help with the costs of providing work".

Realizing the potential of such a business Work and Income Keri Keri granted Social Entrepreneurs, Sai and Rachael Fuimaono with a capital grant and allowance to assist with the set up and development of this global concept.
However we are yet to see any Work and Income clients referred through the department and in the direction of our business. This further highlights that although the department recognizes and indeed financed the Online Gardener business, they have systematically ignored the concept thereafter.
None the less, these Entrepreneurs launched their 'global sustainable business, Online Gardener Ltd, boasting the slogan 'good food is a birth right'
Put simply, the business will see the everyday gardener, out in their community planting vegetables right in their clients own backyard. Just like any business, the gardener is paid for this service (at very reasonable rates for both parties).

The Online Gardener also provides up to date marketing training with regard to recognizing and promoting niches as yet untapped eg: 'specialty gardens', also networking, standing apart from the crowd, health and safety etc. Furthermore, you do not have to be a genius or horticulturist to join the Online Gardener. We do the heavy lifting, and have built the relevant step by step instructions into the Online Gardener Package. All that the potential Online Gardener requires is gardening tools, Internet and vehicle access, and basic Internet knowledge. We also offer optional training with regard to making money using the Internet, to encourage further income streams.

So essentially we designed the system to counteract all of the recession issues, which will not cost a fortune ($47) to implement. We are fully aware that this is a recession, so have been mindful with regard to keeping our prices right down.
So Founder Rachael Fuimaono stated, "we identified the issues, and tailor made the package that will provide many with employment options, whom before, will have had only Welfare Assistance to fall back on".
We have contacted our local Members of Parliament, who although 'wished us luck' clearly had no intention of introducing or even so much as mentioning our system to their respective parties.
This disappoints us greatly as much of the nation if not the globe, sorely needs employment solutions such as these. We do hope the US will be more accommodating than our own country.
The Online Gardener were indeed finalists for the recent NZ Sustainable Business Awards. Rachael stated 'it would be so nice if we could be afforded the same respect by our own NZ Parliamentary members".
"Its ironic really" she further stated, "the NZ Government are screaming out for employment options however when they do receive possible solutions - they ignore the entrepreneur entirely.

"Its a system of mixed messages and empty promises once again"
Meanwhile, families continue to struggle, and line up for the Unemployment Benefit in the droves, with the solution for many kept completely out of view.
Rachael further stated 'unfortunately our advertising budget did not allow too much exposure for our business; and considering this system could charter a new course in sustainable employment you might think those 'shouting the loudest' for employment options, might be more inclined to put their money were their mouths are, or at the very least, mention the option to those, who have the power to implement such idea's into New Zealands or in fact the globes economy.

You may contact Rachael at: thebetteritgets@xtra.co.nz