Positions we take regarding finance, politics or culture are often shaped by values and views we gained through life experiences.

Regretfully, we deal with a rapidly changing world where our values and life experiences are no longer in alignment with the rapid pace of change.

For example, in 1985 a letter could arrive on a lawyer's desk and he or she had at least three days to mull it over and provide a response by way of mail.

By 1995, a facsimile would arrive and a response would be required within 24 hours. By 2005, an email would arrive and a response would be required within minutes.

I can remember us saving to obtain our first black and white TV in 1965.

Broadcasts started at 6pm and finished at 10pm.

We thought it was magic. Have a look around today and our children have no knowledge of this technological revolution.

They have no knowledge of uncles who fought in the great wars.

They have no knowledge of mortgage interest rates to the order of 19%.

They have never marched against or stood for a Springbok tour.

The latest MP to join Parliament is a pimply-faced kid who eats only vegetables – absolutely unheard of in my day.

I can remember 10 years ago when dishwashing was reserved for girls only and not a dishwashing machine.

The list can go on and on. I was brought up in a family where my Granddad joined the Labour Party in the 1930s and my Dad in the 1940.

He registered us with the party in the 1960s.

We were brought up in a New Zealand where one was compulsorily a union member. We were brought up to believe all bosses were dirty rip-off artists and untrustworthy to boot.

There were only two tribes in New Zealand – Labour (red) or National (blue). All of our conversations were tailored in black and white and you were either for or against – there were no in-betweens.

The world that begat this form of tribalism no longer exists.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dismantling of the USSR, together with the failure of communist and socialist governments around the world, the debate had to change but many people in this country continue to fashion their views of politics, economics and culture on a world order that no longer exists.

The Prime Minister read a statement to Parliament on Tuesday which outlined his Government's work plan.

As an MP and minister of her administration, I witnessed six of these statements read by then-prime minister Helen Clark. I observed three others.

Out of these nine speeches, not one voiced the breadth and depth of change outlined by Key.

The speech was not just about tax – it set out a reform agenda touching on everything from health, welfare and education to justice and economics.

I never was a tribalist and will always now choose policies that work. I do not care whether what's likely to work comes out of the mouth of a National Party or a Labour Party prime minister. Think about it.

Sunday News, February 14, 2010