Will’s Word: Jim Bolger showed leadership is about being open to changing your mind

Jim Bolger was never the flashiest Prime Minister, if history records are anything to go by, of course, but he was one of the most quietly consequential.

He came to power in 1990, promising to restore balance after the upheaval of the 1980s by the previous Labour Government. But his government then went on to pursue those same free market reforms that had already transformed New Zealand.

Welfare was tightened, the public sector became a wee bit leaner, and for many working families, life in some ways felt tough. But what made Bolger unusual, and I'd argue admirable, and why I appreciate Bolger, was what came later.

In his later years, he openly began to question the very economic policies his government helped entrench. He warned that unrestrained capitalism was on the verge of destroying the planet.

He argued that profit alone couldn't be the purpose of a nation, that fairness, inclusion and social responsibility mattered just as much. So to me, that's what stands out most about him now.

So often, I find in politics, leaders are stubborn. Bolger showed that conviction doesn't mean refusing to change your mind. He never saw diversity as a threat.

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Drawing on his own Irish roots, time and again, he empathised with Māori and argued that recognising past injustices wasn't divisive, but was essential. There's no denying that Jim Bolger's legacy is controversial to some.

So I can't speak for the impact it would have had, because I wasn't born during the era that Jim Bolger led. I know and I've read about the reforms he advanced, which left deep marks on this country.

But the reflection that came after by Bolger says something powerful too. That leadership isn't about being right forever, it's also about having the courage to rethink. That's really powerful, isn't it?

Say what you like about Jim Bolger, but there is no denying he was a remarkably resilient, steady hand through much of the 1990s, who, in the end, was one of the best for New Zealand.

So for me, I admire the man deeply. Rest in peace.

That’s Will’s Word.