Election Is Coming, It's Time For The Freebies
OPINION: Flicking through some global news headlines just recently, I spotted something tucked away, which in my opinion rather conveniently had less visibility than it deserved.
November 17, 2025, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment informed us that scammers had defrauded New Zealanders out of $265 million over the last 12 months. That’s right. And the payments for $126 million of that total was authorised by the very account holders themselves.
The suggestion was made that the actual total was probably even higher than the $126m because many would have been too embarrassed to report on their own foolishness and financial loss.
When it comes to this whole area, I think the centuries-old adage “It’s too good to be true” shouts out much wisdom to those who bother to listen. I recall having heard it put this way: “If it is too good to be true then it probably is.”
I still have the article filed from years ago, where one of the now common romance scams turned to custard. A guy fell in love with a young woman’s profile page. He flew her internationally to visit him in his country. And yep, he presented her with a US$20,000 diamond rock to confirm his love. She left soon after for home… with the rock of course!
On trying to claim insurance for his financial loss, he was politely informed by his insurance company that his policy had no cover for stupidity!
Up in the islands, many years ago, some locals informed me of a scam that many folks had got burnt with. It was a ‘double your money in a few short weeks’ thing. So, quite a few put a small amount of money in. You know, just to see if it worked!
Sure enough, on expiry they doubled their money. Wow! Truly amazing!
Now for round two they excitedly put even more in. And, as you may have guessed, when the second payout was collected, the news spread like wildfire. It works!
Well boys and girls, for round three, some serious coin came in. And guess what, that was it! There was no double your money payout this time. The scammers just disappeared with the lot.
Hmmmm, if it’s too good to be true then it probably is. Think I’ve heard that before somewhere!
Surely this stuff raises the millennia old question; just who can I trust?
Well, survey after survey has informed us with regular monotony that it most definitely is not the political class amongst us. They continue to battle it out for the bottom spot – or the least trusted. So, little point in looking there, I guess.
Now, here’s some truths about trust. It truly is one of the most essential qualities to have and hold dear in all meaningful relationships. And yet it is so exceedingly fragile.
Filmmaker Dhar Mann gets the credit for this great quote: “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.”
Yes, trust is never an instant, it always takes time to get to the real thing.
And trust can never be legislated, it can only ever be earned.
Now, when it comes to leadership, the greatest thing any follower can ever give to their leader, is their trust. Truly great leaders are also widely trusted leaders.
With the future so unpredictable, it is never foolishness to trust those who have never let you down in the past. And yes, I trust Him totally. God bless.
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