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Marriage Fran Hoover Chief Executive, Relationships Aotearoa MARRIAGE RATES HAVE BEEN falling steadily since the 1970s, because it was then that people in western societies began to have more choice about whether to marry or not. Now we also have the choices of civil unions and recognition in law of de facto relationships. And when people have choices, they choose. In five years' time marriage will still be the way many people in Aotearoa choose to make a commitment to each other, and they will have that option whether they are heterosexual or same sex couples. At its core, marriage is a social construct, and like any aspect of our society it has evolved over time as a reflection of people's changing attitudes and expectations. For a while marriage could only be performed by a priest and in a church. Then the state registered non-religious marriage celebrants and now weddings can be performed just about anywhere and anyhow you like. It wasn't that long ago that heterosexual couples who chose not to wed were vilified as "living in sin". Nowadays it is a social norm for couples to live together and raise children without marrying. In the same way, the move to legalise gay marriage is a reflection of evolving social attitudes towards same sex and also heterosexual relationships. Despite some predictions the passing of the Civil Union Act did not bring about the destruction of our society, and it won't fall apart if same sex couples are given the same choice to marry or not that heterosexual couples have. Indeed anything that supports people to make and keep a commitment to each other in a loving partnership can only be good for society as a whole. In 2017 people will still be making long term commitments to each other, and no matter what form the relationship takes, and what expression of commitment they choose, they'll still have the same joys and challenges that couples have experienced over the ages. Banking Karen Scott-Howman Regulatory Director, New Zealand Bankers' Association THERE'S A SAYING: "GOOD BANKERS, like hot tea, can only be appreciated when they're in hot water." Compared to many others, New Zealand banks performed exceptionally well in the global financial crisis. Our strong and stable system is a great platform from which we can look into the future. In the next five years, we may not be able to predict exactly what will happen with certainty, but we can be certain there will be change. Banks will need to respond with innovation and agility, so they can keep delivering an excellent service to customers and keep up with the pace of technology. Banks will want to deliver products and services through new and previously unimagined channels. There are already products in the market that we could not have imagined five years ago. Back then petrol stations were still accepting cheques. Who would have thought we'd now be able to pay a "friend" via Facebook or manage our accounts on our smartphones? We're living in an information age. Customers will benefit from the greater transparency and better information flow that this brings. For example we now have positive credit reporting, which is great news for bank customers as it provides more information to lenders. This enables faster and better credit decisions. Overall, banks are getting a better real time view of customers. This will allow for the development of products that are targeted to customers' individual needs. Banks will also need to continue to offer state-of-the-art mobile banking options and respond to customer demand for instant payment processing. Today we are becoming a cashless society. Tomorrow we will probably be cardless. FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, I see New Zealand being an even safer place. Fewer criminals will be committing fewer offences and there will be fewer victims of crime. The crime rate last year was already at a 30-year low and this government has set clear targets to reduce crime and reoffending even further. By 2017, we will see 45,000 fewer crimes a year, 7,500 fewer violent crimes, 600 fewer 14-16 year olds appearing in court, 600 fewer prisoners, and 4,000 fewer community-sentenced offenders. These targets are ambitious, but I believe we are in a great position to make progress. The number of people in the criminal justice system is falling and the projected prison population is the lowest it has been since The Great Depression. Instead of focusing on how to deal with spiralling numbers of people in our courts and prisons, we now have the chance to look very hard at different ways of approaching crime and justice. What will make the biggest difference is a serious commitment to preventing crime. Over the next five years, we'll be shifting resources to the front end to reduce the number of people entering the criminal pipeline. We're going to be tough on crime, but we're also going to be smart on crime. This is not just about Police, Courts and Corrections but about tackling the underlying causes of crime – through our schools, families and communities. We know certain risk factors can lead to criminal behaviour, and actions like improving maternity and early parenting support, addressing behavioural problems in childhood, and reducing harm from alcohol and drugs can prevent people going down the path of crime. With this new approach to tackling crime, I'm confident that five years from now we will all see the benefits of an even safer New Zealand. www.hermagazine.co.nz | 53