Last week we revealed the Ministry of Education had awarded a multimillion-dollar contract for carpet tiles to an American manufacturer who will provide the flooring as part of the ministry’s Nga Iti Kahurangi programme to improve the schools’ learning environments.
It is a laudable programme which recognised the difficulties small or remote schools could face getting building contractors and the significant amount of time principals and school boards had to spend on property matters.
But the news solution-dyed carpet would be going into schools in the very places where sheep farmers have been struggling to stay the course with strong wool, struck a raw nerve.
Whether they described it as a kick in the guts or a slap in the face, the anger of those from the rural sector was understandable when they have been hanging on, ever hopeful a new day is about to dawn for their versatile product in the era of sustainability. (The issue also captured the wider public imagination, although we wonder how many of those pounding their keyboards over it are still happily carpeting their houses with artificial fibres.)
The decision also did not sit well with those in the Enviroschools programme, where schools work towards environmental sustainability which includes the use of ecological building materials.
Other critics pointed out how the decision risked undermining the message of the popular travelling Wool in Schools programme, which has just undergone a revamp.
The timing of the revelation could not have been more incongruous, coming in a week when bans came into force on a range of single-use plastic items including plates, bowls and cutlery, produce bags, produce labels and most straws.
The ministry did its best to defend its decision, saying it had considered sustainability, which included the yarn, backing, adhesive and freight. It also looked at fire retardation, cost, and the durability of the product. A wool tile was among those assessed, using New Zealand wool but manufactured overseas, but it did not cut the mustard.
It said the synthetic carpet material was largely recycled and claimed it was fully recyclable at the end of its life, but there was woolliness about how that was to be achieved.
The debacle left the Government looking insincere on sustainability and its support for the strong wool cause.
A year ago Agriculture minister Damien O’Connor was calling on us all to get behind wool, saying it would be fantastic to see strong wool becoming our first choice of fibre in our homes, schools and businesses.
Faced with the news of the ministry contract, however, Mr O’Connor was reduced to saying the decision was for the ministry to make, but it was great to see people being passionate about wool.
Even wannabe prime minister National Leader Christopher Luxon would have struck a bum note with farmers when he said wool was a fantastic product, but the matter was ultimately about getting value for the taxpayer’s money.
Why has the Government not provided direction on this, telling its agencies New Zealand wool is to be chosen when new carpets are considered?
Similarly, is it promoting wool insulation and acoustic panels? (Since ceiling insulation and acoustic panelling are included in the Nga Iti Kahurangi programme, were wool products chosen or considered?)
If the Government wants people to use wool, and it should, it needs to be the first sheep through the gate, setting a good example with the organisations it leads so other sheep can follow.
We keep being told we are on the cusp of a natural fibre renaissance, but if that promise is to be realised it will need a much more cohesive approach.
We repeat what we said three years ago when the Wool Industry Project Action Group released its report: the time for woolly thinking is over. It’s time for doing.
