What does education for sustainability mean for New Zealand?

It has been stated that “New Zealand is currently very far from being sustainable and does not have policies and practices that can achieve sustainability” (SANZ, 2009).

Sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand Inc (SANZ) and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) outlines the notion of "strong sustainability" and what this means for New Zealand. PART 4 of the document focuses on "A scenario of a strong sustainable New Zealand".

Utopia  is an ideal community or society possessing highly desirable or perfect qualities.  That is state of being or living that we all seek to attain.....the problem is ..How will we recognise it when we get there.  It seems that individuals have quite different views as to what the perfect life or world would look like.  For some it is a matter of personal success and wealth, (this is measured by what we own or posses) and aligning ourselves to others who have similar trappings of prosperity.  The market driven economy that drives this way of thinking creates a society made up of haves and have-nots; with the gap between these two disparate groups widening over time.  Those with money and power are driven by an  insatiable desire for more, with  no concern for need.   One's wealth is measured in material terms and is highly visible.  This version of utopia is not sustainable as it is ideal only for some, at the expense of others who have nothing.  I wonder why we became so lost? When did we lose our humanity and become so selfish and self serving?

A utopia centred around strong sustainability would treasure values and people rather than material items.  Here all people would have equitable access to resources sufficient to their needs. The goal here would be to attain the basic necessities of life:- a safe place to live, sufficient food, access to clean water, health care and education.
The pros of a strong sustainability are the creation of a world:-

• that lives within it's ability to provide the basic necessities of life for all people.
• where forward planning and decision making at government level are based on values and need rather than want.
• whose behaviour uses valuable resources in such a way as to sustain all life both now and in the future.
• where we make the time to enjoy life, family and friends

The cons of strong sustainability are that:-

• strong sustainability requires those with power and money to relinquish those things in the interests of the greater good.
• there will be resistance from those whose greed and self interest have been well served under a market driven system.
• It may be that there will be no change of attitude from the efficacy of a market driven system until these systems begin to fail and these well served people begin to feel the effects personally.

What does strong sustainability mean for the School of Foundation Studies and for the subject I teach Certificate in Foundation Studies ESOL. 
At the school level, strong sustainability means:-

• adherence by staff to the shared values of caring, responsibility partnership learning and excellence. Our goal being to inspire learning as we develop capable practitioners for Otago and New Zealand.
• innovative educational practices and cutting edge learning experiences we will engender confidence in our courses and an expectation of success from students.
• teachers reflective practice on teaching content and methodology and needs analysis at the beginning of courses. Through this teachers will be able to fine tune courses over time to best meet the needs of particular student groups.
• maintenance of currency as educators by on going professional development, courses and attendance and presenting at conferences and using the latest technology in the classrooms.

Strong sustainability in the ESOL classroom involves:-

• pre course needs analysis
• learner centred learning
• student representatives (who are able to have input into every aspect of their educational experience).
• the interweaving of sustainability principles in every course (how to live lightly on the planet).

For strong sustainability to work it requires a major shift in the things we value........from success  in life  and  being linked to wealth, material possessions and power, to and success being linked to human capital.  To family, friends, a sense of community and belonging and to having sufficient for our needs. 
There is a Maori proverb that encapsulates this sentiment:
"Ask me what is the greatest thing in the world, I will reply, it is people, it is people, it is people."