I have a vision of a New Zealand society bound together with a common thread of service to the country no matter when or from where you came here. Shared stories that come from a programme where the rich, poor, immigrant and tangata whenua all have an uncommon experience together.

Voluntary national service or VNS is one tool in achieving that vision.

There are three main problems that VNS seeks to address:

• Lack of social cohesion
• Migration imbalance
• The global failure in the western world of the all-volunteer workforce model

The author, Simon Ewing-Jarvie, has been talking about some form of national service in New Zealand for over thirty years. He believes that the time is right to gain some traction for New Zealand on this important idea.

This podcast is part of his mission to create political action on a multi-path, voluntary scheme within which Kiwis can undertake full-time or part-time service to New Zealand in exchange for certain benefits, particularly the retirement of student loans.

The scheme can be entered before, concurrently or after study for an approved trade or tertiary qualification.

There could be four or five main service paths which are described in the episode. A common residential orientation course (estimated at 3-4 weeks) at the point of entry and run regionally.

A specialised “internship” period under designated mentors in the participant’s service area. Duties and further personal development administered by employer groups with completion of obligation tracked by tax code.

The “Early Bird” scheme is for teenagers wishing to commit early to VNS through other schemes like cadets, scouts, surf lifesaving etc.