With the media focussing much of our attention on the negative aspects of daily life - crime rates, troubled youth and the economic downturn - we could be forgiven for thinking that New Zealand, as a society, has lost its way.

News website 'Stuff' today featured an article based on the findings of the Reader's Digest New Zealand's Most Trusted survey. According to the survey, the individuals that New Zealanders trust the most are medal recipients and include: Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata, Olympic medallists Barbara Kendall, Peter Snell, Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, Valerie Vili, Hamish Carter and Dame Susan Devoy.

Clearly, New Zealanders still respect and admire the core Kiwi attributes of hard work, dedication and humility.

When you combine the attributes that these individuals all possess, you get a glimpse of the classic Kiwi mindset: we work hard, we persevere - but we don't get a big head about it. Small wonder that the late Sir Edmund Hillary was one of the most trusted New Zealanders of all time and one of our most beloved icons.

While it's great to see that we still celebrate success at this level, we should not forget to recognise and honour it at a more grass roots level as well.

The students and young people I have met while visiting schools in my capacity as Associate Minister of Education has already shown me that the future of our nation is in good hands. By continuing to laud the success of our young people in their pursuits - academic, sporting, or otherwise - we can ensure quality leaders for the generations to come.