New Year Honours: Michael Barnett, a passionate advocate for NZ Inc.

Former Auckland Business Chamber CEO Michael Barnett recognised for 31 years service to NZ Inc. Photo / SuppliedMichael Barnett reckons what he’s best at is storytelling. “I can talk to people about transport, I can talk about mental health, I can talk about employment for our disadvantaged youth, I can talk about having cancer. “It’s made mental health and wellness become normalised. “There was an increasing issue around mental health and we needed to stop the stigma attached to it. But he says the sheer growth of the chamber “must tell everyone it’s not Michael Barnett doing stuff, it’s a team of people”.