Attitude change urged

By ELLEN READ

The transformation of New Zealand into a knowledge economy will be a long and formidable process, says Rick Christie, chairman of the Prime Minister's Science and Innovation Advisory Council.

The change would demand a commitment from a slice of the population "way bigger than that gathered here", he told the conference last night.

"Words will not do it, but new policies will help and we look to the Government for a lead there. Above all, nothing less than a decisive change in attitude and early action across a wide front will do the job."

Mr Christie said more was happening now to effect the necessary changes than at any time in living memory, but he warned of the danger of losing momentum or nerve, or of becoming "consumed in local politics or parochialism".

The advisory council was part of the process of trying to rationalise and understand New Zealand's economic dilemma and its associated social and political dimensions, he said. The country knew what was wrong and where it should be, and efforts must now be concentrated on the steps needed to achieve change.

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