Thinking our way to a better future

A prosperous future for New Zealand's economy may well be discovered by following the simple istruction "Think."

The International Conference on Thinking, Breakthroughs 2001, will be held in Auckland next year, where some of the best brains in the world will debate the question "How Can New Zealanders Think Our Way to a Better Future?"

The five-day conference will host international greats including Jerry Colangelo, who created the sports teams Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns, and Sandra Witleson, one of the scientists who dissected Albert Einstein's brain.

New Zealand "thinkers," including Sir Edmund Hillary, David Lange, John Tamihere, Dick Hubbard and Dame Cheryll Sotheran will also take part, and hold discussions on arts, health, sports, business and culture.

Lexie Grudnoff, the dean of teacher education at the Auckland College of Education, which is hosting the conference, said it was timely considering the national debate about New Zealand's economy.

"We need to restore our confidence that the solutions and answers are contained within us ... "

She said the 1997 conference in Singapore precipitated the country's "Thinking Nation" campaign, which resulted in billions of dollars being poured into education and placed an emphasis on the knowledge economy.

Lexie Grudnoff said the conference was open to anyone, and the Auckland College of Education planned to sponsor one student from every secondary school in Auckland.

"To learn from the best you have to learn with the best, and it will only be an advantage to future New Zealand to give the next generation that opportunity."

Next year's will be the ninth Thinking conference, with the next scheduled for 2002. It will be hosted by Cambridge and Oxford Universities in England.

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