'Wave' rolls in on a beach far removed from this town

By JOSIE CLARKE

It might be the highest-level think-tank in years, but people on the streets of Auckland know little and care less about the Catching the Knowledge Wave conference.

Most people questioned yesterday by the Herald, a co-sponsor of the conference, admitted they did not understand what a knowledge economy meant and had little interest in a gathering about it.

At Wednesday's opening, National Party deputy leader Bill English warned that the concepts of a knowledge economy which made sense to an elite group at the Sheraton Hotel might not mean much to "the hairdresser and the plumber".

Hairdresser Carol Weaver, who owns a shop in Devonport, said she had watched coverage on television.

She assumed the conference was to build ways of getting people into business.

She thought the conference was relevant.

"It's good to talk about lifting the economy. Whether they actually do something that's helpful is another matter.

"We can all talk about it - putting it into practice is much more difficult."

Mark Denholm, a technician for internet service provider ihug, said he did not know what the knowledge wave meant. "Not this technical staff member, I have to say."

He had not heard about the conference.

Herne Bay butcher Rob Thompson said: "I know that [Reserve Bank Governor] Don Brash made some radical statements today, but that's about all."

He was not interested in the conference.

"Actions speak louder than words. We really are a country that's cash-strapped, simple as that, and no matter what they come up with, it's not going to fix that."

Childcare worker Sheryl Hurley had also seen limited coverage of the conference.

"Basically, I don't really understand what they're talking about," she said.

"We've got more important things to worry about at the moment."

Andrew Williams, managing director of a plumbing and roofing company, said "knowledge economy" meant nothing to him, nor was he interested in finding out "at the moment".

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