By FRAN O'SULLIVAN
The 450 New Zealanders at the Catching the Knowledge Wave conference face an acid test.
In three days they must produce the bones of a tangible change agenda which propels New Zealand firmly into the knowledge economy era.
Such an agenda means nothing without the leadership to articulate the vision and the courage to execute change.
If the 450 conference participants emerge on Friday with all three elements: a vibrant and compelling change agenda; the leadership on board - politicians, business players, educationalists and social activists and young people - ready to openly articulate that vision, and, the necessary fire in the belly to execute the vital changes, New Zealand will quickly succeed in driving a shift to the knowledge society platform. If not, an opportunity has been lost.
Let us look at each of these elements in turn.
First, the challenge to our 450 New Zealanders to devise a vibrant and compelling change agenda.
It takes big ideas and bold change to excite populations to embrace a national mission - because make no mistake about it - that is exactly the intention behind the Knowledge Wave project.
The desire for bold initiatives was tested at 'Year 2001 - Creating the Circuit-Breaker', a pre-conference workshop on July 4, attended by 60 New Zealand leaders from Government, business, community and academia.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, outlining the challenges of leading and implementing national change, gave a clear key message that two elements underpin successful national change - a clear change vision and firm implementation leadership.
He also argued that it is only by succeeding economically that countries are empowered to distribute social justice, both in the national context and on the international stage.
There was agreement that New Zealand must strive to be recognised as an international world leader, not only in economic wealth creation, but also in social justice, knowledge creation, cultural richness, and environmental beauty and diversity.
Among suggestions:
* Take a Team New Zealand approach to creating a wealthy nation for all New Zealanders;
* Sign a bilateral trade agreement with North America (NAFTANZ) within two years;
* Develop an immigration policy that achieves a well-integrated, high-talent population of five million by 2005;
* Embark on a national mission to market New Zealand to the world, including a 10 per cent tax rate for international investors;
* Use our best 'Kiwi salespeople', here and abroad.
The Knowledge Wave conference has the Government's goodwill behind it. Prime Minister Helen Clark is co-chair along with John Hood, vice-chancellor of the University of Auckland. Bi-partisan political support from the two major parties has been engaged.
Support for this nation's drive for change is why 30 international and New Zealand leaders have willingly come to Auckland to help lift the scale of our ambition so we can chart strategies and drive ideas to move the country forward.
This is not mere advertising hype or even public relations spin.
It has come through strongly within the contributions from the many ordinary and not-so-ordinary New Zealanders who put pen to paper and charted visions for this country in the Herald's
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