"If all people hear about is economic performance, they will disengage and feel remote from it," he said.
"If we are really to have long-term sustainable economic success, it can only be if we are taking the whole of society with us.
"We have to make what we are talking about relevant to them; take away the fear and recognise that New Zealand is a lot more than just economic performance. A lot of our strengths are around the diversity of our culture and our clean, green environment.
"It's making sure that we move forward on all fronts, not just the economic front."
He said the best example was education.
"Nobody argues with the need to invest in education. To make that sort of investment and grow it well, you have to grow the economy. Otherwise we have to take the money from somewhere else to do it."
His concern was echoed among some of the 450 delegates at the Knowledge Wave conference. The Rev Charles Waldegrave said it was important to make sure all New Zealanders shared in the benefits of knowledge and economic growth.
"For it to succeed commercially, you have to have the society agreeing with it - the political mandate requires it," he said.
"This country has made it very clear that it's unhappy with the inequities that we have. So to get the buy-in from people, you have to see that there is something in it for everyone."
Council of Trade Unions economist Peter Conway said he was disappointed that the conference had focused on traditional solutions such as cutting taxes, rather than promoting a skilled workforce, lifelong learning and the sort of workplace required to support that.
He also questioned the idea that radical change was needed.
"While there are very important things to work on, I don't think we have to engender a sense of crisis."
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