Nuffield Scholars’ Biennial Conference

Saturday 8 May 2004

Welcome to the partners of the Nuffield Farm scholars and their audience. I say a special welcome to the partners because I'm told that at first the hayseeds wanted to have this event in the McKenzie Country.

Our wonderful shopping, nightlife and dining won out instead when it came to the casting vote of partners. To you, too, those of you who have learnt to do like I have, that is, do what I am told to by my domestic leader, greetings. I think we understand each other already, even if we have not formally met.

Moving on from matters of management, I should perhaps point out that you are not alone. Christchurch is now like the old rental car ad when it comes to conferences and conventions, that is we are number two. Number one is that Babylon that lies grid locked beyond the Bombay Hills. I'm sure more people will choose in future to visit the Garden City over the grid locked city.

Christchurch and Canterbury are just starting to slow down after a record bout of quarter after quarter after quarter of economic growth. Last week I read that last month's building consents were the highest nationally in 28 years. Canterbury headed the activity surge on that front too.

The reason I believe we are booming is because we are a mixed economy. We are a blend of the best of the old and new economies. We are the undisputed centre for high-tech computer manufacture and export in New Zealand. We do about double the activity of Auckland on this front.

Unlike Auckland, the bulk of our economic action is outward facing: export oriented. The other key driver for us still is farming. We need the knowledge and competitive edge that scholarships like the Nuffield farm scholarships provide.

While the city slickers get shifty about it, the reality is that much of our current boom is still almost literally off the sheep's back. It's a bit humbling to stop and think that in the global context, our most famous Kiwis at the moment are Peter Jackson and Shrek the sheep. We are still, despite our bouts of preening and pretence, a commodity-dependent trading nation. Anything that helps increase our knowledge in this area is to be saluted.