1. Technical Innovationand Economic Growthin New Zealand
MEDIA RELEASE
5 September2016
A newbooklooksat technological innovationin New Zealand fromthe endof the firstworldwar
until ‘ThinkBig’inthe 1980s.
In a remarkable waya greatnumberof the technologiesinvolvedwere foretoldinVolume 1of the
NewZealandJournal of Science andTechnologypublishedin1918. These includedthe manufacture
of steel fromwestcoastironsands,geothermal power,electrical chemical processingin Fiordland,
pasture improvement,pinusradiataasthe besttree forforestryand,anticipatingthe CookStrait
Cable,the favourable economicsof long-distance transmissionwhenelectricitycouldbe producedin
large powerstations.There wasalsoa paperon the needforresearchinthe meatindustry.
The authors of the articleswere drawnfromanew breedof technologistswithformal trainingin
science andengineering,andabelief insystematicresearchanddevelopment.
The newbookdescribes the progressof these technologiestogetherwiththatof othersimportant
to the economyoverthe nextsixtyyears suchas those inthe dairyindustry, lookingatthe technical,
political,economicand fiscal influencesontheirdevelopment.
A final chaptertracesthe leadup to ThinkBigand the factors involvedinthe decision-making.
In the periodcoveredbythisbook,1918 to 1980, New Zealanders,alongwithpeople inother
Westerneconomies,experiencedthe fastestincrease inthe standardof livinginhistory,however
the importance of technological innovationtoeconomicgrowthwasnotrecognisedbyNew Zealand
economistsatthe time anddidnot become a part of acceptedeconomicthinkinguntilthe endof
the century.We nowhave a governmentministrywithinnovationinits name.
The book is TechnologicalInnovation and EconomicGrowth –1918 to Think Big
It ispublishedbyInfotourGuidesandfurtherdetailscanbe foundat http://www.infotourguides.nz/