2001 – Knowledge Wave conference

Catching the Knowledge Wave was one of the biggest meeting of minds to take place in New Zealand history. The conference hosted about 450 academics, officials, politicians, economists and business leaders who discussed ways of lifting New Zealand’s economic performance. Led by the New Zealand Prime Minister and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Auckland, it was a catalyst for the realisation that New Zealand could no longer remain primarily a producer of agricultural  commodities but instead transform itself to a high-value, knowledge-based economy. The Knowledge Wave conference was the catalyst for the University of Auckland taking an increasing proactive role in the formative years of those who are to become our countries leading business-savvy scientists and engineers.