Sir Paul Callaghan joins Pure Advantage

Sir Paul Callaghan joins Pure Advantage
Press Release - 2 August
Pure Advantage

Pure Advantage - the organisation championing a green growth paradigm shift for New Zealand - announced today that Sir Paul Callaghan has the joined the group as a Trustee.

New Zealander of the year, Sir Paul Callaghan is a businessman and world leading scientist in the field of nanotechnology and magnetic resonance. Sir Paul's work has brought him several awards and honours including a Knighthood for services to science and New Zealand's highest scientific honour, the Rutherford Medal. He is also founding Director of Magritek, an advanced technology company based in Wellington, which exports nuclear magnetic resonance instruments to customers throughout the world.

Sir Paul has openly criticised New Zealand's current economic growth agenda, saying "we choose to be poor" due to limited investment in high-value industries.

Rob Morrison, Chairman of Pure Advantage says that the organisation is excited to have a well-known scientist join the Trustees' ranks, who deeply understands the opportunity for New Zealand to create a green economy as a path to greater prosperity.

"We're certain that his understanding of the key issues facing New Zealand will further add to the research outcomes and arguments for the opportunities available to secure our future wealth by embracing the green economy," says Morrison.

"Australia is now 35% richer than us, and we have half a million New Zealanders living there, I believe we should worry about that" says Sir Paul in his 2011 presentation at StrategyNZ.

"We are the second-hardest working country in the OECD but we are the lowest in terms of productivity, we are poor because we choose to be poor - we choose to work in low wage activities. We need to create an economy where we are exporting knowledge, if we as a nation continue to think we can make a living by exploiting our resources, we are in serious trouble."

"We must fundamentally understand the importance of environment, good transport, good education and a good health system, the mission statement for us has got to be 'a country where talent wants to live' and that is about looking after our pristine environment as much as anything."

Sir Paul adds that becoming economically prosperous via green growth will also provide funding into research and development - encouraging people to sign up and join the debate at www.pureadvantage.org.

"We need to encourage science and technology entrepreneurship to help build the green economy which will also automatically make New Zealand a country where talented people of all ages want to make their future."

ENDS

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