Readers' Comments

Reader Comments on Aardvark Daily 20 Feb 2001
Note: the comments below are the unedited submissions of readers and do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.
From: Tony Reeves
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: Knowledge-based Economy -- Who Needs It?,

I do not see you playing Devil's advocate in today's column.
Rather you are facing up to a few realities....

The internet has not introduced any fundamentally new
business model (maybe apart from ISPs).  But it can give
conventional business an edge, if utilised correctly.  That
edge really translates to a few percentage points on the
bottom line.  Done properly and in a high turnover business
(by world standards), that can generate real money.

NZ has few examples of that class of trade, but primary
production is one of those and I have no doubt that internet
class services will add to the farming model and will
translate into real dollars, but there is work needed on the
infrastructure.  What is the point of linking farm
production closer to the markets by the internet, when the
farm can fly meat to the US faster than it takes to download
an order schedule (I am serious, I have seen such a
scenario).

NZ is too far from world markets to really participate in
real internet commerce.  We can and do come up with bright
ideas here, but they usually are not sustainable until the
holders of those bright ideas move closer to their markets.




From: Grant
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: a green knowledge-based economy

Even though I work for a company that exports software
overseas (and have done so for almost 10 years now), I
think dismissing NZ agricultural sector in favor of high-
tech ventures would be a very silly idea. Sure, I don't
want obstacles in the way of high-tech firms, but am happy
to see govt R&D effort put into say dairy products where
the payoff for NZ at the moment is $billions.

If NZ was a company that has a successful brand image
(clean/green) and a strong market for its (agricultural)
products then it seems strange to suggest going to
a 'knowledge based' economy like everybody else - after all
you don't see Coke Cola trying to break into the software
market or Microsoft developing fizzy drink brands despite
these markets being profitable.

I personally think I would prefer any govt efforts to help
stimulate a 'green knowledge-based economy' included things
like marine farming (aquaculture?), eco-tourism,
geothermal, sustainable forestry etc.  All involve
extensive R&D but hopefully won't lead to tax-payers money
be poured into hi-tech ventures like split-cycle engines,
Indranet or magnetic fuel savers etc.
Now Have Your Say