Future U winner looking forward to forum

Future U winner Stephen Lines has finished his NCEA exams and is looking forward to presenting his vision for 2050 at the It’s Our Future – the new New Zealand Forum in Auckland on December 3.

The Year-13 pupil from Hutt International Boys’ College will give the opening address to the forum with a challenge to attendees to create the kind of country his generation would like to live in.

“We can’t compete with the manufacturing output of China, or the mining booms of Australia. New Zealand needs to focus on its talent and education if we are to succeed in the future,” he says.

Mr Lines will share the stage with world-renowned thought leader Daniel Franklin, executive editor of The Economist, and the editor of Megachange 2050. He’s interested in hearing Dr Franklin’s views on where he sees the New Zealand economy in 2050.

“Since the Future U competition win, I’ve been asked about other aspects of the New Zealand economy – like state of the New Zealand dollar – and where I think it will be in 2050. After a bit of research, I’ve discovered the links back to my original idea,” he says. “For example, if we can focus on greater sustainability in New Zealand, that reduces our reliance on fossil fuels which in turn leads to a reduced reliance on a high dollar.”

Mr Lines has been working on polishing his presentation to an invited audience of New Zealand thought leaders and is looking forward to the Q&A session, where questions will be invited from those attending as well as through social media via twitter @newNZ_Massey.

The forum will be live streamed here and a view-on-demand video of the event will be available via the same link from 5.30pm on December 3.