Callaghan condemns mining proposal

Nuclear physicist Professor Sir Paul Callaghan used his speech to a Massey graduation ceremony in Wellington yesterday to attack the Government's proposals to mine conservation land.

Sir Paul, who was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science, described the mining plan it as “a failure of leadership" and challenged the graduates in the Michael Fowler Centre to step forward and fill the gap that failure left.

The former Massey physics professor, now at Victoria University, called it “stupid economics”. He said any economic benefit would be outweighed by the damage to New Zealand’s international reputation. “It represents an affront to our future, indeed, an assault on the heart and soul of our nation. It is a failure in leadership of the meanest kind," he said to loud applause.

Sir Paul called on the Government to also maintain investment in universities to ensure ongoing innovation, and boost superannuation contribution levels to realise its goal of attempting to match Australia’s per capita GDP in 15 years.

While the high-tech sector was the fastest growing in the New Zealand economy, he said because products like respiratory humidifiers and crystal controlled oscillators for GPS systems were difficult to explain, this perceived “weird stuff” and the fact its customers were based overseas meant these successes were largely unknown.

They were environmentally friendly and had the potential to outstrip recognised business giants like Fonterra without any adverse environmental effects, he said.

“We have 10 companies exporting $4 billion. Why not 100? Then we have matched Australia’s per capita GDP with absolutely no environmental downside. One hundred inspired entrepreneurs can transform this county into a creative, innovation dynamo of the Pacific Rim.”

He urged graduates, after seeing some more of the world to return and make their professional lives here and make a “remarkable" difference. “New Zealand’s future can be very bright indeed. The opportunities are there to build a prosperous nation, and one that is vibrant and just and enlightened. But it cries out for leadership – leadership based on honesty, intelligence and farsighted values.”

Earlier in the day art dealer Peter McLeavey added some levity to proceedings by proudly holding aloft his honorary doctorate in fine arts and ceremonial cap. He then went on to tell graduates about his own early years of struggle. The theme was matched by the guest speaker, fashion designer Kate Sylvester, who exhorted everyone to “dream improbable, crazy dreams". Reading from a diary she kept aged 16, Ms Sylvester admitted her aspirations to be rich and famous had largely become reality – but not without putting in the hard work to achieve it.