Bright Future (policy)
Encyclopedia
‘Bright Future’ was an innovation policy initiated by the National government in New Zealand
in 1999. Originally called ‘Five Steps Ahead’, it was designed to identify the areas in which New Zealand innovation could be under threat, including its tall poppy syndrome
. It was overseen by the Ministry of Commerce, whose minister at the time was the Hon Max Bradford
.
One of its first moves in 1999 was to award a knighthood to an individual, having found that New Zealanders tended not to support single successful people, and sided more with teams. Electronics' innovator Sir Angus Tait
was the first recipient. However, after the 1999 General Election
, ‘Bright Future’ was replaced, with the succeeding Labour government having considered it electioneering.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1999. Originally called ‘Five Steps Ahead’, it was designed to identify the areas in which New Zealand innovation could be under threat, including its tall poppy syndrome
Tall poppy syndrome
Tall poppy syndrome is a pejorative term primarily used in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other Anglosphere nations to describe a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements elevate them above...
. It was overseen by the Ministry of Commerce, whose minister at the time was the Hon Max Bradford
Max Bradford
Maxwell Robert Bradford is a former New Zealand politician and Cabinet Minister. He was an MP for the National Party from 1990 to 2002, and is known for introducing reforms to the electricity industry in 1998.-Early life:...
.
One of its first moves in 1999 was to award a knighthood to an individual, having found that New Zealanders tended not to support single successful people, and sided more with teams. Electronics' innovator Sir Angus Tait
Angus Tait
Sir Angus Tait, KNZM, OBE was a New Zealand electronics innovator and businessman.Angus Tait had a childhood fascination for electronics and during and after high school at Waitaki Boys' High School, he worked in a friend's radio store...
was the first recipient. However, after the 1999 General Election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, ‘Bright Future’ was replaced, with the succeeding Labour government having considered it electioneering.