Moore admonishes critics

Press, 5 April 1989, Page 3

Moore admonishes critics

New Zealanders should stop feeling uncomfortable with excellence and take a leaf out of Michael Fay’s success book, according to the Minister of External Relations and Trade, Mr Moore. In Christchurch yesterday to present an Added Value Export Award to a local company, Streat Instruments, Ltd, Mr Moore said New Zealanders too often knocked good ideas and creative people. Six months ago, the Fay Richwhite challenge for the

America’s Cup did not get great support from the country. “Now, of course they can do no wrong,” he said. “It’s time we stopped trying to knock the winners or feel uncomfortable with the Fays, the Streats, the Bob Joneses and the Brierleys of this world,” Mr Moore said. New Zealand could do with another thousand people like them. “The danger is that when you have too few, the sharks eat too well,” he said.

Streat Instruments won the award for designing and manufacturing an electronic measurement and control system with a New Zealand added value content of more than 90 per cent. Mr Moore said the company had found a way to measure accurately and control the moisture content of wool as it emerged from scouring. The new process had wide application for one of the country’s most important primary products.