Schoolchildren learn to ‘Think Globally’ about NZ

Media release

30 April 2007

Schoolchildren learn to ‘Think Globally’ about New Zealand exports

It would be the unusual schoolchild who gives much thought to how exports link New Zealand to the rest of the world. To help children make the connection between our products and who uses them, the Export Year private sector Business Reference Group and the Ministry of Education have developed teaching resources for use in primary and secondary schools.

Export New Zealand welcomes Monday’s launch of the “Thinking Globally” initiative to teach primary and secondary students about the trade, economic sustainability and the importance of exporting. Those concepts don’t mean much to children. What does paint a picture for them is to know that youngsters their age, all over the world, enjoy kiwifruit and avocadoes from New Zealand, among hundreds of other Kiwi products.

More importantly, the programme will give children an early understanding of how exports fit into the New Zealand economy. That understanding could provide very useful to them should they grow up to be exporters themselves, which is quite likely.

“It is great for schoolchildren to be gaining understanding of exporting and trade at an early age,” said Bob Walters, CEO of Export New Zealand and a member of the Business Reference Group, which began the initiative. “These students will be the next generation’s entrepreneurs.”

The initiative is funded as part of Export Year 2007, but exporting will continue to be a key contributor to the county’s economy long after the events of Export Year are a distant memory.

ENDS

www.exportnewzealand.org.nz

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