The Future State Project: meeting the challenges of the 21st century

Abstract

Powerful global forces will reshape the context for New Zealand over the next few decades. They include increasing international connectedness, geopolitical power shifts, rapid technological developments, demographic changes, climate change, growing resource scarcity and changing values. Some of these changes have been in train for several decades; others have come to the fore more recently. Together they are creating a world that is fast-paced, heterogeneous, complex and unpredictable. Within this context, New Zealand also faces some policy choices that are both unique and significant – for example, concerning the recently extended exclusive economic zone, and the completion of the Treaty of Waitangi claims settlement process.