THAMES: Commentator Rod Oram - peaks, carbon, happiness, dollars, and unlimited opportunity [almost]

Author, journalist and commentator Rod Oram - well-known as a regular on Radio New Zealand's Nine-to-Noon show, for his weekly column in the Sunday-Star Times newspaper, and his recent book about New Zealand Reinventing Paradise - will speak in Thames at the St James Hall on Friday 25 July at 7pm. A former business editor of the New Zealand Herald, Rod Oram honed his craft during 18 years as editor and journalist based in London and New York for Britain's highly regarded Financial Times. He brings clarity, humour, insight and straightforward language to the complex business and economic currents of today's global, national and local economies.

Mr Oram described his evening's presentation as speaking “about the great seismic shifts going on in the world...such as the shortages of food, energy and other resource and the increasing focus by many companies on sustainability in environmental, economic and social terms. I’ll relate those issues very strongly to New Zealand...to the opportunities and challenges they present to us.”

In addition to his public presentation Mr Oram is using his visit to call in on some of the major employers in the region. He said that New Zealand has traditionally had a remarkably robust and practical approach to business that arises naturally from a national character that values innovation, straight-thinking, and a keen local sensibility.