Think Big 

In the decade of the 1970s, New Zealand reacted to a faltering economy, the rising price of oil and a surplus of natural gas with a set of State decisions to construct major energy projects. These projects took shape in the 1980s.

Collectively they were known as “Think Big”.

From a technology viewpoint, Think Big can be seen as the final playing out of a scenario that had its origins in the speculations of technologists who contributed in 1918 to the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology.

It was a dramatic end to attempts to create economic well being by using technology to capitalise on indigenous resources.

Think Big concluded a technological era lasting most of the century that would give way to an information age based on the microchip.

The principal elements of the story follow:

Next

How Evan Parry envisaged electricity from Fiordland could make nitrogenous Fertiliser,

 

Early proposals to make Transport fuels from indigenous feed stock

 

Methanol : Uses and Manufacture

 

Natural Gas; The Oil Crisis and Electricity Demand.

The Ammonia/Urea Plant

 

Opposition to the Ammonia/Urea plant

 

The Gas Market disappears and the Liquid Fuels Trust Board is Set Up.

 

The Major Gas

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