'The quality of productivity and creativity here is phenomenal ' we just don't have the scale [of other economies].'

Productivity was a key topic of Liddell's speech. He noted that while New Zealand has made significant gains in that area, they have has been achieved largely by bringing more people into the labor force and having staff work longer hours.

In the U.S., by contrast, he says, productivity has been achieved mainly through empowering staff through means such as ICT (Information and Communications Technology).

'That's one of the reasons the US has had such a strong economy and low inflation in the last 10 years."

Liddell told the audience at the event that New Zealand needs more entrepreneurs who aren't satisfied with building companies worth $10 million.