Sitting in a restaurant in Silicon Valley following a week in the UK visiting a number of large companies I’ve been reflecting on why New Zealand companies are so innovative.

Over the next few months National will be keen to obtain some quick wins. Broadband is an area where a difference can be made quickly but there are some big questions to answer to clear the current uncertainty.

At least in the Koru lounge these days there is wifi. I have no idea why they make the key so impossibly hard to type into an iPhone or iPod Touch but at least it’s free.

Fibre to the Home (FTTH) is a worthy goal but in my view it’s the wrong focus for our internet aspirations.

NBR's Shoeshine column  last Friday on the new Capital Market Development Taskforce raised the issue of the costs of listing on the NZX. It set out that in some cases the NZX is an expensive place to raise capital. But for many companies, the benefits of listing are significantly more just the capital raised.

There are many 50+ New Zealanders with the kids away at university enjoying their second careers in London. These people are operating at the heart of the UK economy.

Numbers as low as $700m have been thrown around to connect NZ inc to the rest of the planet, unlockling the vast benefits to business, education, entertainment and health.