Senior public servants... 'are the main professional component of government and, among other things, need to engage in weaving the future.' - Professor Yehazkel Dror, University of Jerusalem.

The 1999 conference, Weaving the Future - Looking Out, Looking In, Looking Forward, starts from global and regional perspectives, takes up the views of a selection of New Zealanders, then focuses on the Public Service and its future challenges and directions.

Some speakers will offer strategic observations from Asia and Australia. Perspectives about New Zealand today, and in the future, will come from representatives of various communities of thought and interest that make up our nation.

The conference will conclude with some definition of the current Public Service environment, and the important issues that will face the Public Service in the immediate future.