Dawkins wrote there were top scientists in the US and the UK - "talented, creative people, desperate to escape the redneck bigotry of their home countries". "You could make New Zealand the Athens of the modern world. Hendy agreed that New Zealand, a small bicultural country with a strong tradition of liberal democracy, was a place that could set a good example. Victoria University climate scientist Dr James Renwick meanwhile disagreed with the notion that New Zealand's efforts to curb climate change should be revered. "And there really isn't any government policy around reducing emissions, it's all about trading in overseas credits."

Source: New Zealand Herald November 11, 2016 01:18 UTC