Ian McLean Spokesperson for the Green Party

When big business says there is value in operating sustainably, you know a key change is in the air.

Pure Advantage is not your usual fringe lobby group. It is a research team representing some of the biggest names in New Zealand business. In its latest report it argues that energy and resource sustainability offer great opportunities for business growth.

That comes as no surprise to the Green Party, which trumpeted a smart green economy at the last election, and before. However, even our national leaders listen when Pure Advantage speaks. A shift in production objectives at Kawerau was the kicker for the economic development minister, who suddenly discovered the benefits of biofuels.

Here are some of the key words in the latest Pure Advantage report: efficient housing, geothermal electricity, biofuel, biodiversity, forestry, smart electricity.

It doesn't matter who kicks off. What matters is where we are going, and this is exciting stuff.