Articles published in November, 2011

1. Lessons from a “private conversation”

   Published on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
   The best outcome we could hope from the “cuppa” saga would be that editors and their charges realign their news senses with the public’s expectations.

   While there will always be legitimate stories with which the public, or at least sectors of it, will be uncomfortable, the consensus seems to be that our media lost its way in its treatment of this  “private conversation”.

   For much of last week, this story became an excuse for journalist hectoring, and the opportunity for some to build their careers on rudeness and intrusion behaviours in the so-called public good.

   Before the polls showed people’s tiresomeness of this subject, surely on the basis of their professional antennae in-touch editors would have called time of this subject.  Or is it that editorial judgement is now also determined by the polls?

   Posted in Politics

2. Elections aren’t the only time to exercise democratic power

   Published on Friday, November 18th, 2011
   As the election campaigns unfold, the ‘lolly scramble’ of policy has been in full swing (as has the obligatory media distraction from the real issues at-hand). Political parties, and their people are interacting with their publics like there is no tomorrow… because for some there won’t be, at least not in Parliament.

   The candidates and parties are doing almost anything they can to increase their name recognition and relevance to you. But it is also an ideal time for you to turn the tables and engage with your local MP or party spokespeople to state your issues of concern.

   Of course, you are likely to have far more success if you have had previous and sustained connection with that key person or group.  It’s vitally important that we keep in regular contact with our representatives, not just when they come knocking on your door every three years.

   A common problem for many is knowing how best to contact public officials and what the appropriate protocols and procedures are for this. Granted, there are some unique considerations, but once understood, the opportunities are tremendous.

   Network’s own work in Government Relations spans many years and many governments.  In producing the New Zealand Government Directory we have cause to interact with nearly every single representative, department and organisation.

   We know their pet peeves, such as spelling a name wrong or the incorrect salutation.  And did you know that you do not need to put a stamp on an envelope to parliament?

   One of the significant components of the New Zealand Government Directory is a comprehensive guide to contacting relevant people or government organisations. This essential guidance includes full biographical details and key contact numbers and emails. There’s also a searchable database at your fingertips to group relevant contacts and cross-reference with protocol guides on how to effectively target your concerns to the right people or entities.

   We encourage you to check it out here and exercise your democratic right – not just once every three years!

   

    

    

    

    

   Posted in Politics

3. Never mind policy, what’s on the tape?

   Published on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
   

   It is hard not to feel that that the 2011 General Election has descended into farce.  We’re now ten days out from the Election, and for nigh on three days our politicians aided and abetted by the national media have given us a diet of irrelevancy about a tape of a private conversation.

   The PM raised a matter of principle about being secretly recorded in conversation over a cup of tea with the aspiring MP for Epsom, but before long our media are excusing the blatancy of this illegality and claiming the PM has something to hide if he’s not prepared to reveal what’s on the tape.  In climbing into this matter,  two of the other main parties, while tut-tutting at the secret recording, have been lavishly proffering public relations advice about what the PM should do because it “doesn’t look good” to have a private conversation and keep it that way.

   It is a sign that politicians are now more interested in doing what “looks good” than explaining the social and economic measures that will advance our wellbeing over the next years.  Is this because they judge us to be totally facile?  Are they right, and is this what we want?  Is it also a sign of the media is more interested in feeding us a diet of gossip and innuendo because they understand  people are so disinterested in policy unless it is to directly affect them?

   Surely it’s time to drop this nonsense of the tape and get back to debating the issues that matter so that we can have some substance on which to cast our votes.  This goes for the lot of them.

   Posted in Politics

4. Good on you, Vector

   Published on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
   All the professionals I’ve spoken to agree that Vector, and particularly its chief, Simon Mackenzie, did an excellent job of communicating during the gas supply crisis. That is why it was surprising  to read that the organisation had been quick to “admit communication errors”, and was undertaking a formal review of its communication process.

   However, I was not an affected party, so had no actual experience of the supply problem suffered by so many businesses and organisations where it appears there were issues with communications.

   It is commendable that Vector is tackling this head on and so soon after the crisis, so that its customers can have objective answers.

   From the experience of the disruption to the gas supply in Hawke’s Bay in 2004, I know that businesses can never have enough information in these circumstances. On that occasion, East Coast gas supplies were cut by a major washout in the Manawatu. The frustration of not being able to process crops ripe for harvest was enormous. At the time NGC was the owner and operator of the pipe so there was a single point of contact.

   It seems clear that the recent crisis was exacerbated by the dichotomy of ownership and operation and the inability of Maui Developments to grasp the communications challenge. When Maui’s spokesperson did speak it was unhelpful and defensive. He likened the break in gas supply to a disruption to a highway, going on to say when such events happened no compensation was paid. He’d forgotten, it seems, that Maui derives revenue and profits from its “highway”. The fact that the owner was not up to it, was not the fault of Vector.

   Vector’s initiative in reviewing communication around the event points to the importance of all companies having a crisis plan as part of the business continuity plan, and from time to time testing it.

   What was your experience or view of this event?

   Posted in Crisis Communications