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When the going gets tough, go proactive

Welcome to Idealog Weekly, the free email newsletter for New Zealand commercial creatives, entrepreneurs and anyone rich with ideas.

When the going gets tough, go proactive

Had a rubbish week with clients slashing budgets left, right and centre? Taking a look at our Workshop pages might help. For instance, Michael Beverland and Francis Farrelly pick at the issue of client retention, existing agency relationships and why you need to be proactive. There’s a cost to that, however—find out on our website.

Then there’s Idealog co-founder David MacGregor, who has some good advice on how to survive as the icy blasts of recession give us pecuniary chilblains.

The beggar’s budget

As expected, National’s first budget is tighter than a gnat’s proverbial. We borrowed our way into overpriced housing, and now we’ll pay for it for at least three years, possibly longer.

It’s not all cutbacks and savings though: a modest amount—$290 million—will be spent this financial year on improving broadband in New Zealand, and there’s more to come over the next few years. It’s most likely not enough, especially when compared to Australia’s A$43 billion investment, but it’s better than nothing. Roading in comparison gets $10.9 billion overall.

What about innovation then? Peter Griffin, the communications manager of the Science Media Centre and frequent Idealog contributor, tallied up the total new funding for research, science and technology as $321 million. But he points out that R&D tax credits won’t come back, and no climate science centre will be built.

The scientists themselves seem to have mixed feelings about the budget:

“This is an extremely disappointing budget for science and technology.

“That leaves New Zealand’s per capita GDP investment in R&D unchanged at around 0.52 percent, way below that of Australia, the OECD average, and small economies like Finland, Singapore and Denmark, all of whom have built prosperity from innovation.”

–Dr Paul T Callaghan, Alan McDiarmid Professor of Physical Sciences, Victoria University.

“I am encouraged, as a university researcher, to see increases, albeit small ones, in funding for the engines of fundamental research in New Zealand—the Marsden Fund and the HRC, as well as funds to help the CRIs maintain capability. I am also pleased to see a general increase the funding for science in New Zealand as science and innovation will be key factors in the future NZ economy. I hope this signals sustained increased support for fundamental, innovative research in New Zealand.”

–Dr Peter Dearden, Director of Genetics Otago

With unemployment predicted to hit eight, maybe ten, percent and the general outlook for the next three years being rather bleak, we too hope the government will sustain and increase support for innovation in New Zealand. It’s cool that Standard & Poor kept the AA+ rating, but we need a bit more than running on the spot.

Vincent Heeringa blogged what the New Zealand Institute thinks of the budget, and they’re not impressed. No growth, no good.

TV Time

Kick-ass cross-media conference X|Media|Labs was held in Auckland last week, and Idealog headed over there to meet the mentors gathered to impart their wisdom and experience to a crowd of Kiwi entrepreneurs.

First, Vincent Heeringa interviews TV6/TV7’s Eric Kearley, defending good old-fashioned TV. Eric is TVNZ’s digital TV head honcho.

Next, Vishal Gondal, God-in-Chief, grabs Simon Young by the Jugaad.

And Silicon Valley VC Tim Chang has some tips as to where startup money could come from.

There’s plenty more from X|Media|Lab on Idealog TV: Lauren Bartlett meets the very social Juliette Powell and startup sugar daddy Parmesh Shahani, and Vincent talks to the game Susan Bonds and über-organiser Megan Elliott. And Simon hasblogged theevent infour parts.

That’s 31 then

KiwiFM’s 31 Bands In A Box month is finito, and here’s the result. (Warning: Wammo went mad with the YouTubes, so that page is a heavy load …)

Job of the Week

Creative Partner — Auckland (P0507)

Award winning TTL Agency with strong design brand focus • Christchurch • Collaborative environmen

Our client, a well regarded and award winning boutique agency seeking a Creative Partner to head creative in their growing Auckland team. They have a reputation for innovative, high quality, results focused work, and have gained international exposure for their work and the awards. They have an ever-growing and varied client base of national and international brands.

You’ll need to display strong creative ability, along with leadership skills and the desire to be integral to the growth of this team. It is essential you've had broad brand development experience across all channels. Your work will be idea based and show your strong conceptual ability. High levels of typographic and art direction skills are essential to meet the high standards expected by this company.

The right candidate will have either come from an advertising agency background with a true design focus or a design agency with an advertising bent.

If you feel this is the right next step for you, please send your details to Debbie Kitson at Portfolio Recruitment on 09 379-9303, or apply on our website.

Tricking the eye

But is it art?

Curative music

Museums are great places (although Hamish Keith would disagree on that if speaking about Te Papa Tongarewa). Auckland Museum is no exception, thank goodness, as proven with its current Sonic Museum project.

This features nine New Zealand artists composing tracks inspired by the museum galleries—Tiki Tane (Maori Court), Richard Francis (Land), Chris Adams (World War I Sanctuary), Nathan Haines (Oceans), Phil Dadson (Ancient Worlds), Rosy Parlane (World War II Hall of Memories), Don McGlashan (Origins), Tim Coster (Landmarks) and Rachel Shearer (Volcanoes).

Download the music here.

Quote of the week

“Maybe it's cheesy, maybe it's lame. It won on the day because as entrepreneurs, we give ideas a go, not talk about them or write about them, but put blood, sweat, tears and capital into them”

—Dr Tom Mulholland defends the ‘Give it a go, bro’ campaign the Idealog blog. (Sorry Tom, we still think the other ideas were miles better—or worth a rev, Trev)

More at Idealog online

Read more on our website: web exclusives, opinion, creative directory, Idealog TV, the Idealog blogs and the Idealog podcast. See you at idealog.co.nz.

  Juha Saarinen
  Ideologue, Weekly

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