Author Matt Monk

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Market research, now in portaloos
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Market research always does its best to enter every facet of our lives, but Christchurch mobile feedback start up company Texsys has taken it to a whole new level, asking Christchurch residents what they think of the recovery effort—while they’re on the dunny. They’ve done so by developing a software that allows multiple question surveys to be systematically completed via text message.

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Trends and #Trends: Learning from the Double Down
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We were thinking of what approach to take when looking at KFC and their Double Down. The ridiculously effective campaign that proved any PR is good PR managed to run some stores out of bacon (we are presuming it’s real bacon), some stores to have queues outside and some stores probably with broken toilets.

But after looking at the most popular trends on Twitter in New Zealand, aside from seeing #doubledown at number four, something that stood out was the number one trend which had a “promoted” badge next to it. That trend?  #McDFrozen.

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NHNZ’s Moving Images gets world first archive agreement with National Geographic
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When it comes to wildly impressive imagery, it doesn’t get much better than National Geographic, and National History New Zealand’s (NHNZ) Moving Images knows all about it. The stock library has been selected by National Geographic Channels (NGC)  Worldwide as the first and only footage sales agent for more than 20 years of accumulated footage from its blue-chip factual programming library, including hundreds of hours of HD footage.

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The Rock, Newstalk ZB and Radio NZ recognised by experts
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The latest radio survey was released last week and, as expected, various ‘we’re number one’ claims came spewing forth. Of course, these claims are based on what the people actually listen to. But we all know the people don’t know what they’re talking about. That’s why we need experts to make decisions, and the experts have done just that to decide on the winners of the NZ Radio Awards.

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Isn’t it iconic: Gregg’s and DraftFCB brew up some Kiwiana kitsch with new Topp Twins campaign
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With a relationship that stretches back ten years, Gregg’s is a well-established brand in the DraftFCB stable. And, having started up in Dunedin almost 150 years ago—and with its instant coffee being a “mainstay of every pantry since the early 1960s”—it’s also a well-established New Zealand brand. So who better to celebrate that than with what Gregg’s general manager of sales and marketing Brendan Downey-Parish calls the “iconic characters played by the Topp Twins”. 

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Latest radio survey shows everyone’s a winner—including radio
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The first Radio Industry Research Committee radio survey of 2011 has been released, with the Edge, Newstalk ZB and The Rock all claiming various number one station status. But, take away all the press release trickery and competitive gamesmanship and the the radio industry as a whole will be feeling pretty chuffed with a 5.1 percent increase in the number of humans tuning in to commercial radio since the last survey.

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Meridian goes with the wind, Wells shoots the breeze
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With a price war seemingly being waged between some of the power providers at present, Meridian Energy and Assignment Group have chosen a good time to release a very good ad. And, with the help of returning frontman Jeremy Wells, they’re sexing up wind. 

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The thrill of the chase: Hallensteins and Publicis Mojo go moose huntin’
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Publicis Mojo and Hallensteins received a smack on the hand recently after a fun-hater complained about the lyrics of the Sleigh Bells song used in its first ‘Brothers’ commercial. And the pair have gone down what could be another slightly controversial road for the next big push, with a campaign that hopes to catch the illustrious yet highly elusive New Zealand Canadian moose.

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TNZ tells the world: ‘New Zealand is Open’
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In the wake of the Christchurch quake and the intense international media coverage that followed, many businesses—and plenty of individuals—have been trying to let the world know that New Zealand is still able to be toured and explored. As you’d expect, Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) has been leading that charge and has launched a campaign called New Zealand is Open, which saw ads run in Australian and United Kingdom national Sunday papers last weekend.

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The Great Deal Wars of 2011 heat up as GrabOne embraces television
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We’re accustomed to seeing marketing fluff from the seemingly never-ending range of new daily deal sites in our inboxes or on our web browsers. But, in what could be seen as evidence that group-buying has gone mainstream in New Zealand, GrabOne is facing up to increased competition and promoting its discounted wares with the help of a couple of new TVCs.

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Talk of TVNZ 7’s future all speculative says the broadcaster
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TVNZ corporate affairs’ Megan Richards didn’t want to say much, but told StopPress that there hasn’t been a formal announcement yet and the broadcaster has had no advice from the Government, and right now, all the talk is just speculative. But several media releases and a John Drinnan …

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Audiotape meets television in a $500,000 spend from TVNZ
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TVNZ is introducing a new service for its vision impaired Coronation Street enthusiasts. The service, called Audio Description, launched on Tuesday this week and is described by TVNZ Corporate Affairs’ Megan Richards as “the visual equivalent of captioning for hearing impaired audiences”. Similar services are already available in the UK and US.

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As the online competition heats up, print media puts the kybosh on NZPA feeds
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The New Zealand Press Association now has fewer mouths to feed after cancelling content contracts with some of the country’s larger media companies. And while those affected by the loss claim it will have limited impact on their news services, it does appear to be an acknowledgment from the print media sector that different mediums are now competing head-on for online traffic—and the advertising revenue that follows.

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Healthy Food Guide heads off on its big OE
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New Zealanders are well-accustomed to seeing foreign magazines on the shelves. But New Zealand mags being published overseas? Surely not. Well, after a very successful run in Australasia, the Healthy Food Guide is heading to the UK after publishing company Eye to Eye Media licensed the mag from its Kiwi owners Healthy Life Media.