Communications for kiwifruit psa outbreak wins top PRINZ Award
The communications response to the outbreak of bacterial vine disease psa in New Zealand kiwifruit has won Melanie Palmer (ZESPRI International Limited) and Andrea Brady (Catalyst Communication Consulting Limited) the supreme award at the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand’s PRINZ Awards.
In the pic: Melanie Palmer, ZESPRI International
The entry won the supreme award and the corporate public relations category award for rapid and clear communication during the psa outbreak. When psa was identified on two ZESPRI kiwifruit gold orchards in Te Puke the immediate response, led by ZESPRI and MAF Biosecurity NZ, focused on minimising risk to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry, ensuring information was easily accessible and that there were no adverse reactions from offshore trading partners.
Chief judge Gordon Chesterman said the project impressed the judges with its clear and timely messages. “It was about uniting people in a difficult and challenging time. It was about protecting the business and its reputation.”
The supreme award winner was announced at the PRINZ Awards in breaking news style by TV3 presenters Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts on a pre-recorded video. Former MediaWorks director of marketing and communications Roger Beaumont hosted the awards dinner held at the Holiday Inn, Rotorua.
The supreme award was chosen as the best entry from the nine category award winners.
PRINZ President Jane Dodd said, “The winning campaigns demonstrated the value public relations brings to the business table by using strategic planning and creative thinking to achieve results in challenging situations.”
There were 53 entries submitted to this year’s awards which were held on the back of the two-day PRINZ Conference. The annual PRINZ Awards began in 1974 and represent outstanding public relations practice in New Zealand.
For more information contact:
Tim Marshall
Chief Executive
T: 021 902 850
PRINZ Award Winners 2011
Supreme Award and Corporate Public Relations: Melanie Palmer - ZESPRI International Limited and Andrea Brady - Catalyst Communication Consulting Limited for Psa Outbreak in the Kiwifruit Industry
Government or Quasi Government Public Relations: Angela Spain - DraftFCB New Zealand and Michele Camilleri for The Journal Launch 2010
Internal Communications: Cindy Wong, Ann Clifford, Jennifer Andrewes and Tamara Mapp-Borren - New Zealand Trade and Enterprise for NZTE Intranet Launch - TED Hunt Campaign
Marketing Public Relations: Sneha Paul Gray – KPMG and Strahan Wallis - KPMG (formerly) for KPMG Agribusiness: The Leading Business Advisor to New Zealand Agribusiness
Limited Budget Public Relations: Mary-Louise Dare, Melanie Pohl and Catherine Slogrove - Professional Public Relations NZ for Taylors Wines Aussies vs. Kiwis Survey
Not for Profit Public Relations: Valerie Cross, Julien Leys and Kimberley Sullivan - JML Communications for Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand
Pro-Bono Public Relations: Eloise Hay, Angela Spain and Gemma Doughty - DraftFCB New Zealand for UNICEF “Say No to Naff”
Special Event or Project: Gez Johns, New Zealand Transport Agency for Southbound Switch (How to close the busiest stretch of motorway in the country for 36 hours and get away with it)
Sustained Public Relations: Ally Koehler – Blacksheepdesign for Ruahine Kindergartens - Operation Communication
Tertiary Student Project: Isaac Banks, James Roberts, Angela Campbell and Safia van der Zwan - Outside The Square, AUT University for No8: That's How We Roll
Sally Logan-Milne Young Practitioner of the Year: Mary-Louise Dare, Professional Public Relations NZ
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